While objective test questions require you to identify accurate information, subjective test questions require you to produce accurate information.  Subjective test questions may be as simple as listing facts about a topic or may require an indepth analysis of a particular topic.    On this page, I hope to make these types of questions more manageable for you.

____1.  Take full advantage of any assistance professors give regarding the content of these questions.

    Professors often give students a list of possible essay questions prior to the test.  I usually give my students five or six possible questions and let them know that two or three will be on the exam.  Another professor I know gives his students a list of ten questions and tells them they get to choose three to write on during his exam.  In both cases, students should practice answering the questions before the test--all six in my case and the three they choose in the second case.     


_____2.  If you get stuck on formulating an answer prior to the test, ask your professor for help.

   Your professor won't give you the answer, but he may be willing to steer you in the right direction or clarify what type of information he is hoping students will produce.

_____3.  Make sure you read the question carefully and answer it instead of just putting information down about the topic in general.

    Every professor sees this.  A student writes down three paragraphs in response to an essay question.  All of the information is correct, but the student still earns zero points.  The reason--the student didn't answer the question.   Sometimes students do this because they think that the professor will see that they have written down a lot of information and it will automatically earn them points.  Sometimes it happens because the student didn't read the question carefully.  For example, let's say a professor asks, "What effect did the institution of slavery have on the wives of slaveholders?"  A student might reply with information on the effect of slavery on female slaves.  No matter how brilliant his answer, he wouldn't earn any points.


_____4.  If the professor doesn't tell you which subjective questions you may see on the exam, pay particular attention to what she emphasizes during lectures.

    Listen for clues like, "I really want you to know this."  "Be prepared to explain this to me."  "I expect you to understand this."  When you hear statements like this, put a star next to your lecture notes and give that information special attention when you are preparing for your exam.


_____5.  Ask your professor to give you information about the structure of the exam.

    Most professors will do this, but if one doesn't, ask how much of the test will be objective questions and how much will be subjective questions.  This will give you some idea as to how you should prepare.  For example, if the professor tells you that half the test will be subjective questions, you know you're going to have to have a deep understanding of the material.


_____6.  Take full advantage of any study guides your professor gives you.

    Professors that take the trouble to make you a study guide for your exam really do expect you to use them in your test preparation.  They recognize that there may be too much information in the text book for you to master, so they want you to focus on what is most important to them.  This is especially important if your tests are heavily weighted in favor of subjective test questions.


_____7.  If you draw a blank when trying to answer a question, ask yourself this, "What do I know about this topic?" 

    Then jot down everything you can think of as quickly as you can on a scrap piece of paper.  They may be enough to jog your memory.


_____8.  Write legibly and use proper grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.

    Professors find it frustrating when they are grading tests and can't read a response without difficulty.  They are pressed for time, and really don't want to have to figure out what you're trying to say.   Also, you are expected to have a basic mastery of the English language, and professors want you to show this in your answers.