What to expect in the exam As part of your qualification in Engineering Design you will be taking an exam that is worth 40 percent of your marks. It is important that from the beginning you start to think about the exam and the skills you’ll need to get the best possible grade. Answering exam questions is a skill. Like any other skill, it can be learnt, practised and improved. Below is an outline of what to expect in the exam, the types of questions and what the paper looks like. You need to answer all the questions.
Types of questions to expect in the exam Exam questions can be asked about any area of the specification, which means that you have to learn everything!
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The exam paper will be made up of two sections, with different types of questions. Question type
Description
Multiple-choice question (MCQ)
• A question with four answer options • Worth 1 mark
Short-answer question
• Usually require a one-word answer or a simple sentence • Worth 1–4 marks
Long-answer question
• Open response question where you are expected to do a piece of extended writing • Worth up to 8 marks • These questions allow you to be assessed on the quality of your written communication
Understanding the language of the exam
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The command word is the key term that tells you how to answer the question. It is essential to know what the different command words mean and what they are asking you to do. It is easy to confuse the words and provide too much information, not enough information or the wrong information. The tables below will help you understand what each command word is asking you to do.
Command words that ask you to get creative OCR definition
How you should approach it
Create
• Produce a visual solution to a problem (for example: a mind map, flowchart or visualisation).
Show your answer in a visual way. You might want to use a mind map, flowchart or a diagram. Think about what is the best way to show the required information.
Draw
• Produce a picture or diagram.
Create a picture/diagram to show the relevant information.
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Command word
Command words that ask you to choose the correct answer Command word
OCR definition
How you should approach it
Choose
• Select an answer from options given.
Pick the option that you think is correct.
Circle
• Select an answer from options given.
Draw a circle around the correct answer.
Identify
• Select an answer from options given. • Recognise, name or provide factors or features.
Either choose the correct answer from those given or write the name, factors or features that are asked for.
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Preparing for the exam
Original material © Cambridge University Press 2022. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
