essay on preparation for exam

Essay on My Preparation for Examination

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Preparation for Examination in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Preparation for Examination

Understanding the syllabus.

My preparation for examinations begins with understanding the syllabus. I carefully read through all the topics to know what I need to study.

Making a Study Plan

Next, I create a study plan. This includes allocating time for each subject, ensuring I cover all the topics.

Study Materials

I gather all necessary study materials, including textbooks, notes, and reference books. These resources help me understand the subject better.

Finally, I revise all the topics. This helps me remember what I’ve studied and ensures I’m ready for the exam.

250 Words Essay on My Preparation for Examination

The first step in my preparation for any examination is a thorough understanding of the syllabus. I go through each topic, noting down the areas that require more attention. This helps me in creating a comprehensive study plan, ensuring that no topic is left unattended.

Creating a Study Plan

Next, I create a study plan, dividing my time efficiently among all subjects. I prioritize topics based on their weightage in the exam and my comfort level. I make sure to allocate time for revisions and solving sample papers. This step-by-step approach keeps me organized and reduces stress.

Adopting Effective Study Techniques

I adopt various study techniques like active recall, spaced repetition, and the Feynman technique. These methods have been scientifically proven to enhance understanding and retention. I also make use of visual aids like diagrams and mind maps to simplify complex topics.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

A healthy lifestyle is integral to my exam preparation. I maintain a balanced diet, regular exercise schedule, and ensure adequate sleep. This not only keeps me physically fit but also enhances my mental agility and concentration.

Regular Assessments

I regularly assess my preparation by solving previous year question papers and timed mock tests. This helps me gauge my understanding of the topics and also familiarizes me with the exam pattern.

Stress Management

Finally, managing stress is crucial during exam preparation. I practice mindfulness and meditation to keep anxiety at bay. I also take short breaks during study hours to relax and rejuvenate.

In conclusion, my preparation for examinations is a balanced mix of strategic planning, effective study techniques, healthy lifestyle choices, regular assessments, and stress management. This approach not only ensures thorough preparation but also builds confidence to face any examination.

500 Words Essay on My Preparation for Examination

Introduction.

Examinations are an integral part of a student’s academic life. They are not merely a test of knowledge, but a trial of one’s discipline, perseverance, and time management skills. As a college student, I have found that a strategic approach to exam preparation is crucial. This essay will shed light on my personal strategies for exam preparation.

The first step in my exam preparation is understanding the syllabus thoroughly. This involves identifying key topics, understanding the weightage of each unit, and recognizing the pattern of questions asked in previous years. I often create a study plan, allocating time to each topic based on its importance.

Time Management

Time management is the backbone of my preparation. I divide my study hours into manageable slots, dedicating specific time for each subject. I ensure that I study for at least a few hours every day, increasing the duration as the exam approaches. This consistent effort helps me avoid last-minute cramming.

Active Learning

To ensure effective learning, I employ active studying techniques. I make use of flashcards, mind maps, and mnemonic devices to better retain information. I also practice active recall, a method of studying where I try to remember key points without referring to my notes. This technique has been scientifically proven to enhance memory retention.

Practice and Revision

Practicing with past papers and mock tests is a vital part of my preparation. It helps me understand the exam pattern and improve my time management during the actual exam. I make it a point to revise all topics multiple times, focusing more on my weak areas.

Healthy Lifestyle

While studying is important, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is equally crucial during exam preparation. I ensure that I get a good night’s sleep, eat a balanced diet, and take short breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout. Regular physical exercise also helps me stay focused and reduces stress.

Positive Mindset

Lastly, I believe in the power of a positive mindset. I try to stay calm and composed throughout my preparation, treating exams as a way to enhance my knowledge rather than a burden. I also practice mindfulness exercises to keep anxiety at bay.

In conclusion, my preparation for examinations is a holistic process that involves understanding the syllabus, effective time management, active learning, regular practice and revision, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and fostering a positive mindset. I believe that this approach not only equips me to perform well in exams but also inculcates valuable life skills such as discipline, perseverance, and stress management. As college students, we must remember that exams are not just about grades, but about learning, growing, and preparing for the challenges that lie ahead.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Happy studying!

