Dear Islamic History & Culture Aspirants,

Its barely little more than a month now from exams and most of you will have been revising now a days .. I wanted to share some exam attempting techniques so that Islamic History yields maximum marks for you .. Please read through and apply the following points while you attempt your papers:

1- Read the questions carefully: Sometimes a question looks simple but a careful study and thought reveals a different or an additional component to it .. So it is vital to understand a question properly before setting yourself up to anwer it ..

2- Plan your answer: After you have understood the question properly, plan what you want to write in it and how to best present your answer .. Plan the structure and body of your answer and this you can do within less than a minute ..

3- Answer the set question: This is absolutely important and this is where you get most of the marks for answering a question .. It means that one must answer only relevantly .. Rote learnt answers or a different answer to what has been asked by the examiner won't yield much marks and may even fail an aspirant .. When you read a question and plan your answer you must understand what the examiner asks for and what relevant information is a must requirement .. Write your introduction according to the asked question, present your body in the same manner and also conclude accordingly .. This way examiner will have to read only relevant information and will score you highly .. Do not write what you have learned and don't just write all you know about a topic, rather write on what you have been asked ..

4- Present analysis: While answering one can present views of different writers on an issue, then write contrasting views of other writers and in the end give one's own views on an issue followed by reasonable/solid arguments .. Follow the example given below:

Philip K. Hitti argues that Muhamamd P.B.U.H came in attention after his call to the Prophethood and not much is known about his life before the revelation. However Syed Ameer Ali suggests that Muhammad P.B.U.H is the 'only Prophet born and raised in clear light of history'. Having gone through different texts and materials of numerous writers on Muhammad P.B.U H, one can fully endorse the views of Syed Ameer Ali as the life of Muhamamd P.B.U.H before his call to revelation is covered in full detail in the 'Seerah' part of the of Prophet's life, whereas P.K Hitti is a learned Historian and there is a difference in paradigms of 'Seeraah' and 'History' .. Its seems that Mr. Hitti has missed the mark here ..

The above paragraph is just an example of giving views of others, then negating their stance and at last presenting your own views .. I hope you have a clear idea now of what is required .. But, this approach asks for a wider reading ..

5- Write legibly: It means that one must write neat enough that the examiner should not get into any type of trouble in understanding what one has written .. Length of the answer is not the key here .. If one writes to the point with a clear thought, thorough analysis and a neat handwriting, he/she will be rewarded .. It does not, however, mean that one must write very slowly, the pace should be adjusted only to write your words that are easily understandable .. If one can do that with a fast pace that's a plus and if one has to slow down a little in doing that, it won't have any negative impact on marks .. Both will be rewarded in this case but do not write too much or too little ..

6- Give equal time to all questions: One barely gets around 37.5 minutes to answer a single question .. Remember to give equal time to all 4 subjective questions .. It is of no use to spend 45 or 50 minutes on a single question at the expense of other 3 questions as marks of all 4 questions are the same ..

7- Draw diagrams: If possible, one should draw easy and relevant diagrams that can be drawn within a minute or two .. Do no just put in a diagram, also explain it a little and relate to the answer .. Do not put extra time in drawing and related practices as it will leave little time for your answer ..

This is it for now and I shall add more points if I remember later .. I wish you all a very best of luck and may you all succeed in your aspirations .. Just pray to God and give it your best shot leaving the rest upon Allah .. !!

Regards ..

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You Have To Keep Breaking Your Heart Until It Opens .. !! Rumi ..