How much is too much? All CIPS learners are encouraged to prepare mock exam answers as part of their revision and exam preparations for the constructed response (CR) exams. Most learners do not write enough, but sometimes we get the opposite. Here, we ask if 4,700 words in an answer to a mock exam was too much?
how much should i write?
At Cordie, we advocate that every 25 mark CR exam question should have a [minimum] 750-word essay response.
The average (slow) typist can write 20-30 words per minute, which equates to 900 - 1,350 words in the allotted 45 minute window for a 25 mark question. The target of 750 words allows for sufficient thinking and planning time, and yet provides a clear volume-based target for the typical length and depth of response required.
We know from our personal experience as CIPS examiners that most candidates do not achieve this relatively simple target.
The mock that produced 4,700 words was written in just 2 hours - which is an incredible feat!
But isn’t it quality (not quantity) that counts?
Yes, absolutely! We provide the 750 word per 25 mark question target as a guidance target, not a mandate. Of course quality is far more important, but how can a candidate demonstrate they have sufficient depth of knowledge, understanding and application if they only offer a few scant lines of text?
In order to achieve good marks, a CIPS exam candidate needs to elaborate on their response, rather than provide a few brief comments. This elaboration demonstrates the candidate’s grasp of the learning content and offers the examiner what they were asking for in a description, an explanation, an evaluation or an assessment.
You would not expect a professional consultant to provide you with a brief headline report on something important in your organisation, so why should we assume it is OK to give CIPS just a few brief soundbites of information?
Brief answers in summary format usually demonstrate that a candidate doesn’t know their subject and is struggling to apply the concepts. It suggests they are not yet ready to “pass”!
So, why the target of 750 words?
In an essay-based response, it is unlikely the examiner will award you more than one mark per sentence. On top of this, some sentences do not gain any marks whatsoever, so you need to “over-shoot” the target in order to be confident you’ll pass.
Many CIPS questions (particularly at Level 4) ask candidates for FIVE things (e.g. five benefits, five advantages, five stages of a process, etc). The 25 mark target allows you to breakdown the exam question into five manageable sections where you aspire to gain 5 marks each.
Having a target focuses the mind. It forces you to think: “What else can I say? What else do I know about this?”
This on its own provides you with the cognitive stimulation to write more and to demonstrate your capabilities to CIPS.
So 4,700 words was good, right?
Ah, well not really. The mock that produced 4,700 words was a truly exceptional piece of work. The learner showed great diligence and an incredible ability to write in depth on key subject-matter for that study module. It was a good response, but…
We gave feedback to the learner suggesting [for them] “less is more”. This was the perfect (but rare) example where we asked the learner to slow down, write less, think and plan more.
There is a ‘sweet-spot’ in terms of volume. We would have been happy with 3,000 words and this would have given the learner more time to process their thoughts, structure their response and provide deeper more-critical thinking - and therefore gain more marks!
Sweet-spot?
Yes, stick to our guide of 750 words per 25 mark essay question. It works!
Most learners don’t write enough (and this shows in their marks). However, occasionally you get an exception, and 4,700 is probably too much!