How To Answer Essay Questions To Get The Best Grades

Essay style exams are becoming increasingly popular in both job and college applications. This is because essays show an applicant's ability to think logically and clearly. If you're going to be a taking an exam like this, keep several things in mind to help increase your score.

Read the Questions Carefully

Whether you're going to be writing on one question or more, first figure out what the topic is and the type of answer it requires. Read each question carefully. Oftentimes, you might just scan the question briefly and then start writing. Even though you might think this will save you time, it won't. Take the time to first completely understand the question, because it's really an investment in your future. If you need to, circle the keywords in the questions so that when you begin to write, you can always briefly looked up at your circled words to help you stay on topic.

Let the Ideas Flow

As you read over the questions, it's likely that you're going to begin to think of responses right away, too. As you do, take a moment to simply jot down these ideas in the test booklet's margin. Use whatever is going to help you remember your initial thoughts. Words, short phrases, and the like will do very well. Writers already know that when they release their thoughts on paper, they allow even more ideas to come to their minds. Therefore, take a moment to write down your ideas, too, and you'll do the same.

Make Stress Your Friend

Like it or not, your stress level is going to increase during an exam, and this is normal. However, this can also be an advantage to you, since your mind is going to work much faster than normal. If you completely focus on the test in front of you, you'll do much better. If you do this, you can come up with an amazing amount of information. Stress is your body's response to being put under pressure, and it can also increase your ability to form logical thoughts and sentences. So accept that the stress is going to be there and use it to your advantage.

Use an Outline

On average, it takes about 2 minutes to outline an essay, but that time spent will increase your ability to write it. Once you thoroughly understand the question and have jotted down a few immediate thoughts, sketch an outline for the essay to follow. The subheadings on the outline will turn into the first sentences of your paragraphs, saving you time and increasing your logical progression of thoughts.

Control Any Urges To Ramble

Taking a moment to outline your essay is going to help keep you from rambling. You can also use the outline thoughts as subheadings or as the first line of each paragraph for your essay. Whether you do it on purpose (to fill white space: bad idea) or as a result of poor organisation, rambling doesn't make you look good to the examiner. Be clear, concise and succinct in your answers, and this will increase your chances of success.

Time's Up

If you've got a particular amount of time to finish each question, make sure you move on once your time is up. Don't put any "finishing touches" on any one question because you're going to need this time to finish the whole exam. Move onto the next question so that you give each one adequate time. In addition, each question may become progressively harder, and you'll need to stay within each question's timeframe with your responses.

Finishing

You may not be satisfied with your finished essay, but this is a completely normal response. Essay-style tests don't have definitive answers, like multiple choice tests do. Keep in mind that the scorers of your essays understand the time limits you were under and therefore are not looking for perfection. You will be scored on your progression of ideas and the ability to communicate your key points. Stay focused during the exam and you will finish well.