How to Prepare for an Essay Exam

Last Updated: April 20, 2023

This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD . Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. This article has been viewed 137,184 times.

The dreaded essay exam. Whether you like it or not, at some point in your life you are certain to encounter an exam composed entirely of essays. In the days leading up to the exam you may feel anxious or downright sick to your stomach. Fortunately, with a little bit of preparation and practice, you can turn any pre-exam jitters into a feeling of confidence, which will allow you to successfully tackle any essay exam.

Participating in Class

Actively participate. It’s important to find a participation method that works for you, whether that’s asking thought-provoking questions or commenting on the reading. Active participation just means involving yourself in some way, so even if you don’t feel comfortable speaking at length in front of your peers, try to ask a question every now and then.
Free yourself from distractions. Put away your cell phone or tablet and concentrate on listening and taking good notes. Now is not the time to work on homework for another class or to catch up with friends on Facebook.

Always have a notebook on hand. It is helpful to use one notebook per subject or course, so that you don’t confuse yourself when looking back.
Be sure to date your notes so that you can quickly reference or find the subject material covered on the exam.
If you struggle with taking notes, ask the instructor if you can record the lecture. You can then go back and listen to the recording and either take notes at your own pace or review any parts of the lecture, which will be relevant for the exam.

Take notes on what you’ve read and have questions ready for class.
Follow the schedule for reading assignments. Typically readings are broken out in a way that is both manageable and topical. If, however, you find yourself unable to keep up with the readings, speak with your instructor about a schedule that suits your particular needs. For example, if readings are assigned for every other day of class, you may need to break it out such that you are reading a portion every day.

Reviewing the Material

In addition to having one notebook per course, it may be helpful to also have an individual course binder or folder, which contains all course materials.
Take your organization to the next level by categorizing according to exams. Don’t throw away previous notes or materials from past exams. They may come in handy for midterm or final exams. Instead, organize the materials as if they were chapters, with chapter one being the first exam and so forth and so on.

Limit phone calls and any other distractions such as texting. It might help to turn your phone and other devices to silent mode while you’re studying.
The TV should always be off while you’re preparing for an exam.
If you want to listen to music, be sure it’s something that is relaxing or peaceful. Also, keep the music at a low level. Otherwise, music can easily become a distraction.

Get into the habit of reviewing class materials after each course. This will help to ease anxiety leading up to the exam, as you won’t have as much to review and will be able to clear up any questions that arise, prior to the big day.
Cramming doesn’t work. Multiple studies have shown that spacing out learning was more effective than cramming. [2] X Research source What’s more, cramming only increases the feeling of desperation which leads to panic, and then to test anxiety.

Creating an outline will also come in handy when drafting essay responses, so give yourself some practice and start with your class materials.

Practicing Ahead of Time

Step 1 Understand the structure of an essay.

Don’t wait until the night before to outline answers. As you’re studying and organizing your class materials, come up with potential questions along the way. You can then go back and review and revise as necessary.
Some instructors do specify a word count for essays. Don’t focus on counting words though. Write what you can and look for opportunities to flesh out your answers without being overly wordy.

Step 3 Recognize different types of questions.

Identify - typically short and direct answers will do.
Explain - requires a more detailed answer.
Compare - look for connections.
Argue - address this from your own perspective.

This is a good opportunity to proofread your work and to look for any grammatical errors as well.
Have a friend, parent or peer look over your essay as well. It is often helpful to have a fresh set of eyes review your work and provide feedback.

