Writing essay exams can be challenging, especially if they’re timed.
General Tips
The following general tips provide some information about how to approach this task successfully:
- Prepare effectively by reading and reviewing the course material beforehand.
- Understand the exam question–what you’re being asked to address.
- Look for clues in the exam prompt to help you organize your response.
- Provide appropriate evidence and examples to support your claims.
- Leave yourself time to proofread before turning in your exam.
Resources
Some resources for writing essay exams:
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill’s “Essay Exams”.
- Indiana University’s “Taking an Essay Exam”.
- Common structures you can use to organize an essay exam from Purdue OWL.
- Essay exam advice with examples from a Sociology course from Rice University.