10
Unit 10: Go The Distance: Succeeding in exams
Select a unit
- 1Go The Distance: Choosing distance learning
- 2Go The Distance: Academic reading
- 3Go The Distance: Academic talk
- 4Go The Distance: Academic writing
- 5Go The Distance: Finding and using source material
- 6Go The Distance: Going the distance
- 7Go The Distance: Critical thinking
- 8Go The Distance: Social learning
- 9Go The Distance: Projects
- 10Go The Distance: Succeeding in exams
Session 4
Academic Writing 10 – Writing for exams
Welcome back to Academic Writing – our series that gives you the tools you need to write successfully as a student. It's exam time! Let's take a look at the challenges of doing exams and formal assessments in English.
Activity 3
Can you spot the mistakes?
To do
You need to practise your proofreading regularly – so here's an activity to do just that! Take a look at this paragraph from a Childhood Studies exam essay. Can you identify all EIGHT mistakes in this paragraph?
ነቲ ንጥፈት ፈትንዎ
Check your answers with this activity!
Identify the mistakes
8 Questions
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Proof read the paragraph very carefully!ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Help
...they actually performing worse.
VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIGdyYW1tYXRpY2FsIG1pc3Rha2Ugd2l0aCB0aGUgd29yZCAncGVyZm9ybWluZycuIFRoaXMgdmVyYiBzaG91bGQgYmUgaW4gdGhlIHByZXNlbnQgc2ltcGxlIGZvcm0uIFRoZSBjb3JyZWN0IHZlcnNpb24gc2hvdWxkIHJlYWQgJ3BlcmZvcm0n
U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gTG9vayBjbG9zZWx5IGF0IHRoZSB2ZXJiIGluIHRoaXMgc2VudGVuY2Uu
Grammar – articles
As a result of a increased stress...
VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIGdyYW1tYXRpY2FsIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHBocmFzZSAnYXMgYSByZXN1bHQgb2YgYSBpbmNyZWFzZWQgc3RyZXNzJyBXZSBkb27igJl0IG5lZWQgYW4gYXJ0aWNsZSB3aXRoIHRoZSBub3VuIHBocmFzZSAnaW5jcmVhc2VkIHN0cmVzcycuIFRoZSBjb3JyZWN0IHZlcnNpb24gc2hvdWxkIHJlYWQgJ2FzIGEgcmVzdWx0IG9mIGluY3JlYXNlZCBzdHJlc3Mn
U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gVGhlcmUgaXMgYSBncmFtbWF0aWNhbCB3b3JkIHRoYXQgc2hvdWxkIG5vdCBiZSBpbiB0aGlzIHNlbnRlbmNlLg==
Grammar – subject-verb agreement
consequenses
VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIHNwZWxsaW5nIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHdvcmQgJ2NvbnNlcXVlbnNlcycuIFRoZSBjb3JyZWN0IHNwZWxsaW5nIGlzICdjb25zZXF1ZW5jZXMn
U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gV2UgbmVlZCBkaWZmZXJlbnQgbGV0dGVycyB0byBzcGVsbCB0aGlzIHdvcmQu
Punctuation – capital letters
As a result of increased stress they actually...
VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIHB1bmN0dWF0aW9uIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gJ0FzIGEgcmVzdWx0IG9mIGluY3JlYXNlZCBzdHJlc3MgdGhleSBhY3R1YWxseScuIFRoZXJlIHNob3VsZCBiZSBhIGNvbW1hIGFmdGVyIHRoZSBwaHJhc2UgJ2FzIGEgcmVzdWx0IG9mJyArIG5vdW4gcGhyYXNlICsgY29tbWEgKyByZXN1bHQgY2xhdXNlLiBUaGUgY29ycmVjdCB0ZXh0IHNob3VsZCByZWFkICdBcyBhIHJlc3VsdCBvZiBpbmNyZWFzZWQgc3RyZXNzLCB0aGV5IGFjdHVhbGx5Jw==
U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gTG9vayBjYXJlZnVsbHkgdG8gc2VlIGlmIHRoZXJlIGlzIGFueXRoaW5nIG1pc3NpbmcgZnJvbSB0aGlzIHNlbnRlbmNlLg==
Punctuation – comma
...on their school life On of the key issues...
VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIHB1bmN0dWF0aW9uIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHBocmFzZSAnc2Nob29sIGxpZmUgT25lJy4gV2UgdXN1YWxseSBlbmQgc2VudGVuY2VzIHdpdGggYSBmdWxsIHN0b3AuICBUaGUgY29ycmVjdCB2ZXJzaW9uIHNob3VsZCByZWFkICcuLi5vbiB0aGVpciBzY2hvb2wgbGlmZS4gT25lIG9mIHRoZSBrZXkgaXNzdWVzLi4uJw==
U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gVGhlcmUgaXMgc29tZXRoaW5nIG1pc3NpbmcgYXQgdGhlIGVuZCBvZiBvbmUgc2VudGVuY2UgaGVyZS4=
Grammar – comparative adjective form
...that regular test place upon the individual.
VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIGdyYW1tYXRpY2FsIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHBocmFzZSAncmVndWxhciB0ZXN0Jy4gVGhlIG5vdW5zIGlzIHNpbmd1bGFyLCBidXQgd2UgbmVlZCB0byB1c2UgYSBwbHVyYWwgbm91biBvciBnZXJ1bmQgaGVyZS4gUmVtZW1iZXIgdG8gdXNlIGEgc2luZ3VsYXIgdmVyYiBmb3JtIGlmIHlvdSBjaG9vc2UgdGhlIGdlcnVuZCBmb3JtLiBUaGUgY29ycmVjdCB2ZXJzaW9uIHNob3VsZCByZWFkICdyZWd1bGFyIHRlc3RzIHBsYWNlJyBvciAncmVndWxhciB0ZXN0aW5nIHBsYWNlcyc=
U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gTG9vayBjbG9zZWx5IGF0IHRoZSBzdWJqZWN0IG5vdW4gYW5kIHZlcmIgaW4gdGhpcyBzZW50ZW5jZS4=
Grammar – verb form
... the stresser they become.
VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHdvcmQgJ3N0cmVzc2VyJyBUaGUgd3JvbmcgY29tcGFyYXRpdmUgZm9ybSBvZiB0aGUgYWRqZWN0aXZlICdzdHJlc3NlZCcgaGFzIGJlZW4gdXNlZC4gVGhlIGNvcnJlY3QgdmVyc2lvbiBzaG91bGQgcmVhZCAnbW9yZSBzdHJlc3NlZCc=
U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gTG9vayBjYXJlZnVsbHkgYXQgdGhlIGZvcm0gb2YgdGhlIHdvcmRzIGluIHRoaXMgc2VudGVuY2Uu
Punctuation – full stop
testing students as much...
VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIHB1bmN0dWF0aW9uIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gJ3Rlc3RpbmcnLiBXZSB1c3VhbGx5IHVzZSBhIGNhcGl0YWwgbGV0dGVyIGF0IHRoZSBiZWdpbm5pbmcgb2YgYSBzZW50ZW5jZS4gVGhlIGNvcnJlY3QgdmVyc2lvbiBzaG91bGQgcmVhZCAnVGVzdGluZyc=
U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gV2hhdCBkbyB5b3UgbmVlZCBhdCB0aGUgYmVnaW5uaW5nIG9mIGEgc2VudGVuY2U/
Spelling
You got all the answers correct
Some of the answers you gave were incorrect
ኣገናዕ፡ ፈተናኹም ዛዚምኩም
Excellent!Great job!ሕማቕ ዕድል!ዘመዝገብኩምዎ ነጥቢ ...:
Excellent!Great job!ሕማቕ ዕድል!ዘመዝገብኩምዎ ነጥቢ ...:
x / y
Feedback Summary
Excellent!Great job!ሕማቕ ዕድል!ዘመዝገብኩምዎ ነጥቢ ...: x / y
1
...they actually performing worse.
ዘይቅኑዕ
2
As a result of a increased stress...
ዘይቅኑዕ
3
consequenses
ዘይቅኑዕ
4
As a result of increased stress they actually...
ዘይቅኑዕ
5
...on their school life On of the key issues...
