Mastering Exam Responses: How Much to Write for 5 & 10 Mark Answers | English Studies Guide

Mastering Exam Responses: How Much Should You REALLY Write?

This activity was given as a lab task in class by Prof. & Dr. Dilip Barad sir (Head, Department of English, MKBU). The objective was to watch the video, understand how much to write in exam/assignment responses, and then draft structured answers for 10 and 5 marks. The blog includes the video link and sample answers as part of the submission. Click here to watch the video given as resource. 

Introduction: Quality, Quantity, and Strategy

One of the most frequent questions students ask is, "How long should my exam or assignment answers be?" While the classic advice often emphasizes “quality over quantity,” this can be an abstract concept, leaving students without concrete guidance. This blog post aims to demystify this question by drawing insights from the video “How much am I supposed to write to score good marks? | English Studies | Descriptive Essay Type Answers” by DoE-MKBU. The video provides a practical framework, balancing qualitative excellence with quantifiable length expectations. It teaches that while quality—demonstrated through deep understanding, clear communication, and effective analysis—is paramount, achieving good marks also requires writing enough to convey that quality effectively.

Specifically, the video suggests aiming for roughly 36 words per mark as a quantifiable target for descriptive answers in English studies. Students can use this guidance to effectively manage their time, structure their essays, and ensure their responses meet academic expectations for different mark allocations. Importantly, responses falling below a certain length, such as under 200 words, are often associated with very low grades, underscoring the necessity of providing sufficient detail. Additionally, students should allocate time within their exams for reading the question, framing their answer, and rereading to remove errors. Factors like individual writing style, including spacing or the use of bullet points and quotes, can influence the actual number of words per page, so a flexible approach to page count, while keeping the word count in mind, is advised.

Demonstrating the Difference: "Hard Times" Thematic Analysis

Let's apply these principles to a common literary essay question. Below are two model answers for the same question, demonstrating the difference in length, depth, and structure expected for a 10 - mark and a 5 - mark response, following the video's guidance.

Question A (10 marks) : Essay on thematic study of Charles Dickens’ novel “Hard Times.”

Target Length: Approximately 360 words (10 marks x 36 words/mark). This typically translates to 3 to 3.5 pages in a standard answer book, allowing for proper paragraphing.

A Thematic Study of Charles Dickens’ "Hard Times"
Introduction
Charles Dickens’ Hard Times (1854) offers a powerful critique of 19th-century industrial England, particularly its embrace of utilitarian philosophy and its societal repercussions. The novel explores themes of industrialization, a flawed education system, the dehumanizing impact of utilitarianism, and the stark class divide, arguing for the indispensable role of imagination and human connection over cold "Facts". Through the lives of its characters in the desolate Coketown, Dickens reveals the spiritual impoverishment fostered by an unbalanced worldview.
Industrialization and Its Dehumanizing Environment
Coketown, the novel's primary setting, embodies the bleak reality of industrialization, presented as a "triumph of fact". It is a monotonous landscape of red brick, perpetually veiled in smoke from "interminable serpents" of chimneys, and dominated by the relentless machinery of factories. Dickens uses imagery like "melancholy-mad elephants" to symbolize the dehumanizing routine imposed on the working class, referred to as "the Hands". This environment, designed for pure efficiency, stifles individual spirit and fosters social alienation, illustrating the cost of unchecked industrial progress on human well-being.
Utilitarianism and the Failure of Fact-Based Education
Central to Dickens’ critique is Thomas Gradgrind’s utilitarian philosophy, which asserts that "Facts alone are wanted in life". His education system, implemented by Mr. M’Choakumchild, rigorously suppresses "Fancy" and "Wonder" in his children, Louisa and Tom, and in students like Sissy Jupe. This fact-obsessed pedagogy, devoid of emotional or imaginative cultivation, leads to Louisa’s profound internal emptiness and Tom’s cynical self-interest. Dickens demonstrates how neglecting human sentiment for pure rationality creates deeply flawed and unhappy individuals.
Class Disparity and the Power of Imagination
The novel sharply exposes the vast class divide and inherent injustices of industrial society. Stephen Blackpool, an honest factory "Hand," faces insurmountable legal and financial barriers to escape a miserable marriage, highlighting the systemic inequities that trap the poor in a "muddle". Industrialists like Mr. Bounderby, a boastful "self-made man," exemplify the callous indifference of the wealthy, showing little empathy for the working class. In contrast, Sissy Jupe, the circus girl, represents the vital antidote of imagination and compassion. Her moral intuition and natural "Fancy" challenge Gradgrind's factual worldview, proving that true understanding requires more than mere statistics and reason.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hard Times stands as a potent social commentary, arguing that a society prioritizing industrial pragmatism and quantifiable facts over human sentiment and creativity inevitably leads to spiritual emptiness and profound social injustice. Dickens powerfully advocates for recognizing the multifaceted nature of human experience, urging a crucial balance between intellect and emotion for both individual well-being and a just society.

Question B (5 marks): Essay on thematic study of Charles Dickens’ novel “Hard Times.”

Target Length: Approximately 180 words (5 marks x 36 words/mark). This typically translates to 1.5 to 2 pages in a standard answer book, considering average writing styles.

A Thematic Overview of Charles Dickens’ "Hard Times"

Introduction

Charles Dickens’ Hard Times (1854) critically examines 19th-century industrial England, illustrating how rigid utilitarian philosophy stifles the human spirit and creates profound social disparities. It highlights themes of industrialization, flawed education, and class division, championing imagination over cold "Facts".

Key Thematic Explorations

The novel’s setting, Coketown, symbolizes dehumanizing industrialization, a "triumph of fact" where monotonous labor stifles the "Hands". Thomas Gradgrind embodies utilitarianism, imposing a fact-only education that suppresses "Fancy" and "Wonder," resulting in emotional barrenness in Louisa and societal ethical confusion. Dickens contrasts this with Stephen Blackpool’s struggles, revealing the severe class injustices, and Sissy Jupe's role, which emphasizes the vital human need for imagination and compassion against a purely rationalistic world.

Conclusion

Hard Times ultimately warns against a society prioritizing utility and fact over human sentiment and creativity, advocating for a crucial balance for individual happiness and social justice.

A Final Note for Students

Understanding how much to write is a skill that improves with practice. Don't just focus on filling pages; focus on filling them with quality, relevant, and well-structured content. Use the quantifiable targets (like 36 words per mark or the approximate page counts provided for different mark allocations) as a guide to ensure you're providing enough detail to showcase your knowledge fully. Remember to allocate time for planning and reviewing your answers to catch errors and improve overall quality. Good luck with your exams!

Refrences 

How much am I supposed to write to score good marks? | English Studies | DescriptiveEssayTypeAnswers