How to Write for Essay Exams

With many schools and colleges approaching mid-terms, it is time for students to start thinking of their first major exam.

While some teachers are going the standard multiple choice or short answer route, there will be plenty who will give the one or two questions to be answered in essay form. Here are some tips to get you prepared for the "essay exam."

Analyze the question

You may be able to get a lucky guess on a multiple choice exam, but essays require much more thought. It is important to read the question over carefully as many times as you need and analyze what it is asking. Most questions describe what the essay is supposed to cover. Look for words such as define, discuss, compare, and analyze to set the form of your answer within the context of the material covered in the exam. Some terms mean one thing in one subject and something else in another, so make sure to ask the teacher to clarify.

Brainstorm

In this case, brainstorming means to think about your answer and jot down some notes. The best method is to make a list of the major points you want to cover in your essay and write down any supporting facts or examples for them. Think of it as an outline. Use your ideas to draw out a thesis statement and create transitions for each paragraph. If you're worried that this takes up time, it actually saves time in the long run since you will know exactly what to write.

Create a draft/ revise your answer

This step is just writing the actual essay and then editing. Be sure to leave enough time to read through the essay and check for spelling errors, grammar, and complete sentences. Also, don't forget to check that the essay has a thesis statement, every major point has supporting facts, and there is a solid conclusion. Just remember the following:

• Make a clear thesis statement that answers the question.
  
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• Include all the major points and their supporting evidence.
  
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• Check for correct spelling and grammar
  
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• Make sure all writing is legible
  
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The final tip I can offer is practice. You may not know what the exam question will actually be, but by mid-term you know what material will be included. Try looking over some of your notes to see what you can write an essay on if needed. Practice brainstorming about the potential essay questions or, even better, do a timed rough draft of an essay.

As a final note, I should mention that there are other essays that can you can use these tips for. A personal statement for applications is just one example of a type of "essay exam." Since the bulk of these essays are autobiographical to include personal goals and backgrounds, the major change involves the length of time to complete the writing. Usually, there is much more time to brainstorm, draft, edit and rewrite.