Why Precise Answers Impress

When your teenager is asked a question, what scores them the best marks is precision. Whether it’s a mathematical equation or a literature essay, the most distinguishing pieces of work are usually precise. Precise answers impress.

This is because precision shows not only a concise way of expressing understanding, but also showcases your teenager’s depth of understanding- and exactness- in the subject area. Precise answers also impress because they are usually academic in style and show that your teenager has truly mastered the topic they are answering the question on.

As a parent or guardian, you may wish to help your teenager discover a more in-depth approach to their responses. Firstly, to achieve precision, ensure your teenager checks the exact wording of the question. Words such as ‘explain’, ‘evaluate’ or ‘analyze’ are typically used in question titles- and these provide a useful indication of how the essay should be shaped and delivered. These types of words often require varying degrees of analysis, so it’s worth your teenager getting a real handle on the type of vocabulary that is being asked of them. Our SQA English courses provide your teenager with the different types of skills expected of them. At My Digital Lesson, we teach your teen each strategy to tackle these questions.

Your teen needs to remember to read the question several times – and highlight the key words. Students who achieve top grades tend to plan their responses. Students who do this typically find that they produce answers that are much more coherent and systematic.

Employing subject terminology and key words is another way to ensure precision. There’s a reason your teenager’s teachers are subject specialists: it’s because they know their subject to such a degree that it’s autonomous to talk about it with the right lingo! Throughout your child’s course, they will be exposed to the precise wording that educator’s teach to your teenager. The more specific vocabulary your teenager can apply in context- the better! The advantage of joining our online courses, is that we give you access to narrated lessons that can be paused or played again and again. Your teenager has unlimited opportunities to go over the subject content with us.

This leads into thinking about your teenager’s subject knowledge. In order to gain precision, your teenager really needs to know their stuff! A teacher doesn’t need to get very far into the work to recognize whether the student has really done their research and study- and taken the time to understand its nuances. Impressive answers include those that showcase the most secure knowledge.

And when your child knows their stuff, their answers subsequently come across much more eloquently and succinctly. Not only is it much easier for your teen to conjure an answer if they have done their research, but it doesn’t leave any room for ‘guesswork’ or blagging- which a marker will see right through!

Ultimately, put the hard work in- and top quality work comes out of it! Sign up to My Digital Lesson, and our teacher-led lessons will lead the way.