Scene to read · Communication, Motivation
Open-book doesn't mean easy
You are a first-year student whom Absalom and Adair both ask for advice, and you have seen the same sample exam they have.
Outside a lecture hall, the instructor has just announced that the final will be a case-based, open-book exam, a format none of the first-years has done before. Absalom and Adair, your classmates, turn to you.
The scene
Absalom: Open-book sounds good, right? Looking things up should make it easy.
Adair: Nobody knows yet, Absalom. None of us has done this before.
Absalom: I know, but why panic needlessly? Is it manageable or not?
Adair: Please say plainly what we know. You've seen the same sample.
The two questions
- 1What would you say to Absalom and Adair, and why?
- 2How do you decide when to be fully honest about uncertainty and when to offer reassurance?
What raters look for
- Communication
- Listens first, speaks clearly and respectfully, and adapts the message to the listener.
- Motivation
- Shows genuine, sustained drive and a clear reason for choices, including when work is unglamorous.
Answer scenarios like this on the real timers
Answer both questions on the clock, and get each one scored 1–9 the way raters score. Your first set is free, no card.
Practice free
