Essay Exams

Essay exams are designed to test your ability to synthesise information and to organise your thoughts on paper. The following points are designed to help you prepare for essay style examinations.

Be familiar with the terminology used in essay exam questions

Make sure you understand the question and are clear about what you are being asked to do. Terms like:

• compare
• trace
• illustrate
• evaluate

all have different meanings and will require a different style of answer.

Take time to read the exam paper thoroughly

Not reading questions properly is a common mistake made in essay exams. Therefore, make sure you read each question carefully and be sure you understand exactly what the question is asking.

If the question is ambiguous, unclear or too broad, clearly write your interpretation of the question before answering.

Plan before you write

Don't write your essay off the top of your head - the results will be disorganised and incoherent. Before you start writing, jot down your ideas and organise them into an essay plan.

• You can write a plan on the exam paper itself, or on any spare paper you have with you.
• Begin by thinking about how you will answer the question.
• Note the main information in point form. Doing this will also help you think about your answer.

Number your answers

If you have to write more than one essay, always indicate the number of the essay so it is clear which question you are answering.

Hint: You don't have to answer questions in the order in which they appear in the exam paper. Start with the easiest one first and do the hardest last. This approach reduces anxiety and can facilitate clear thinking.

Make sure you time yourself on each question

Another common mistake made in essay exams is running out of time.

• Allocate time for each question. If you need to write two essays in two hours, then allocate 1 hour per question.
• Start with the easiest one first and do the hardest last. This approach reduces anxiety and helps you think more clearly.

Always give your answer in the first sentence

A good technique is to use the wording of the question in your answer. For example:

"How do the goals of liberal and socialist feminism differ?"

You could begin your essay with:

"The goals of liberal and socialist feminism differ in three main ways . . ."

This approach makes sure you answer the question, and makes the exam easier to mark.

Make sure you structure your essay

An Introduction

An introduction should explicitly state your answer and the organisation of the essay. For example:

"The goals of liberal and socialist feminism differ in three main ways. The first is that . . . The second is . . . and the third main area of difference lies in the . . . This essay will argue that although these differences exist in approaches, the practices of liberal and socialist feminism have become very similar".

The Body

The Body of your essay should include:

• supporting material
• appropriate details for your answer.

Make sure you structure the body of the essay as you indicated in your introduction. Use transitions to tie your ideas together. This will make your essay flow. If you feel you are losing the plot, go back and reread the question and your introduction.

The Conclusion

In your Conclusion, re-answer the question and refer briefly to the main points in the body. Show HOW you have answered the question. For example:

"In conclusion, it is clear that although liberal and socialist feminism originally held differing views on how to attain their goals, a realistic assessment now shows that their practice has become very similar. This is most clearly illustrated by . . . (give your best example and end the essay).

If you run out of time, answer in point form

Markers will often give you some marks for this.

Try to write as legibly as possible

• Print your answers instead of using cursive writing.
• Be aware of grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• If you are using exam booklets, write on every second line.
• If you have time at the end of the exam, proof read your essay for grammatical and spelling errors.
• Leave space in between answers in case you have time to add any information you didn't include in your essays.

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