Tackling an NVQ question may seem daunting to some, so in this post I will explain a very simple formula (the same one that I use) when formulating an answer. It’s a very simple and effective process that uses three easy steps to make answering any question a piece of cake.
So, here’s a question from elsewhere on my website that I will use as an example and explain how I developed my answer:
Explain how an individual’s background can influence the way they communicate
STEP 1: Turn the question around
The first step (and also the first line of the answer) is to flip the question itself around into a statement, using pretty much the same wording. In this example, I used:
The background of an individual will have a big influence on how they communicate.
but I could just as easily have used:
The way an individual communicates can be influenced to a large extent by their personal background.
or:
An individual’s background can have a great bearing on the way that they communicate.
See what I did there? I’ve got my first sentence and I didn’t really have to think about it!
STEP 2: Make a list
Next, it is a good idea to make a short bullet-point list of all the information you wish to convey in your answer. In the example, we are looking at things in a person’s background that may influence how they communicate today. So, my bullet list may look like this:
- Cultural
- Upbringing
- Abuse
- Education/literacy
- First language
STEP 3: Flesh out your answer
Using the list you made in step two, pad out your answer loosely sticking to the rule of one bullet point per paragraph (in my example, I have put Upbringing and Abuse in the same paragraph to make four paragraphs using the five bullet points).
In some cultures, eye contact is viewed as impolite or disrespectful in certain situations, such as between a father and daughter or a professor and student. Similarly, some cultures display emotion and feeling in their communication whilst others are more subdued.
An individual who has been brought up in a close, loving family with lots of affectionate touching may naturally hug everyone they meet, even when it would be considered socially inappropriate, whilst an individual that has been abused in the past may be timid or cower away from people in close proximity to them.
Education (or a lack thereof) can limit an individual’s ability to communicate. They may not be able to read or write and may have a limited vocabulary with which to express themselves.
If an individual is from a different country, their knowledge of the English language could be limited, making it difficult for them to communicate their needs.
Be sure to include specific examples in your answers. For example rather than just saying education can influence communication, flesh out you answer with examples such as illiteracy or limited vocabulary.
And that’s it. Job done!
Using this simple formula you should find it much easier to answer any question thrown at you.
Good luck 🙂