Essay Exam Tips
Anne Reith, Ph.D.
Learning Disabilities Specialist
Budget Your Time
- Look at the weighting and budget time accordingly
Really Look At The Question
Key words:
- underline the verbs
- don't describe when asked to compare & contrast
- don't explain when asked to argue
Think Before You Write
One approach:
- Write down all the facts, ideas, concepts, etc., that you feel need to be included
- Organize them in order (number them, outline)
- Compose your first paragraph (should summarize and introduce key points). This is where superior papers and essay answers are make or unmade
- Write essay has legibly as possible
- End with paragraph that offers more than just a summation
- Re-read your essay and proof, edit, add, delete as appropriate
Additional Tips
- Few teachers will be impressed by length
Well-organized, well-constructed, specific answers will always get a better grade than "shotgunning" - Be smart about space
Leave room in margins or use every other line
Don't write so small itís difficult to read - Don't write and run
Sit with the essay for a few minutes and just think to make sure you've included everything; make absolutely sure you canít add anything more to your essay - If you run out of time:
Quickly do Steps #1 & #2 above and most teachers will give you partial credit - If the question is very broad:
The teacher is testing your ability to "edit yourself, to organize, and summarize the important points"
Common Instructional Verbs on Essay Tests
| Compare | Examine two or more objects, ideas, people, etc., and not similarities and differences. |
| Contrast | Compare to highlight differences. Synonyms: Differentiate, distinguish |
| Criticize | Judge and discuss merits and faults. Synonyms: Critique |
| Define | Explain the nature or essential qualities. |
| Describe | Convey the appearance, nature, attributes, etc. |
| Discuss | Consider or examine by argument, comment, etc. Synonyms: Debate, explore solutions |
| Enumerate | List various events, things, descriptions, ideas, etc. |
| Evaluate | Appraise the worth of an idea, comment, etc., and justify your conclusions. |
| Explain | Make the meaning of something clear, plain, intelligible and/or understandable. |
| Illustrate | Use specific examples or analogies to explain. |
| Interpret | Give the meaning of something by paraphrase, by translation, or by an explanation based on personal opinion. |
| Justify | Defend a statement or conclusion. Synonym: Support |
| Narrate | Recount the occurrence of something, usually by giving details of events in the order in which they occurred. Synonym: Describe (but only applicable to something that happens in time) |
| Outline | Do a general sketch, account, or report, indicating only the main features of a book, subject, or project. |
| Prove | Establish the truth or genuineness by evidence or argument. In math, verify validity by mathematical demonstration. Synonyms: Show, explain why, demonstrate |
| Relate | Give an account of events and/or circumstances, usually to establish associations, connections, or relationships. |
| Review | Survey a topic, occurrence, or idea, generally but critically. Synonyms: Describe, discuss, illustrate, outline, summarize, trace (some test makers may use these words virtually interchangeably, although one can find subtle differences in each) |
| State | Present the facts concisely. Synonyms: Name, list, indicate, identify, enumerate, cite |
| Summarize | State in concise form, omitting examples and details. |
| Trace | Follow the course or history of an occurrence, idea, etc. |
Based on: Fry, R. (1996). "Ace" any test (3rd ed.). Career Press: Franklin Lakes, NJ.