ዘይቅኑዕ
6
...that regular test place upon the individual.
ዘይቅኑዕ
7
... the stresser they become.
ዘይቅኑዕ
8
testing students as much...
ዘይቅኑዕ
Identify the mistakes
8 Questions
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Question 1 of 8
ሓገዝ
...on their school life On of the key issues...VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIHB1bmN0dWF0aW9uIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHBocmFzZSAnc2Nob29sIGxpZmUgT25lJy4gV2UgdXN1YWxseSBlbmQgc2VudGVuY2VzIHdpdGggYSBmdWxsIHN0b3AuICBUaGUgY29ycmVjdCB2ZXJzaW9uIHNob3VsZCByZWFkICcuLi5vbiB0aGVpciBzY2hvb2wgbGlmZS4gT25lIG9mIHRoZSBrZXkgaXNzdWVzLi4uJw==U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gVGhlcmUgaXMgc29tZXRoaW5nIG1pc3NpbmcgYXQgdGhlIGVuZCBvZiBvbmUgc2VudGVuY2UgaGVyZS4=
aPunctuation – comma
bGrammar – verb form
cGrammar – comparative adjective form
dGrammar – articles
eSpelling
fPunctuation – full stop
gGrammar – subject-verb agreement
hPunctuation – capital letters
That's right! There is a punctuation mistake in the phrase 'school life One'. We usually end sentences with a full stop. The correct version should read '...on their school life. One of the key issues...'
Sorry, that's wrong. There is something missing at the end of one sentence here.
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Question 2 of 8
ሓገዝ
As a result of a increased stress...VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIGdyYW1tYXRpY2FsIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHBocmFzZSAnYXMgYSByZXN1bHQgb2YgYSBpbmNyZWFzZWQgc3RyZXNzJyBXZSBkb27igJl0IG5lZWQgYW4gYXJ0aWNsZSB3aXRoIHRoZSBub3VuIHBocmFzZSAnaW5jcmVhc2VkIHN0cmVzcycuIFRoZSBjb3JyZWN0IHZlcnNpb24gc2hvdWxkIHJlYWQgJ2FzIGEgcmVzdWx0IG9mIGluY3JlYXNlZCBzdHJlc3MnU29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gVGhlcmUgaXMgYSBncmFtbWF0aWNhbCB3b3JkIHRoYXQgc2hvdWxkIG5vdCBiZSBpbiB0aGlzIHNlbnRlbmNlLg==
aPunctuation – comma
bGrammar – verb form
cGrammar – comparative adjective form
dGrammar – articles
eSpelling
fPunctuation – full stop
gGrammar – subject-verb agreement
hPunctuation – capital letters
That's right! There is a grammatical mistake in the phrase 'as a result of a increased stress' We don’t need an article with the noun phrase 'increased stress'. The correct version should read 'as a result of increased stress'
Sorry, that's wrong. There is a grammatical word that should not be in this sentence.
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Question 3 of 8
ሓገዝ
...they actually performing worse.VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIGdyYW1tYXRpY2FsIG1pc3Rha2Ugd2l0aCB0aGUgd29yZCAncGVyZm9ybWluZycuIFRoaXMgdmVyYiBzaG91bGQgYmUgaW4gdGhlIHByZXNlbnQgc2ltcGxlIGZvcm0uIFRoZSBjb3JyZWN0IHZlcnNpb24gc2hvdWxkIHJlYWQgJ3BlcmZvcm0nU29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gTG9vayBjbG9zZWx5IGF0IHRoZSB2ZXJiIGluIHRoaXMgc2VudGVuY2Uu
aPunctuation – comma
bGrammar – verb form
cGrammar – comparative adjective form
dGrammar – articles
eSpelling
fPunctuation – full stop
gGrammar – subject-verb agreement
hPunctuation – capital letters
That's right! There is a grammatical mistake with the word 'performing'. This verb should be in the present simple form. The correct version should read 'perform'
Sorry, that's wrong. Look closely at the verb in this sentence.
