Throughout your studies of science, you are going to be learning a lot of theory. Your teachers are going to test your understanding of this theory in the tests and exams that you do. Usually, they do so in the form of short answer questions.

Have you ever received a test back, only for your teacher to leave you a comment saying that your response didn’t have enough detail? Well, the truth is, when teachers write such questions, they are expecting a certain level of sophistication. And although you don’t see it, they have a marking criteria that they use to gauge the level of your responses.

It is not easy to know what to write, and how to write it. Therefore, this article will take you through the steps you need to consider to write an A+ short answer response.  

Step 1: Understand the Task Word

A task word is a word in the question that tells you what to do. This word will indicate how you should structure your response and the level of detailed required.

Memory based questions ask you to present knowledge, and may start with:

• Define: Give a precise definition of the word/concept. Explanations are not required; an accurate definition will suffice.
•  Identify: Recognise/list the characteristic that the question is asking for.
•  List: Make a list of dot points for what the question is asking for.
•  Describe: Say what something is like and present its qualities with an explanation.

Application based questions are designed to test your understanding of the science material, and may start with:

• Compare/contrast: Discuss the similarities and/or differences between the things given in the question.
• Illustrate: Give examples of something (incl. diagrams) to make a point.
• Discuss: Provide enough evidence to draw a conclusion.
• Explain: Give enough description or information to make something clear and easy to understand.

The questions you get may also start with the words what, why or how.

Step 2: Get an Understanding of the Question

After you’ve identified the task word, you need to read the question and get an understanding of what it is asking of you. Students fall into the trap of reading the question only once, and then failing to address all the parts of it. As you read the question, think about the following:

• What topic does this question cover?
• What do I know about this topic?
• What are the key words/concepts that relate to this question?

This last question is particularly important. There are certain words that your teachers are going to be looking for depending on the question they’ve given, and you will be rewarded for including them. For example, if a question asks you to describe the structure of DNA, you will be expected to mention the nitrogenous base, sugar, and phosphate group.

Step 3: Underline/Highlight the Key Words

This step can be done simultaneously as the one before. By highlighting the key words, you are making sure that you fully understand the question.  Additionally, you should embed these key words into your response.

Step 4: Look at the Number of Marks Allocated

The number of marks allocated to a question tells you the level of detail required. Of course, it does depend on the task word as well, but as a rule of thumb:

• 1 mark: Succinctly answer the question given, in 1-2 sentences.
• 2 marks: Answer the question given, with a very brief explanation, with 2-3 sentences.
• 3 marks: A lengthy explanation is required, usually 4-5 sentences. 

Step 5: Write Your Response

Of course, writing your response is the main part! Considering the previous steps, write your answer, and plan out the order in which you are going to mention things. You don’t want to be repeating yourself. Even if you are not sure if you are 100% correct, write what you can, you will be rewarded with partial marks!

Step 6: Read Over What You Have Written

Oftentimes, when you write a response in a test or exam, your hand may work faster than your brain, causing you to write sentences that may not necessarily make sense. Therefore, once you have written the response, read over it and fix up any issues with grammar and spelling. If you can’t understand what you’ve written, your teacher probably won't either!

Other Tips:

• If the question is based on a scenario or specific example, make sure that you mention it in your response. Science is about application, not recalling facts.
• Be concise, don’t write unnecessary things just because it looks like you have written more.
• Write the question in your own words to help you understand it more.
• Make sure you are answering the question that has been asked – you don’t need to write everything you know about the topic.

Example

Let’s write a response to the following question: Describe the process of speciation (2 marks).

Firstly, we can see that this starts with the task word ‘describe.’ This means that we should define the process with a brief explanation. Since the question is worth 2 marks, we should be aiming to write 2-3 sentences. Speciation is the key word here, so we should mention it in our response.

 Speciation occurs when members of a species splits from the rest of the group, causing them to develop their own unique characteristics. This occurs due to the presence of different selection pressures and natural selection, ultimately leading to the evolution of new species.

Writing a great short answer response is one of the many ways that you can maximise the marks you receive on your science tests. You don’t want to lose a mark just for omitting a key word! Hopefully this article helped you better understand what your teachers are looking for when they mark your tests. 

FAQs

Q: Why is it important to understand the task word in a science question?

A: Understanding the task word is crucial because it tells you exactly how you should structure your response and the level of detail required. Different task words require different approaches, so paying attention to them ensures you address the question correctly.

Q: How can I avoid missing parts of a question when answering it?

A: To avoid missing parts of a question, read it carefully multiple times and think about what it's asking you to do. Break down the question into key components and ensure your response addresses each one. Underlining or highlighting key words can also help ensure that you don’t miss anything.

Q: What should I do if I'm not sure about a particular concept or detail in my response?

A: If you're unsure about a concept or detail, it's better to write down what you do know rather than leaving it blank. You may still receive partial marks for demonstrating some understanding, and it shows your marker that you've tried to engage with the question.

Q: How can I ensure that my response is concise yet comprehensive?

A: To ensure your response is concise, yet comprehensive, focus on providing relevant information that directly answers the question. Avoid unnecessary repetition or adding extraneous details. Use clear and concise language to convey your points effectively. Having a lengthy response is not going to get you marks if you’ve just said the same thing in different ways.

Q: What should I do if the question includes a scenario or example?

A: If the question includes a scenario/example, make sure to incorporate it into your response, otherwise you will lose marks. Apply relevant scientific concepts to analyse the scenario or example and draw conclusions based on it. Remember, science is about practical application as well as theoretical knowledge.