Exam Writing Format Guide（答题格式规范）
How to structure your answers for maximum marks in 55 minutes.
General Principles
Quality Over Quantity
The exam says: “We privilege quality over quantity.”
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Write 2-3 focused sentences per mark | Write a paragraph for 1 mark |
| Show formula → substitute → answer | Show only the final number |
| Use precise terminology | Use vague language |
| Answer the specific question asked | Dump everything you know |
Time Budget (55 min answering)
| Question | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 (5 marks) | 25% | ~14 min |
| Q2 (4 marks) | 20% | ~11 min |
| Q3 (2 marks) | 10% | ~5 min |
| Q4 (2 marks) | 10% | ~5 min |
| Q5 (3 marks) | 15% | ~8 min |
| Q6 (4 marks) | 20% | ~11 min |
| Buffer | ~1 min |
Rule of thumb: ~2.5 min per mark.
Answer Templates by Question Type
Type 1: “Explain [concept]” (2-4 marks)
Sentence 1: Definition — what it IS
Sentence 2: Mechanism — HOW it works
Sentence 3: Purpose — WHY it matters
Type 2: “Compare [A] and [B]” (2-4 marks)
Sentence 1: The key difference in ONE sentence
Sentence 2: A's approach
Sentence 3: B's approach
Type 3: “Compute” (2-3 marks)
Line 1: State the formula
Line 2: Substitute values
Line 3: = Result
Line 4: Therefore, [interpretation]
Type 4: “Truth table” (2-3 marks)
Step 1: Draw table with clear headers
Step 2: Fill all rows
Step 3: Mark relevant rows
Step 4: State conclusion
Type 5: “Translate to FOL” (1-2 marks)
Step 1: Define predicates
Step 2: Identify quantifiers
Step 3: Write formula
Type 6: “Classify scenarios” (1 mark each)
"[Label]: [scenario] involves [X] because [one-sentence reason]."
Marks Allocation Patterns
| Component | Typical marks |
|---|---|
| Correct formula identification | 1 mark |
| Correct computation | 1 mark |
| Correct interpretation | 1 mark |
| Explain “why” | 1 mark |
| Concrete example | 1 mark |
A computation question: 1 mark formula + 1 mark calculation + 1 mark interpretation. Don’t skip any step.
Common Mark-Losing Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Answering wrong question | Re-read question after writing |
| No interpretation after computation | Always write “Therefore…” |
| Too vague | Use specific terms and numbers |
| Missing formula | Write formula before substituting |
| Running out of time | 2.5 min/mark; move on if stuck |
| Writing too much for 1-2 marks | Max 2-3 sentences |
Emergency Strategy
If running out of time:
- Do easy questions first — Q3, Q4 are quick wins (2 marks each, recall-based)
- For computation: write formula + substitute values → partial credit
- For explanation: one-sentence definition → better than blank
- Never leave blank — partial answers earn partial marks