Understanding how to answer any question is 50% of the solution to the question. Exam questions are different based on the grammatical expression used. In any exam, what a questioner wants to know is if you understand the subject matter. This is why you have to use illustrations and examples where necessary. For instance, if I ask two students: What is a computer?
Answer
Student 1: A computer is an electronic machine that can store, retrieve, and process data
Student 2: A computer is an electronic machine that can store, retrieve, and process data e.g Desktop computer, calculator, and mobile phone.
Who do you think will get the highest mark? Of course student 2 because with his example I now know he understand what a computer truly is and he can identify one when he sees it. And this is how questioners generally view your answers in any exam or test.
Here are 21 common questions and how to answer them correctly

1. List Question: This kind of question requires you to JUST list those particular items
For example, a question that reads: List 3 items in the kitchen
Should have answers like:
a. Knife
b. Pot
c. Stove

2. Explain Question: This type of question requires you to write a long article on the specific question. If you have the knowledge of any diagram, make sure you draw, in this case. As this will signify that you fully understand the question and will therefore earn you extra mark.
3. List and explain Question: This requires you to first list the items and then explain them one after the other. If you only explain without first listing, you will not get the full mark. So, LIST and then EXPLAIN
4. Illustrate Question: This should also be answered the same way as the explain question but most importantly with diagrams. It is even better to use a diagram to draw your explanation. DRAW, then EXPLAIN what the diagram is all about in relation to the subject matter or the other way round. Whichever one, make sure your explanation and drawing are related.
5. Differentiate Question: The best way to differentiate between two subjects or things, is in tabular form. Presenting your answer in tabular form will make your work neat and it will make it more presentable and readable.
6. Contrast Question: This is similar to differentiate questions
7. Compare Question: In this type of question, you have to establish the similarities between two things. This does not need to be in tabular form. The best way to answer this type of question is in list format. For example, a question that ask you to compare two subjects, A and B can best be answered thus;
1. Both subject A and B have leg
2. Both of them have eyes e.t.c
8. Compare and Contrast Question: This is a 2-in-1 type of question where you need to compare and then contrast or the other way round. But whichever one you chose, make sure you label each with headline to show where you are comparing and where you are contrasting.
9. Define Question: This requires you to describe the subject of the question with examples. This does not necessarily require you to draw. Two to three examples after your definition will show that you truly understand the subject.
10. Elaborate or expatiate Question: This question requires a long article of answer as the questioner wants you to fully dive into the subject matter. So, you have to literarily ‘empty your brain’ on the sheet, to get 100% of the allotted mark.
11. Discuss Question: This is similar to the expatiate question.
12. What is Question: ‘What is’ question usually requires straight answers and in some cases, a diagram.
13. Why Question: You have to answer this question the way a lawyer will defend his client who is guilty in the court of law to make sure that his client is not prosecuted. It is like a judge asking a lawyer why his client should not be hanged. You will bet in this case that the lawyer will have to provide all possible reasons to defend his client. That’s the way you should answer any ‘why’ question.
14. State Questions: This type of question can be for a single subject or double subject. For single subject, all you need to do is list out the characteristics of the subject using a numbered listing format. For example, a question that reads;

Q: State the 3 common materials use for drawing
Will have an answer that looks like;
Answer:
1. Pencil
2. Color pencil
3. Drawing board
In case of the double question format, this will be in form of establishing the differences or similarities between usually two subjects.
For example, a question that ask you to state the difference between the earth and the moon, requires you to list the differences between the two subjects, preferably in a tabular format.
Note: some questioners might want to test your knowledge of a particular topic by asking you to establish the difference between two totally SIMILAR subjects. If you are sure there is no difference between them, all you need to do is to write in clear statement that look like this;
Subject A and Subject B are similar and have no difference.
Don’t try to establish difference when there is none.
15. When Question: This, at times, is a time based question. The time here can be quantitative or relative. Quantitative in the sense that the expected answer should be a number. Relative, in the sense that the answer is not numerical but still point to a time frame.

16. Write about Question: This type of question is usually common in the Arts, where you have to give account or narrate an event/story. This requires a narrative type of answer where you need to write an extensive narration/description about the subject matter. Minimum of 1 to 2 pages should be used to answer this type of question, depending on what the subject is.
17. How Question: Here, what you need to do is to explain the subject using a step by step approach. E.g
Q: How will you cook rice?
(Funny example though)
You will need to state, using step by step approach, how this is done.
This type of question can also come in form of ‘How many’, in this case, just answer with the correct number. E.g
Q: How many players are there in a football match?
Answer: 11
(by the way, I am not a football fan).
18. Where Question: This requires a direct answer that points to a particular location. For example,
Q: Where in the human body can you find a finger?
Answer: Hand and leg
19. With what Question: This, in most cases is similar to the list question, as the questioner wants you to list what and what are related or associated to the subject in question.
20. Write out Question: The answer to this type of question depends on what comes after ‘write out’. The answer might just be a list of some specific items or an illustration of an event related to the subject matter. For example;

Q: Write out the procedures use in preparing…

Answer:
Here, you will have to state the step by step procedures for preparing the subject and give demonstration under each step on how it is been done.
21. Proof that Question: This is similar to the ‘Why Question’ where you have to give various points, with explanation, that support the argument.

General note: The answer formats provided in this book might require a little more expression. For example, the question on ‘how many players are there in a football match?’ Can be answered simply with ‘12’ or ‘there are 12 players in a football match’. The format you will choose should depend on the questioner’s choice or taste. Some questioner (lecturer) want simple and concise answer, while others want illustrative answer. To know what format a questioner (lecturer) likes, get the information from those who have taken his/her test or exam before.
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Thank you so much. It is really helpful.