How to Prepare for and Take Essay Exams

How to Prepare for and Take Essay Exams

Preparing for the exam:

· Reread all materials and notes.

· Predict possible test questions; flag these when reading or reviewing.

· Be attentive to the lecturer to determine what is emphasized and what the questions are that are directed to students for responses.

· Listen for key words in lecture (e.g. "you should remember," "this is important," and "it is critical that you understand").

· Familiarize yourself with the vocabulary of the course.

· Know and understand key concepts of the subject.

Taking the Exam:

· Read the question carefully. Find out exactly what the essay question is asking. Deconstruct the question into smaller parts so you don't miss a second question imbedded in the larger question.

· Underline the key verbs used in the question such as trace, analyze, compare, etc.

· Be sure you use the writing strategy required. If the question asks you to compare two aspects, note the similarities and don't just discuss generally or summarize.

· Make an outline in the margin so you know the direction and organization