Preparing for Essay Examinations
How to plan, structure and time an essay answer under exam conditions.
An essay exam rewards a clear argument supported by evidence. You do not need to write everything you know. You need to answer the question that was asked.
Before the exam
- List likely themes from your course and write a short outline for each.
- Collect key evidence: dates, quotations, formulas, examples, case studies, depending on the subject.
- Practise planning. Take a past or sample question and write a five-minute plan without writing the essay.
In the exam: the first five minutes
- Read the question twice.
- Circle the command word and underline the topic. See exam command words.
- Write a short plan: a one-sentence answer to the question, then three or four points with the evidence for each.
Structure
- Introduction: respond to the question directly and state your main position in one or two sentences.
- Body paragraphs: one point per paragraph. State the point, give evidence, explain how the evidence supports the point, and link back to the question.
- Conclusion: answer the question again, summarising the reasoning. Do not add new points.
See essay structure basics and thesis statements.
Time
Divide time by marks. If an essay is worth a third of the exam, give it roughly a third of the time, including planning and a short check. Stop writing a paragraph when your time for it is up, even if you have more to say.
Common mistakes
- Writing everything you know about the topic instead of answering the question.
- Beginning without a plan and drifting.
- Giving evidence without explaining why it matters.
- Running out of time before a conclusion. A short conclusion is better than none.
Quick recap
Plan first, answer the question directly, one point per paragraph with evidence and explanation, watch the clock, and finish with a conclusion.