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What the command verb is really asking
Case questions are graded against the verb, not the topic. "Analyse the pricing problem" and "evaluate the pricing problem" earn marks in different places, and students who answer both the same way lose points on one of them. Before writing anything, find the verb and translate it into a job:
| Command verb | What the grader wants to see | Rough share of your answer |
|---|---|---|
| Identify / list | The items, named precisely, with a phrase on why each qualifies | About 20% evidence, minimal padding |
| Compare | A shared yardstick — the same two or three criteria applied to both sides | Even split, with the criteria stated first |
| Analyse | Causes and connections: why the situation produces the outcome | Analysis carries the bulk, about 60% |
| Evaluate | A judgement with criteria, plus the strongest argument on the other side | Judgement up front, defence after |
| Recommend | One action, the reason, and the risk you accept by choosing it | Action in the first sentence |
If your course uses its own command-word list (UK exam boards often do), follow theirs. And if the whole question confuses you rather than just the verb, the business case study explainer untangles what these assignments actually are before you attempt the answers.
A written answer that fits exam booklets
Under time pressure, the shape of the answer matters more than its vocabulary. Our model answers follow the same four parts every time — line of answer, evidence, analysis, recommendation — because a fixed shape lets you start writing while other candidates are still planning. The shape flexes slightly depending on how the question is set:
Structure it as a paragraph pyramid. First sentence answers the question outright — no warm-up. Then the evidence (two case facts), then the analysis connecting them, then a closing line that states the implication. Four sentences minimum, and the first one must survive being read alone, because it will be.
Answer in the order asked, with visible labels. Graders tick parts against the mark scheme, so "(a) … (b) … (c) …" headers help them award you every point you earned. Part (a) is usually short and factual; resist the urge to pour your whole knowledge of the case into it, because (b) and (c) will ask for it.
State the calculation, then interpret it. Write the formula or figure first, then a sentence that says what it means for the decision. A naked percentage with no interpretation earns the method mark and loses the judgement one. If the exhibit is large, name the two rows you used — graders look for selection, not transcription.
Here is the master scaffold our writers fill in before drafting any answer. Copy it into your notes:
CASE QUESTION ANSWER SCAFFOLD 1. VERB CHECK — underline the command verb; my answer must [analyse / evaluate / recommend] before it describes. 2. LINE OF ANSWER — in one sentence: the case shows ___, so ___. 3. EVIDENCE — two facts from the case I will cite: (1) ___ (2) ___. 4. ANALYSIS — why that evidence leads where it does: ___. 5. RECOMMENDATION — the action, plus the main risk I accept: ___.
The 120-second outline drill
Outlining is the habit that separates a 2:1 script from a pile of facts. The good news is that a usable outline only takes two minutes, and you can build the reflex right here. Press start, then work through the four outline moves before the clock runs out:
Timed outline drill
Private — nothing leaves your browserPick a case question from your course, then press start.
- Underlined the command verb and named its job
- Written a one-sentence line of answer
- Picked two case facts to cite as evidence
- Sketched the recommendation and its main risk
Run the drill three times on three different questions and outlining starts happening automatically. That is the whole trick.
Pacing rules for exam conditions
The drill handles the first two minutes; pacing handles the rest. Three rules cover most exam situations. First, budget by marks: with 90 minutes for a 60-mark paper, that is a minute and a half per mark, and sticking to the budget matters more than finishing a favourite question beautifully. Second, never open with background — the grader wrote the case, so summary sentences buy you nothing. Third, protect the recommendation: an answer that runs out of time before stating one has wasted its own evidence.
If your course grades against a published rubric, send it over — matching a model answer to the actual marking criteria is the single highest-value thing we do on this service, and it feeds into every other format we offer, including the full written analysis service.
How the questions-and-answers service works
You send the question set, the case file and any marking guidance. We return model answers that show their working: each one opens with the line of answer, cites only facts present in your case file, and closes with a recommendation or judgement as the verb demands. For calculation questions, the workings appear step by step so you can reproduce them without us.
We do not sit exams for people, and we do not write live during exam sessions — that is a hard line. What we do is prepare you for the room: practice question sets, marked drills, and model answers that demonstrate the difference between describing a case and answering a question about it. For question sets attached to taught courses, our service scope sits alongside the wider business case studies help pages, and the free tools — the word counter in particular — cover the quick checks.
Have a question set due — or an exam to prep for?
Send the case file, the questions and any rubric. We will scope model answers, workings and a practice plan, and you get a free price quote before anything is agreed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you answer the exact questions from my case booklet?
Yes, for take-home assignments and practice sets — we work through your actual questions and return model answers that show the reasoning. Check your course's academic integrity policy first. What you should do with a model answer is study it, rebuild it yourself, then compare; what most courses forbid is submitting it as your own work.
How long should an answer to a case study question be?
Budget by marks, not by word count: one solid paragraph per five marks is the rule of thumb, each paragraph carrying evidence and a mini-conclusion. A ten-mark answer roughly doubles that. Length without a line of answer just spreads the same marks thinner.
What if the question asks for calculations I cannot work out?
Send the question and the case data. The model answer shows every step — the formula, the inputs from the case, the result — plus a sentence interpreting the number. Being able to redo the calculation alone is the test that you actually learned it.
Is a model answer the same as cheating?
Not inherently — it depends on your institution's policy and what you do with it. Worked examples are standard study materials in every discipline. We tell every student to check their course rules, and we never assist with live exam sessions.
Can you help with open-book case exams?
Yes, and open-book format changes the strategy: lookup speed stops being the bottleneck, so preparation wins. We build a pre-exam pack — a one-page case summary, ready structures for each command verb, and timed practice questions — so the exam itself is execution rather than discovery.
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