Test Strategy: Break down long questions

Break down long questions

How often do you read something and think to yourself, “that was rather verbose..”   Well, the wordiness shows up everywhere and many times, it shows up in the exams we take.   When taking an exam, “break down” long wordy questions.

To confuse the test-taker, questions often times include extraneous information that is irrelevant or information that can easily be plugged in at a later time to answer the question.  Remember to:

• Look for key words to help focus on what the question is asking.  Find the relevant words to the question and then find the matching key words in the answer.
• Read the question by starting at the end.  Start with the last sentence first; that is usually where you will find the question.
• Look at the answers first, then read the question starting with the last sentence.  If you require more information to answer the question, read the rest of the question.

This strategy is hard for many to grasp because the analytical wants to understand every part of the question and make every work matter however it is a successful strategy.

Here is an example of a question:

All insurance contracts require an insurable interest.  What principle does the insurable interest support?

The italicized word make a statement.  Most people respond with the definition of insurable interest.  Caution!  That is not what the question is asking.  The question is the bold statement.  The answer is:  Indemnity.

Remember, the extraneous information distracts from the question.  Keep it simple.  Not all information has to be taken into consideration when answering the question.

Life Strategy

Life can show up messy, cumbersome, busy; basically with lots of “stuff” going on all at the same time.  Sometimes it is not about you or is it?  Break it down!

A friend listening to the drama of my life once said, “Don’t borrow other people’s problems!”

When I think of the strategy “break it down”, I remember this statement “Don’t borrow other people’s problems!”  So much goes on that I know I can get caught up in other people’s “stuff”.  It is so much easier to look at their stuff to guide, coach, support, console, and lift up.  However, it is much more challenging to look at our own life, answer the real question for ourselves, and to do for ourselves that which we are so eager to do for others.   That requires us to have to act with courage and responsibility to find out “What is the real question?”  The real question is about you, not them.  What are you not looking at within yourself?

This may not always be the case.  The person who wants the answers is responsible for finding the real question.  Look beyond and listen to what is going on within you to find the real question that belongs to you without all the extraneous activity of life that surrounds us.  Break it down!

Questions you may ask yourself:

• Where and how is this my responsibility?
• What is going on with me?
• What do I really want?
• What am I willing to do?
• Why do I want something different than what is showing up in my life?

Just get to the root.  Focus on your “real question” and break down the distractions.  Have a meaningful conversation and quite simply “get real!”  Remember, find the real question, then focus on finding your answer.

Best wishes!