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Question 4 of 8
ሓገዝ
...that regular test place upon the individual.VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIGdyYW1tYXRpY2FsIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHBocmFzZSAncmVndWxhciB0ZXN0Jy4gVGhlIG5vdW5zIGlzIHNpbmd1bGFyLCBidXQgd2UgbmVlZCB0byB1c2UgYSBwbHVyYWwgbm91biBvciBnZXJ1bmQgaGVyZS4gUmVtZW1iZXIgdG8gdXNlIGEgc2luZ3VsYXIgdmVyYiBmb3JtIGlmIHlvdSBjaG9vc2UgdGhlIGdlcnVuZCBmb3JtLiBUaGUgY29ycmVjdCB2ZXJzaW9uIHNob3VsZCByZWFkICdyZWd1bGFyIHRlc3RzIHBsYWNlJyBvciAncmVndWxhciB0ZXN0aW5nIHBsYWNlcyc=U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gTG9vayBjbG9zZWx5IGF0IHRoZSBzdWJqZWN0IG5vdW4gYW5kIHZlcmIgaW4gdGhpcyBzZW50ZW5jZS4=
aPunctuation – comma
bGrammar – verb form
cGrammar – comparative adjective form
dGrammar – articles
eSpelling
fPunctuation – full stop
gGrammar – subject-verb agreement
hPunctuation – capital letters
That's right! There is a grammatical mistake in the phrase 'regular test'. The nouns is singular, but we need to use a plural noun or gerund here. Remember to use a singular verb form if you choose the gerund form. The correct version should read 'regular tests place' or 'regular testing places'
Sorry, that's wrong. Look closely at the subject noun and verb in this sentence.
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Question 5 of 8
ሓገዝ
... the stresser they become.VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHdvcmQgJ3N0cmVzc2VyJyBUaGUgd3JvbmcgY29tcGFyYXRpdmUgZm9ybSBvZiB0aGUgYWRqZWN0aXZlICdzdHJlc3NlZCcgaGFzIGJlZW4gdXNlZC4gVGhlIGNvcnJlY3QgdmVyc2lvbiBzaG91bGQgcmVhZCAnbW9yZSBzdHJlc3NlZCc=U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gTG9vayBjYXJlZnVsbHkgYXQgdGhlIGZvcm0gb2YgdGhlIHdvcmRzIGluIHRoaXMgc2VudGVuY2Uu
aPunctuation – comma
bGrammar – verb form
cGrammar – comparative adjective form
dGrammar – articles
eSpelling
fPunctuation – full stop
gGrammar – subject-verb agreement
hPunctuation – capital letters
That's right! There is a mistake in the word 'stresser' The wrong comparative form of the adjective 'stressed' has been used. The correct version should read 'more stressed'
Sorry, that's wrong. Look carefully at the form of the words in this sentence.
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Question 6 of 8
ሓገዝ
As a result of increased stress they actually...VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIHB1bmN0dWF0aW9uIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gJ0FzIGEgcmVzdWx0IG9mIGluY3JlYXNlZCBzdHJlc3MgdGhleSBhY3R1YWxseScuIFRoZXJlIHNob3VsZCBiZSBhIGNvbW1hIGFmdGVyIHRoZSBwaHJhc2UgJ2FzIGEgcmVzdWx0IG9mJyArIG5vdW4gcGhyYXNlICsgY29tbWEgKyByZXN1bHQgY2xhdXNlLiBUaGUgY29ycmVjdCB0ZXh0IHNob3VsZCByZWFkICdBcyBhIHJlc3VsdCBvZiBpbmNyZWFzZWQgc3RyZXNzLCB0aGV5IGFjdHVhbGx5Jw==U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gTG9vayBjYXJlZnVsbHkgdG8gc2VlIGlmIHRoZXJlIGlzIGFueXRoaW5nIG1pc3NpbmcgZnJvbSB0aGlzIHNlbnRlbmNlLg==
aPunctuation – comma
bGrammar – verb form
cGrammar – comparative adjective form
dGrammar – articles
eSpelling
fPunctuation – full stop
gGrammar – subject-verb agreement
hPunctuation – capital letters
That's right! There is a punctuation mistake in 'As a result of increased stress they actually'. There should be a comma after the phrase 'as a result of' + noun phrase + comma + result clause. The correct text should read 'As a result of increased stress, they actually'
Sorry, that's wrong. Look carefully to see if there is anything missing from this sentence.
