Writing good essays in exams requires preparation and practice. Examiners expect a clear argument in response to the question, supported by evidence and reasoning. To prepare, students should write practice questions, outline arguments and main points for each, and rehearse writing under timed conditions. In the exam, students should take time to plan their argument before writing, structure their response with an introduction, body, and conclusion, and allocate time appropriately between essays. Preparing in this way integrates studying content with practicing important exam skills.

1. Writing Essays in Exams

2. It isn't easy to write a good essay,
and even harder under exam
conditions. Thankfully, examiners
take time constraints and nerves
into account, but preparation and
rehearsal are vital to ensure a
clearly expressed, logically
organised answer.
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3. What do examiners look for?
1. An answer to the question: every part of the question
1. Subject area knowledge
1. Understanding of relevant concepts, theories and issues
1. Critical thinking: ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate
materials
1. Written communication skills, grammar, sentence construction,
expression, punctuation and spelling
1. An overarching argument and ability to support that argument
with reasoning and evidence
1. You should mention major authors, but formal citation is not
necessary
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4. How do you structure an
essay in an exam?
Basically an essay is an answer to a question or response to a statement in
one or two sentences, i.e. an argument.
Your essay will also include:
An introduction - to provide necessary background before your argument
A main body - which gives reasons and evidence to support your argument
A conclusion - which restates your argument in the light of evidence and
reasoning.
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5. How can you prepare?
1. Gather information
• Look through course objectives and lecture notes for main
theories, arguments controversies and skills. These are a guide
to the most likely questions. Write questions.
• Use questions from old exam papers –look for aspects of topic
not covered. Write more questions.
• Refer to your notes: how could you most completely answer
each question in one sentence? i.e. write an argument for each.
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6. How can you prepare?
2. Prepare for each question (dot points):
• What background information is necessary to introduce your argument?
(introduction)
• What supporting points are needed to fully explain your argument? (main body)
• How can you summarise your main points in the conclusion ? Write down some
vocabulary that condenses the ideas. e.g. social, emotional and psychological =
human
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7. How can you prepare?
3. Practise to time limits
Tackle as many of your questions as you can, writing under exam
conditions - i.e. with time limits and without extensive editing
Review your efforts - What did you leave out? What should you
give more time to? What subskills do you need to practice, e.g.
planning, writing full sentences, recalling terms in your discipline.
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8. In the exam• In reading time, try to think of an overarching answer to each
essay question
• When writing time starts, jot down your main argument and
major supporting points - add extra detail as it comes to you
• Remember to include an intro to your main argument, a main
body that supports the argument, and a tight summary at the
end.
• Allot time for each essay and stick to it. If pressed, you can
always finish the essay with dot points, but remember that
full sentences will be awarded higher marks.
• Set aside time at the end to look over each essay - are all
details relevant to the main argument?
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9. Remember, preparing in this way is
actually studying: it is not taking time
away from your study. Prepare for
the task while you prepare the
information.
This way, you are practising the skills
as well as the content, and can enter
the exam with more confidence