Exam Tips for Longer Essay Questions

Longer essay questions are designed to test your knowledge of concepts and to assess your ability to write logically and concisely.

Preparation

• Make yourself thoroughly familiar with your set texts.(Read texts for main ideas, details, recall. Test your recall.)
• Use your lecture notes as guide posts to major aspects of study upon which you can develop your reading and study programs.
• Check the adequacy of your lecture notes, your Unit Outline and requirements.
• Check that you have sufficient and adequate notes on specific areas of the course that you believe will appear on the examination paper.
• If available, consult recent examination papers to obtain an indication of the kinds of questions which may be asked.
• Attempt some of these questions under simulated examination conditions in your own study time. Such practice will help you to develop your own most effective techniques for answering such questions.
• For every examination, draw up the content of your subject areas into main areas and sub-sections.
• Organise your study timetable on the basis of your strengths and weaknesses in your various subjects. You will need to devote more time to some subjects than others.
• In your revision make abstracts of the basic facts relevant to the sub-sections of the various topics.

In the Examination

• Read and interpret the question/s carefully. Avoid hasty reading.
• Underline the key words.(Key words are topical terms and concepts. They are the operational words telling you how to answer the question.)
• Write down your initial ideas. Look for central themes, concepts and connecting thoughts which relate to the question.
• Pay particular attention to the “directive” words – compare, contrast, discuss, argue, etc.
• Organise ideas into a simple and logical structure.
• Choose five major points and organise them into a relevant structure.
• Outline your essay. Write a brief outline:
  • Introductory paragraph (introduce the topic, tell the marker how you will structure the essay and your position);
  • Major points identified above are then systematically written about in succeeding paragraphs (set up logical arguments – pros and cons);
  • Summarise your argument;
  • Re-affirm your position.
• Go directly to the point, telling the marker what you are going to say and how you are going to present the argument. (Thesis statement and directions.)
• Focus on the major points you are trying to present.Remember to use transitional linking phrases or sentences, eg, on the other hand, in addition, consideration of A & B has shown…, the situation C can also be linked to A & B or can be regarded…
• Summarise your argument, rephrasing your thesis statement found in your introduction, gathering up the points of your argument.

Remember to check your essay for spelling and grammatical errors and ambigous sentences and phrases. Attempt every question required of you in the examination.