Guide 3 of 6 · 5 min read
A typical objective and subjective paper layout
Many papers in Pakistan follow a similar shape: a header, an objective part, then short and long questions. Here is that common structure explained, part by part.
A common structure, not a rule
This guide describes a structure that many teachers use. It is not the official pattern of any board, university or school. Boards and institutes change their schemes, and each has its own rules about sections, marks and choice.
Before you build a paper for a board exam or a formal institute test, check your own board's or institute's current scheme of studies and paper pattern, and follow it. Use this guide to understand why the parts are arranged as they are.
The header
The header tells everyone what the paper is. It usually holds:
- the name of the institute, and its logo if there is one;
- the subject, the class, and the name of the test or term;
- the time allowed and the total marks;
- blank lines for the student's name, roll number and section.
A university paper often adds the course code, the semester and the date. Keep the header short. Every line you add takes space from the questions.
In Paper Desk you type the header details once and they sit at the top of the paper, with blank fields that students fill in by hand. You choose which fields appear.
The objective part
The objective part comes first in many papers. It holds questions with a fixed answer: MCQs, fill in the blanks, true or false, and matching. Each question carries one mark or a few marks, and the part is often kept short in time so that it can be collected before the subjective part, or answered on the question paper itself.
Give a short instruction at the start, such as "Choose the correct option" or "Fill in the blanks." Number the questions in order. Leave enough space for options and blanks so that answers are easy to read when you mark.
If you plan to mark objective parts quickly, an answer key or an OMR bubble sheet helps. See making an answer key and marking scheme.
Short questions
The subjective part usually begins with short questions. The student answers in a sentence or a few lines. A typical instruction is "Answer any five of the following questions" when more are given than are needed.
Write each short question so that its answer has a clear size. "Define force." can be answered in a line; "Discuss force." cannot. Marks per question are usually equal in this section, which makes the total easy to count.
Long questions and parts
Long questions carry more marks and ask for explanation, derivation, a diagram, a numerical solution or an essay. They are often split into parts, written (a), (b), (c), each with its own marks. For example, a question for 8 marks may have part (a) for 3 marks and part (b) for 5 marks.
Splitting a question into parts helps in two ways. The student sees how the marks are divided, and the marker can give partial marks fairly. Write the marks beside each part.
Other kinds of questions you may meet
Besides MCQs and the usual short and long questions, papers often include other types, and each has a place in the structure.
- Fill in the blanks, true or false, and matching belong with the objective part, since the answers are fixed.
- Comprehension passages and translation sit in the subjective part of language papers, with the passage printed first and its questions after it.
- Numerical questions need working space below the question, so the student can show the steps.
- Essays and letters are normally the last and longest items, with a marks total that is split over content and language.
Attempt any, and marks at the right
"Attempt any N" means the student chooses N questions from the ones offered. Say it clearly at the top of the section, for example "Attempt any three questions. Each question carries 8 marks." A compulsory question is one every student must answer; mark it as such so nobody skips it.
Marks are usually printed at the right edge, in line with the question, so a student can see at a glance what each question is worth. The total at the top of the paper must equal the marks of what a student is asked to do, counting only the "attempt any" number of questions in each choice. This is where mistakes creep in when you edit a paper by hand.
Paper Desk lets you set marks per question, mark questions compulsory, set "attempt any N", and adds up the totals automatically. Open the paper maker to see the parts in order, or read the how to use page.
For help deciding how many questions to include in each part, read how to balance a paper.