How to Write an Essay Under Exam Conditions

10 minutes - You will have a specified time to write each essay. Aim to spend roughly 10 minutes (or more) planning and thinking. You may think that this is a huge chunk out of the time available but it is time well spent. It will save you time overall and will mean you do most of the thinking at the start, allowing you to spend the rest of the time writing.

Study the question - The first thing is to study the question. You are not being asked to 'write everything you know about …'. You are being asked a specific question that needs an answer that is directly related to it.

Brainstorm - Once you are sure what the question is asking of you, the next thing you should do is brainstorm. Simply write down everything you can think of in brief notes and in no particular order just to get it out of your mind and on to paper. You can organise it later but initially you will have a record of relevant points and information to include. They might remind you of other things too.