Preparation for essay exams
Do essay exams create more anxiety for you than objective exams?
Fear of unknown essay questions can be reduced if you follow these three simple
steps:
Step 1. Develop your own practice essay questions by looking over your
notes and textbook assignments. Do past papers.
Step 2. Plan a variety of outline responses to 10 or more possible questions.
Step 3. Memorise the outlines using memory maps or mnemonic (memory) devices.
Step 4. Practise writing an essay within a specific time constraint. This is
especially helpful if you have difficulty completing your tests within the prescribed
time.
Once you have revised and prepared for the test, you need to learn a few more
skills that are particularly important on essay exams.
Essay writing skills
Skill 1. Read each question carefully and underline key words in the different
parts of the question. When you are asked to 'trace' the development of social
reform in Britain, you need to describe the historical development of the
subject. On the other hand, when you are asked to 'criticise' a poem or
book, you are expected to show the positive and negative points and
support your ideas with evidence.
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