One of the major questions that comes to the mind of every medico after getting into MBBS/BDS is ‘how to attempt a question’ or ‘how to present an answer’. It is well known that during NEET preparation everyone gets habitual of solving MCQs only. This directly impacts the answer presentating skills in subjective examinations. Here are some points and FAQ that will definitely help you in presenting an answer perfectly.
Q1. What are the types of questions that are asked in professional examinations ?
The professional exam generally consists of :
- MCQ ( 5-10 questions : 1 marks each ),
- Long Answer Question ( 1-2 question : 10 – 20 marks each ),
- Short Answer Question ( varies from college to college, 3/4/5 marks each ),
- Clinical Questions ( generally 3 questions, 3-5 marks each ),
- Reason Based Question ( generally 3 questions, 3-5 marks each ).
Q2. Things to carry during examination ?
Basically its not a question to ask and generally given in the instructions of admit card but there are few things that you need to know. Along with original admit card, ID card, Pen ( ball ink preferred ), pencil, colour pencils(for diagrams) scale and eraser, always carry a bold pen for clear marking of question number because it matters a lot during copy correction.
Remember not to carry water bottle or any kind of gadgets, piece of paper or even a simple watch as it might unnecessarily create suspicion in examiner’s mind.
Q3. Is it important to answer the question in serial sequence ?
According to most of the professors, writing answers in a proper sequence is preffered. Although it differs from university to university, some of them clearly asks to answer in sequence whereas most of the university doesn’t mention any such rules. Even though the best way is to answer serially but if you don’t know any answer, just leave some space for it to answer later and move to the next one. In case if you have missed any question, answer it at last but mark the question number very clearly.
Q4. Is it important to draw diagrams in every question ?
No, it’s not necessary and depends on the type of question and subject. If it is a long question then you must include a diagram. If it is a short answer type question then you must proceed according to the question, if required, you must draw. Talking about certain subjects like Anatomy, Microbiology, Pathology, ENT, Surgery, Ortho, ophthalmology etc. you must draw diagrams in most of the questions to fetch better marks.Always keep in mind that a diagram not only makes an answer beautiful but also makes an impression to the evaluator’s mind that you know the topic in depth, ultimately resulting in getting good marks.
Q5. Is it necessary to draw colorful diagrams ?
A big NO because it’s a professional examination and not a painting competition. Don’t colour every diagram as it will ultimately waste your time, nothing else. Yes, you can use different colour pencils when required to draw some distinguishing features. Taking example of Anatomy, diagrams include vein, artery, nerve or lymph node and its better to colour it, making it easier for the examiner to distinguish, but be more focused towards the content and avoid unnecessary colouring to save time.
Answer Presentation and format :
- Answer every question point-wise rather in a paragraph or an essay form.
- Give a clear cut margin and keep appropriate space between every question to make the evaluation easier.
- Include diagrams in your answer as explained in question 4 and 5.
- Include tables and flow charts especially in Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Microbiology etc. For example, if you are writing a note on Jaundice, describe the types of jaundice and its features in tabular or flow chart format.
- Stick to a ‘clear cut and to the point’ answer instead of stretching it as a story.
- Include important data and facts especially in Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, FMT and Community Medicine. For example, if you are writing a short note on Jaundice/ Thyroidism, mention the normal or abnormal values in male, female and children. Similarly, while writing a note on GFR mention the normal rate i.e. 60ml/min.
- Keep your answer sheet neat and clean and definitely maintain a good handwriting to gives a positive impression to evaluator’s mind.
- At last, read every question carefully and write your answer with a positive mindset.
All the best Doctors!
** All the above mentioned points are based on discussion with senior professors and evaluators. **
