9 Steps to Deal With Essay Questions on Exams

Getting stuck on essay questions is a common problem for many students, and it can be challenging to figure out how to approach them. But with adequate preparation, you'll be able to handle essay questions with more confidence. If you are quite busy studying and working simultaneously, essay writing services may save your time and let you focus on urgent work tasks. Today we will go over nine different ways to deal with these types of questions during an exam.

Read the Question Carefully

Failing to understand essay requirements is the surest way to fail the essay question. Read it keenly and ensure you understand what you are required to do.

It's also important to read between the lines, and you can do this by sparing some time to ask yourself some questions before you begin to write a response. For instance, if you are writing a cause and effect essay, check the guidelines keenly and determine your approach.

Note the Keywords

Every essay question has keywords. These words and phrases are what the question is about. Write down these key terms on scrap paper so you can refer back to them as needed later on while writing your response.

At this point, it helps to reflect on what you learned in class.

Tip: You can identify the keywords by looking for words/phrases that repeatedly appear in the prompt, for example, qualitative vs quantitative analysis, advantages and disadvantages, etc. Note all the nouns included in the question for perspective.

Prepare an Outline for Your Essay

Before you write your essay, always draft an outline. This will help you plan out the structure of your response before you have written anything on paper and ensure that all aspects of the question are addressed.

Preparing an outline for your essay involves brainstorming all possible points that might come up from reading just the prompt and key terms. The more ideas you list down, the easier it will be to write your paper.

Then you can organize your points into an order that makes sense. It might take some time, but it will save you from making unnecessary mistakes in your answer.

Organize Your Ideas in Paragraphs

Your paragraph should contain one main idea or argument to avoid leaving your reader confused. Here are the components of a paragraph:

- Topic sentence (the first sentence);
- Supporting evidence and examples that back up the point you are making in the topic sentence;
- Conclusion to sum things up and make a solid final argument or opinion.

You can use transition words like "furthermore" or "aside from this" and "however" to let the reader know you're switching from one point to another.

Use Simple Sentences

One way to ensure that you are clear is to use simple sentences. A sentence with more than two clauses should be rewritten, either by combining the clauses into one sentence or separating them, so they are not too complicated for your reader.

To ensure your sentences are simple, use the Subject-Verb Agreement and keep your sentences short and to the point. Short sentences are easier to read than long ones. If you use more than two commas in a row without adding any material, the chances are that your sentence is too long.

Include Examples in Your Essay

Using relevant examples in your essay can help your writing. It can make it easier to understand what you are talking about and helps with your essay's flow.

If an example is not possible, then be sure to include a relevant analogy, use words that readers will know without explanation, or provide definitions, like what is an expository essay, etc. You can introduce your example by using phrases or words. These include:

- for example;
- for instance;
- to illustrate;
- like;
- as a case in point.

Take Note of Allocated Time

You can have all the best points for your essay, but it will be difficult for you if you don't have enough time to write. Ensure that when you're writing your exam answer, you know how much time you were allocated.

Keep an eye on the clock throughout the exam to avoid rushing through your essay, which could lead to leaving out vital information.

Include Evidence to Support Your Argument in Essays

When writing an essay, you must include evidence to support your argument to avoid misunderstandings and confusion about what you have written.

You should also make sure that this evidence follows your instructor's guidelines to avoid penalization.

You can use various types of evidence to back up your argument depending on the type, size, and complexity of what you are trying to argue.

For example, if your paper argues that intelligence cannot be determined by SAT scores alone, you might want to include an excerpt from a book or journal to make your answer more convincing.

Check for Mistakes Before Submission

Spelling and grammar mistakes are prevalent, especially in longer pieces of writing.

The best way to find mistakes is by reading your paper aloud and proofreading for errors such as missing words or typos that you might not have caught the first time around.

To Conclude

If you want better grades in your next exam, consider these steps. It might feel demanding at first, but it will get easier with practice. Your results will thank you for all the work you put in toward writing better essays. Implement these tips right away and watch your grades soar.