If you’ve spent the last few weeks staring at a stack of PR textbooks wondering how “spin” differs from “strategic communication,” you aren’t alone. Public Relations is one of those subjects that feels intuitive until you’re sitting in an exam hall and have to explain the theoretical difference between a “public” and a “stakeholder.”
Below is the exam paper download link
Above is the exam paper download link
The secret to passing—and passing well—isn’t just reading more chapters. It’s about interrogating the material. By using past papers, you stop being a student and start thinking like a PR practitioner. Below, we’ve tackled three common “Introduction to Public Relations” exam questions to give you a head start on your revision.
Q1: Defining the “RACE” Model
Question: Public Relations is often described as a process. Explain the RACE model and why research is the most critical stage.
The Insider Answer: The RACE model is the backbone of any PR campaign. It stands for Research, Action, Communication, and Evaluation.
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Research: Identifying the problem or opportunity. Who are we talking to?
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Action: Planning the strategy. What are we going to do about it?
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Communication: Executing the message. How do we tell the story?
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Evaluation: Measuring the results. Did it work?
The Revision Tip: Examiners love to see you argue that Research is the “make or break” phase. Without it, you’re just throwing darts in the dark. If you don’t understand your audience’s pain points, your brilliant “Communication” phase will land with a thud.
Q2: Publics vs. Stakeholders
Question: Are “publics” and “stakeholders” the same thing? Provide a clear distinction with examples.
The Insider Answer: Think of Stakeholders as the broad group of people who have a “stake” in an organization—employees, investors, or the local community. They are always there.
A Public, however, is a group that arises in response to a specific situation. For example, if a factory plans to expand, the “local community” (Stakeholders) might become an “Active Public” (Protestors or Supporters) because of that specific issue.
The Revision Tip: In your exam, use a real-world scenario like a product recall. The stakeholders are the customers; the “public” consists of the media outlets and concerned parents specifically discussing the recall.
Q3: Crisis Communication Tactics
Question: When an organization faces a reputation crisis, what are the three immediate steps a PR department should take?
The Insider Answer: While every crisis is different, the “Golden Rules” usually involve:
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Acknowledge and Apologize: Don’t wait for all the facts to show empathy. Silence is seen as guilt.
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Designate a Single Spokesperson: To avoid “he-said, she-said” confusion, one person should be the face of the response.
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Transparency: Be honest about what you know and, more importantly, what you are doing to fix it.
Why Downloading Past Papers is a Game Changer
You can’t learn to swim by reading a book about water, and you can’t learn PR by just highlighting definitions. You need to practice the “mental gymnastics” of applying theory to scenarios.
Our Introduction to Public Relations Past Paper Pack includes:
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Section A: Short-answer definitions (Ethics, Spin, Lobbying).
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Section B: Case studies where you play the role of a PR Consultant.
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Section C: Essay prompts on the history of PR (from Ivy Lee to the digital age).
[Download the Introduction to PR Past Paper PDF Pack Here]
Your Final Revision Hack
When you download these papers, don’t just read the questions—write out the answers. Your hand needs to get used to the pace of an exam. If you can explain a concept to a friend (or even your dog) without looking at your notes, you’re ready.