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Question 7 of 8
ሓገዝ
testing students as much...VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIHB1bmN0dWF0aW9uIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gJ3Rlc3RpbmcnLiBXZSB1c3VhbGx5IHVzZSBhIGNhcGl0YWwgbGV0dGVyIGF0IHRoZSBiZWdpbm5pbmcgb2YgYSBzZW50ZW5jZS4gVGhlIGNvcnJlY3QgdmVyc2lvbiBzaG91bGQgcmVhZCAnVGVzdGluZyc=U29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gV2hhdCBkbyB5b3UgbmVlZCBhdCB0aGUgYmVnaW5uaW5nIG9mIGEgc2VudGVuY2U/
aPunctuation – comma
bGrammar – verb form
cGrammar – comparative adjective form
dGrammar – articles
eSpelling
fPunctuation – full stop
gGrammar – subject-verb agreement
hPunctuation – capital letters
That's right! There is a punctuation mistake in 'testing'. We usually use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence. The correct version should read 'Testing'
Sorry, that's wrong. What do you need at the beginning of a sentence?
ሓገዝ
ዕጾ
Activity
Match each part of the paragraph with the mistake that has been made
ኣመት
Question 8 of 8
ሓገዝ
consequensesVGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0ISBUaGVyZSBpcyBhIHNwZWxsaW5nIG1pc3Rha2UgaW4gdGhlIHdvcmQgJ2NvbnNlcXVlbnNlcycuIFRoZSBjb3JyZWN0IHNwZWxsaW5nIGlzICdjb25zZXF1ZW5jZXMnU29ycnksIHRoYXQncyB3cm9uZy4gV2UgbmVlZCBkaWZmZXJlbnQgbGV0dGVycyB0byBzcGVsbCB0aGlzIHdvcmQu
aPunctuation – comma
bGrammar – verb form
cGrammar – comparative adjective form
dGrammar – articles
eSpelling
fPunctuation – full stop
gGrammar – subject-verb agreement
hPunctuation – capital letters
That's right! There is a spelling mistake in the word 'consequenses'. The correct spelling is 'consequences'
Sorry, that's wrong. We need different letters to spell this word.
ኣገናዕ፡ ፈተናኹም ዛዚምኩም
Excellent!Great job!ሕማቕ ዕድል!ዘመዝገብኩምዎ ነጥቢ ...:
Excellent!Great job!ሕማቕ ዕድል!ዘመዝገብኩምዎ ነጥቢ ...:
x / y
Feedback Summary
Excellent!Great job!ሕማቕ ዕድል!ዘመዝገብኩምዎ ነጥቢ ...: x / y
1
...on their school life On of the key issues...
ዘይቅኑዕ
2
As a result of a increased stress...
ዘይቅኑዕ
3
...they actually performing worse.
ዘይቅኑዕ
4
...that regular test place upon the individual.
ዘይቅኑዕ
5
... the stresser they become.
ዘይቅኑዕ
6
As a result of increased stress they actually...
ዘይቅኑዕ
7
testing students as much...
ዘይቅኑዕ
8
consequenses
ዘይቅኑዕ
Review
We hope that you now feel more prepared to tackle exam essays. At the bottom of this section, you can find links to more printable exam-related activities.
But before we finish, let's take another look at what we've learned about written exam technique so far.
- Prepare well to give yourself the best chance of success – get organised, revise essay language, practise doing timed tasks and make a study plan!
- Planning is also important in the exam itself – having a clear plan for your exam essay will help you write a clear and coherent answer.
- Don't just sit back when you've finished writing – make sure you proofread what you've written to check for any mistakes!
- Always check your work for spelling, punctuation,and accuracy – if you've made a mistake, just put a single line through it!
Find out more
Would you like to do some more exam writing exercises? Download our free pdf worksheet to do more activities on types of essay plan and how to structure your paragraphs. Click on Downloads to get the pdf.
Where next
Session Vocabulary
Find out more about distance learning – visit our partner,The OU
____________________
