Read all essay or exam questions very carefully.

Try to understand the problems they are posing or the subject they want you to discuss.

Note any of their key terms and instruction terms.

Identify the main issues or the idea behind them.

If you are working on a project or a task-based exam, write out the question fully and accurately on your rough notes.

Keep re-reading the question as you do the work on your project.

This will help you to understand what is required.