For some reason, people are amused by silly exam paper mistakes, so much so that they will even Google “exam answers funny!”
From accidental puns to smart-alec answers, funny exam answers by students have entertained educators, and even the public, for years.
Believe it or not, there are even books to be read on the topic of funny exam mistakes. There is even an award given for the most funny exam paper answers.
Part of the charm regarding these academic blunders is that no one really knows when they are supposed to be jokes or are legitimate answers to test questions. It could easily be that the stress that students are under cause them to make blunders that are probably less intentional than some people like to believe.
So, if you’re one of those people who find exam paper mistakes entertaining enough to even consult the internet by searching “exam answers funny,” then this article is for you.
We hope these funny exam mistakes make you laugh as much as they did for us, but for a more serious look at how to avoid common exam mistakes, check out our article on that.
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Funny Exam Paper Answers: Spelling
Incorrect spelling can be funny at the best of times, but back in 1999, several emails circulated on the newly-born internet that shared some of the strangely spelt words in funny exam answers by students.
Awkward Spelling Errors
One student made an unwitting comment on the potential struggle of marriage by answering that Socrates died from “an overdose of wedlock”, while ancient Egypt was said by another student to be occupied by people who “wrote in hydraulics.”
These could have been intentional smart-alec answers but one thing that is for sure is that they are wrong.
Other classic exam paper mistakes include one student’s description of the exploits of Sir Francis Drake, who wrote that he had “circumcised the world with a 100-foot clipper.” We’re not sure if this is anatomically possible, but it certainly doesn’t sound pleasant.
Meanwhile, another poor student offered that the people he or she described in “midevil times were alliterate.”
Make sure that your spelling doesn’t come up when someone searches “exam answers funny” on the internet!
Our Favourite Funny Exam Answers By Students
Two of our favourites are reasonable mistakes. They are errors that anyone could make. Honestly, it’s probably why that makes them so laugh-out-loud hilarious.
One student, when describing the reasons for the triumphs of fascism during the 1930s in Spain, commented that “General Franco was supported by right-wing panties”. Another, in the meantime, analysed how “in 1945, Stalin began to build a buffet zone in Eastern Europe”. In reality, it would have been great if these individuals were indeed such fun-loving leaders.
Oh, come on – it is funny!
Find more common exam mistakes here.
Historical Bloopers in Test Papers
History is full of characters and events that are silly enough and don’t need further embellishing to make them any more absurd.
However, funny exam paper answers don’t require logical explanations and we really cannot tell if they are intentional or not.
But who would deliberately throw marks away? Perhaps people who are not interested in the difference between a 4 and a 5 in their results?
Consider a private online tutor to help you breeze through your exams.
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Funny History Exam Paper Mistakes
While wrong, one student’s comment on British history is almost poetic:
“The sun never sets on the British Empire because the British Empire is in the East and the sun sets in the West.”
Who knows whether this is a geography or history error, but either way, it is very wrong.
Adding to the list of funny exam paper answers is one person’s analysis of the history of sexuality. According to the university student, “sex has puzzled biologists since it was discovered by Darwin and Mendel.”
Finally, our favourite howler may not be that wrong after all. According to his student, “Jesus was probably the main factor why the American Civil War was fought the way it was. Not only was Jesus super cool he was really smart. He was born in 1923.”
Perhaps when we said “maybe not so wrong” we are being extremely generous. Even so, that must be one of the most funny exam answers by students we have come across.
On a much more serious note, find out to avoid mistakes in exams.
Funny Exam Mistakes in Science
We know that history is supposed to be the kind of subject that allows quite a high level of creative freedom. In history, you are typically writing essays and not answering multiple-choice questions. Surprisingly, some people are even able to make the most horrendous exam paper mistakes when answering multiple-choice questions.
To make it worse, this is also possible in a precise discipline like Science!
Science Exam Paper Mistakes
So, brace yourself this is one that you may not have come across in your ‘exam answers funny’ search.
According to one Science student, there are three main types of blood vessels (this is funny): “arteries, vanes, and caterpillars”. We’re assuming that you hardly noticed the spelling error because the rest was so good.
There’s more.
Yet another accidental poet, or maybe philosopher, declared that “the Earth makes one resolution every 24 hours.”
We love the notion of the Earth deciding to do things – and so often! Obviously, you do know what they really meant to write – right?
Again, we’re not sure if the following is an innocent mistake or a smart-ass answer, you decide. “Parallel lines never meet, unless you bend one or both of them”.
Logical, you could say, even wise. At least give them acknowledgement for pragmatism and scientific frame of mind.
One of our favourite science exam paper mistakes is the answer to the question, “Explain why phosphorus trichloride is polar” – however, it could be the response to all questions of science in the entire universe: “God made it that way”.
Well, yes, maybe he did – where is the mistake?
Exam Answers: Funny One's Best Forgotten
There are hundreds of examples when it comes to funny exam answers by students. From mathematical and grammatical errors to punctuation and spelling mistakes, there are infinite opportunities for a laugh in every subject ever to be tested.
Sadly, there is not enough time to cover them all in one article and chances are they may not appeal to everyone, however, it is better to laugh at them here than let the joke be on you in your final exam.
Finally, here are a few general exam mistakes that we just couldn’t leave out. We hope you find them as humorous as we did. Also, do remember not to beat yourself up too hard if you have made any classic errors yourself.
Did you know that even exam boards are known to make mistakes too?
Other Silly Exam Mistakes
One student newspaper writes that some unfortunate student spent an exam writing about gnomes – when the question asked was in fact about genomes. We hope that this is not the case as that would really be stretching things a tad too far.
Meanwhile, over at another university – in the business studies department this time (so perhaps you can forgive them) – one student was questioned about the “four Ps of marketing”.
The student's answer? “Product, price, place, distribution”. Oh gosh – remember what your teacher has probably told you a dozen times about reading the question with great care.
Another student, hypothetically even in the same subject, was questioned about how to make commerce and industry more globally competitive. “Put PT teachers in charge” was the answer. As good a suggestion as any other, really.
Avoid Making the Same Silly Mistakes
Whether you are writing matric or sitting in a practice test or mock exam, remember that everyone makes mistakes.
When you do, the trick is to aim to avoid the unnecessary ones and the hilarious ones that eventually become public.
While these are funny examples, remember that exams are serious and that you should do your best to take your preparation seriously too. Then after you have done all that you can, make sure that you are rested knowing that there is nothing else that you can do.
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