Problem Solving / Answering Questions Examination Timing The timeing of an exaination is neccesasary because each examination board and

paper has different amounts of time to answer tha questions set and a different number of questions. n this paper we deal with the traditional stub and stem question. That is a paragraph or two that lays out the question or problem area! followed by the question or set of questions they wish you to answers. As an example the "#$ board has a paper that is supposed to be answered in % & 'ours or ()* +inutes. There are , questions out of eight to be attempted by candidates. -ote there is nothing fancy such as compulsory questions or two long and four multiple choice in "#$.s examination papers. Therefore! give yourself %* minutes each question as all questions carry equal mar/s. This allows 0* +inutes. To read the paper and evaluate your answers. -ormally would recommend ) to (* minutes for a scan of the paper and a selection and (* to () minutes at the end minimum to evaluate your answers. Examination Strategy After /nowing what the examination paper will consist of and what type of question is li/ely to be set an examination strategy can be developed. 1bviously the first step is to read the paper! followed by dentification of questions that you can answer. Answer the questions in an order that you feel comfortable with! leave space at the end of each answered question for you to add wor/. 2inaly as before go over your answers in the time available at the end. Problem Question solving There are four steps for each question. a3 Analysis and identification of variabels!values and physics being as/ed. b3 Seting up and identification of equations. c3 4xecution of the equations given the values. d3 4valuation of the answer. Analysis and Identification 5hat is the question saying! and what does it as/ you to do. The strategy to answer the question should be apparent in the wording. Sometimes the first section is used in answering the later sections! but in certain circumstances the later sections can give a hint on what is expected in the earlier sections. This analysis can ta/e many forms but the sum is to enable you to answer the question or solve the problem. Things that you can do67 8raw a picture! dentify the area of Physics that the question relates to. Are there any values! equations! variables given in the question. Are the dimensions and units consistant to what the question as/s9 ( Stuart

Problem Solving / Answering Questions The :nits or the answer expected is given! and are these dimensions consistant with the values given or must they be converted in someway. Set up The equations needed need to be setup in the forms that will give you the answer! or they may need some ad;ustment and wor/ on them. 'ere it is most important to /eep as much information as possible without simplification unless it is unavoidable! and the simplification can be identified. Sometimes an equation is given that is not expected and must be used to obtain an answer. s this equation a simplification! use novel units. Execution The calculation given the values or using the values that you have identified or modified. Ta/ing care that you can use your calculator in the required manner. f you can use a calculator in an exam of course. t is also sometimes a good idea to estimate an answer to the question by rounding the values up and down to give an idea of what the equation <s3 deliver. This will allow you to answer the question .8oes it ma/e sense.. The correct order of magnitude! appropriate values of units. Evaluation This can be done at the end of the examination or whent all parts of a question or problem is answered. The identification of the area of Physics! and the unit consistancy are perhaps obvious. Pluging the answer bac/ into the equation to calculate one of the other values is not so obvious. This allows you to chec/ consistancy. =are must be ta/en here due to round off errors and any simplifications that have been performed affecting the final answer.

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