Instructions - do you read them or skip them?
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
November 27, 2010 1:50pm CST
When I was still at school our teacher gave us a kind of test. On the paper there were about 30 sentences and each sentence had a number. The sentences consisted of questions or small things that we had to do like drawing a circle, writing our name, solving a small math problem etc.
On top of the paper it said: "Do the things that are written on this paper. Be as fast as you can, you only have 5 minutes to finish the test. Read the 30 sentences carefully before you answer question number one, but remember you only have 5 minutes"
I didn't follow the instructions, I had a quick look at the sentences before I started, but I didn't read the details, because I wanted to get started as soon as possible. I managed to answer about half of the questions before our teacher told us to stop.
He asked us: "How many of you read the paper carefully before you started?" We all raised our hands, and then our teacher started laughing and said "I don't believe you, have a look at sentence number 29" The words in sentence 29 were: "When you have read everything carefully, just stay in your seat, ignore the questions and don't do anything at all" We all failed the test, but it taught us a valuable lesson 
Do you read all the instructions before you start? Did you ever get in trouble because you didn't read the instructions? 
Do you read all the instructions before you start? Did you ever get in trouble because you didn't read the instructions? 8 people like this
13 responses
@gracefuldove (1668)
• Malaysia
28 Nov 10
Well, it pays to listen to instructions. That teacher's test is so true. We are always in a rush to do but we hardly read the instructions well.
I do know of students who are requested to use black ink on the answer sheet but they wrote in blue ink. I think penalties were levied on them for disregarding instructions. Thankfully they did pass their examinations. They have to thank their lucky stars for that!
3 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Nov 10
Yes, when we had that test we all focused on the time. We only had 5 minutes, so we didn't want to waste precious minutes on reading all of the questions before we started, but if we have read it we would have known that there was no reason to rush. My friend once did something like the students you wrote about. She didn't read the instructions and misunderstood the question, and she failed the exam.
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
28 Nov 10
During a test? Yes, i would read all the instructions very carefully !! They might change the course even..
Moreover, reading the instructions will not be counted to the time u write the test.
When i'm operating something like e TV or a Fridge or riding a bike, i will not read the instructions, i will just blindly do it..
But, when it comes to test or exam, it is highly recommended to watch the instructions very carefully !!!!
3 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Nov 10
I have also learned to read the instructions carefully when I get a test. If I don't read the instructions I might fail the test, because I didn't do the things that I was asked to do. The test that I wrote about when I started the discussion taught me an important lesson. When I use a tv, stereo, cell phone etc I don't usually read the instructions, I just use my experience from other areas and experiment/learn by trial and error.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
28 Nov 10
I often have a bad habit when it comes to reading instructions. i think i can get by without reading them all the way through. it usually never fails. i get to a point where I really should have paid more attention to the instructions. I end up going back to the beginning and do what i should've done from the start.3 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Nov 10
I have experienced the same thing sometimes. I remember when my mother and I were going to assemble a chair together. It looked pretty easy and we decided to do it without reading the instructions. When we finished it fell apart, because we missed something We had to start over and follow the instructions step by step, but we would have saved a lot of time if we had read the instructions from the beginning.
We had to start over and follow the instructions step by step, but we would have saved a lot of time if we had read the instructions from the beginning.
@achilles2010 (3051)
• India
28 Nov 10
Even here on mylot we receive notifications and find that our so many posts are deleted. It is because be did not bother to read the F.A.Q or the guidelines. We do the same in other matters too and more often than not come to grief because of our tendency not to read the instructions.
3 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Nov 10
It is annoying to spend a long of time on a response and lose it when it gets deleted, so it is definately a good idea to read the the FAQ and the guidelines. When we know the rules it is much easier to avoid that kind of situations. Sometimes we think that we can save some time by skipping the instructions, but in the end we might end up wasting time instead of saving time at least in some situations.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
27 Nov 10
Where do you study, what kind of school? I just wondered because I have never had a test where the format was the same every year. In my school the teachers usually changed the test from year to year, and we had many different kinds of tests. My favourite tests were the tests that we got in my Danes classed, because I found the topics more interesting than the ones in the other subjects. We were often able to choose between 5 or 6 different topics and that was nice.
2 people like this
@cryox92 (168)
• Macedonia
28 Nov 10
I don't usually read the test instructions, but sometimes when i get confused regarding the question i tend to read and examine the instructions thoroughly. But most of my teachers usually explain what you need to do in each exercise so there is no need to read the instructions :).
2 people like this
@ganeshprabhuk (1722)
• India
28 Nov 10
In case I am writing examination,I make sure I read the instructions carefully. But filling up other documents or opening an account, I never read the instructions. Even while taking a loan also, I do not read the instructions. Thats it. I have not faced any problem till now due to this.
2 people like this
@shaggin (72184)
• United States
28 Nov 10
Haha I have never gotten a test like that. I probably would have done the same thing as you. I teach my daughter to read the instructions very carefully for this exact reason you dont want to get things wrong that you would know the correct answer to just because you rushed through it without reading the instructions. Your teacher taught you a very important lesson for life in a very simple way!
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29086)
• United States
27 Apr 11
Hi. Porcospino. I have never remember getting a test like this before. I do try to read all of the instructions that are being given on the test. It is very crucial that I do. I have taken many surveys on mturk.com and the surveys may say at the end of it, to follow a certain instruction before submitting the test. The question throws a person off because the person who made the survey just wants to see if we are following instructions. I usually am. Well now you know what to look out for when taking test from now on. I know to as well myself. I will definitely look out for a test like the one that you have had!
1 person likes this
@starlight_starbright (810)
• Philippines
28 Nov 10
Hi porcospino,
I could still remember my teacher way back in the Elementary Grades saying that "the instructions are always the most important part in every exam". Do not miss out the instruction before taking a medicine, before using a new product or even in the trying out some foods in food preparation.
There was a time when I took the Career Service examination when the answers in the succeeding items was actually the opposite of the 20 items that I have previously answered. I didn't take notice of it until I reached the item number 19 of the second set wherein obviously the answer is actually the opposite based on the choices. I went back to the first set checked each item.
Bingo! The instruction for the second set of the same category was written at the bottom of the page just right after the last question. I hurriedly changed my answers the! It was such a relief and there I have almost fail in the exam for not having read the instructions. 
Bingo! The instruction for the second set of the same category was written at the bottom of the page just right after the last question. I hurriedly changed my answers the! It was such a relief and there I have almost fail in the exam for not having read the instructions. 2 people like this
