All questions contain a subject, a topic, or a main issue.

This is what you have to write about, deal with, or solve (if it is a problem).

This subject may - or may not - be stated clearly in the question.

You might need to analyse the question to uncover what is required.

Do this whilst you are looking at the instructions and key terms.

Example 1

"What were the causes of the Russian revolution of 1917?"

This question asks you to discuss the conditions and problems in Russia which led up to the revolution.

It does not ask about the events of the revolution itself.

The word causes is a key term here. This is the main idea of the question.

You could easily lose marks by describing the events of the revolution, rather than the causes of it.

Example 2

"The Victorians thought 'Children should be seen but not heard.' Is this still true today?"

This quotation comes from the nineteenth century, when people thought children should be kept in the background.

The question is asking you to consider this topic - but to compare it with modern ideas.

The main issue here is changes in the way children are brought up and treated.

The instruction term is 'Discuss' - but it is not stated directly.

Example 3

"Lord Acton claimed that 'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.' How far is this true?"

This question is concerned with politics and history. It is asking you to consider if there are any connections between power and corruption. That is the main idea in the question.

You would need to consider examples where it was obviously true - in the case of Hitler or Stalin for instance.

You might also consider any cases which offered a different view.

The instruction term here is 'How far...'.

Example 4

"Examine the significance of Iago's role in Othello."

This question asks you to consider the importance of one character in a work of fiction.

It is asking you to focus your attention on this one person and his relevance to what happens in the drama. This is the main idea in the question.

At the same time you would need to keep in mind the main issues of the play, and Iago's relationship to them.

The instruction term here is 'Examine'.