How to Take an Essay Exam
Essay exams are tough because they require you to do a lot more thinking than a multiple-choice or true-or-false exam.
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Things You'll Need
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Instructions
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Look over the entire exam so that you know all the tasks that lie before you.
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Order the questions according to what you know best. Start with the one you feel you can answer best.
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Set a time limit for each question, and stick to it.
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Make an outline to structure your answer. Follow your outline as you write.
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Don't look over your answer once you're done; instead, move on to the next question. If you have time left over, then go over your answers.
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Remember to pay more attention to content than to style. Your teacher understands the tight constraints of an essay exam and will make allowances.
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Tips & Warnings
Your most effective weapon in taking an essay exam is studying well. (See "How to Study for an Essay Exam.")
Bring a watch so that you don't have to rely on anyone else's timekeeping.
If your teacher likes certain buzzwords, throw them in. Just make sure you use them correctly.
If you feel a time crunch, don't panic. Instead, take a deep breath, and spend a minute or two thinking about how to rebudget your time.
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Comments
View all 8 Comments-
rhyme
Aug 15, 2007
If you run out of time on one question, leave it and get on with the others. But leave yourself a blank page or two so that you come come back to it if you have time. At the end of your time limit, rule a line through any pages that are still blank so that the examiner doesn't see a blank page and think you haven't answered any of the rest! -
rhyme
Aug 15, 2007
If you run out of time on one question, leave it and get on with the others. But leave yourself a blank page or two so that you come come back to it if you have time. At the end of your time limit, rule a line through any pages that are still blank so that the examiner doesn't see a blank page and think you haven't answered any of the rest!
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Feb 10, 2006
The first step in the writing process would be to read the question. Not skim, but fully read it. Make sure you understand exactly what you have to include in your essay. Before you begin the essay, make an outline! Even if space isn't specifically provided to make an outline, at least find room to make bullets or something. Outlines help you organize your ideas into specific paragraphs. That way, you don't forget to put in something, your ideas go together, and your essay is most likely smooth and coherent. When writing the essay, follow your outline. Make new paragraphs noticeable, your essay shouldn't be one long paragraph. Take deep breaths occasionally if you are overwhelmed. When you finish your essay, proofread it for any typos or anything you want to change. Try to utilize all the time given to you. When the time is up, instead of worrying about how you did on your essay or if you left anything out of it, think about something else. There's nothing more that can be done about the essay, so it is best to relax and maybe congratulate yourself on getting through the essay.
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Feb 10, 2006
The first step in the writing process would be to read the question. Not skim, but fully read it. Make sure you understand exactly what you have to include in your essay. Before you begin the essay, make an outline! Even if space isn't specifically provided to make an outline, at least find room to make bullets or something. Outlines help you organize your ideas into specific paragraphs. That way, you don't forget to put in something, your ideas go together, and your essay is most likely smooth and coherent. When writing the essay, follow your outline. Make new paragraphs noticeable, your essay shouldn't be one long paragraph. Take deep breaths occasionally if you are overwhelmed. When you finish your essay, proofread it for any typos or anything you want to change. Try to utilize all the time given to you. When the time is up, instead of worrying about how you did on your essay or if you left anything out of it, think about something else. There's nothing more that can be done about the essay, so it is best to relax and maybe congratulate yourself on getting through the essay.
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Jan 06, 2006
Pay attention to the teacher, professor, or any other person that teaches your class. Tape record lectures and take notes all the time.