Community Q&A

For open-notes or open-book tests, study thoroughly anyway. This will prepare you for other exams or tests where you're not allowed to use notes, and will allow for you to complete the test faster and easier because you won't need to search for everything in the book or your notes. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Be positive. If you are negative and believe you will not do well, chances are that you will perform the way you expect to. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Practice writing. Be sure you can write fairly well in other situations so that you can express your ideas clearly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/essay-exams/
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About this article

If you’re worried about an upcoming essay exam, start reviewing your class notes by topic. One helpful way to prepare for your essay exam is to create a potential outline for each theme. For example, if you’re studying Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, you might come up with an essay outline about the themes of the play. Once you have a few of these outlines, do practice essays at home under timed conditions, using old exams or questions you can see from your outline. Additionally, make it easier to prepare for future exams by attending all classes, doing the assigned readings and taking clear notes. Keep reading for more tips, including how to understand what the essay questions are asking of you. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Essay Exams

What this handout is about.

At some time in your undergraduate career, you’re going to have to write an essay exam. This thought can inspire a fair amount of fear: we struggle enough with essays when they aren’t timed events based on unknown questions. The goal of this handout is to give you some easy and effective strategies that will help you take control of the situation and do your best.

Why do instructors give essay exams?

Essay exams are a useful tool for finding out if you can sort through a large body of information, figure out what is important, and explain why it is important. Essay exams challenge you to come up with key course ideas and put them in your own words and to use the interpretive or analytical skills you’ve practiced in the course. Instructors want to see whether:

You understand concepts that provide the basis for the course
You can use those concepts to interpret specific materials
You can make connections, see relationships, draw comparisons and contrasts
You can synthesize diverse information in support of an original assertion
You can justify your own evaluations based on appropriate criteria
You can argue your own opinions with convincing evidence
You can think critically and analytically about a subject

What essay questions require

Exam questions can reach pretty far into the course materials, so you cannot hope to do well on them if you do not keep up with the readings and assignments from the beginning of the course. The most successful essay exam takers are prepared for anything reasonable, and they probably have some intelligent guesses about the content of the exam before they take it. How can you be a prepared exam taker? Try some of the following suggestions during the semester:

Do the reading as the syllabus dictates; keeping up with the reading while the related concepts are being discussed in class saves you double the effort later.
Go to lectures (and put away your phone, the newspaper, and that crossword puzzle!).
Take careful notes that you’ll understand months later. If this is not your strong suit or the conventions for a particular discipline are different from what you are used to, ask your TA or the Learning Center for advice.
Participate in your discussion sections; this will help you absorb the material better so you don’t have to study as hard.
Organize small study groups with classmates to explore and review course materials throughout the semester. Others will catch things you might miss even when paying attention. This is not cheating. As long as what you write on the essay is your own work, formulating ideas and sharing notes is okay. In fact, it is a big part of the learning process.
As an exam approaches, find out what you can about the form it will take. This will help you forecast the questions that will be on the exam, and prepare for them.

These suggestions will save you lots of time and misery later. Remember that you can’t cram weeks of information into a single day or night of study. So why put yourself in that position?

Now let’s focus on studying for the exam. You’ll notice the following suggestions are all based on organizing your study materials into manageable chunks of related material. If you have a plan of attack, you’ll feel more confident and your answers will be more clear. Here are some tips:

Don’t just memorize aimlessly; clarify the important issues of the course and use these issues to focus your understanding of specific facts and particular readings.
Try to organize and prioritize the information into a thematic pattern. Look at what you’ve studied and find a way to put things into related groups. Find the fundamental ideas that have been emphasized throughout the course and organize your notes into broad categories. Think about how different categories relate to each other.
Find out what you don’t know, but need to know, by making up test questions and trying to answer them. Studying in groups helps as well.

Taking the exam

Read the exam carefully.

If you are given the entire exam at once and can determine your approach on your own, read the entire exam before you get started.
Look at how many points each part earns you, and find hints for how long your answers should be.
Figure out how much time you have and how best to use it. Write down the actual clock time that you expect to take in each section, and stick to it. This will help you avoid spending all your time on only one section. One strategy is to divide the available time according to percentage worth of the question. You don’t want to spend half of your time on something that is only worth one tenth of the total points.
As you read, make tentative choices of the questions you will answer (if you have a choice). Don’t just answer the first essay question you encounter. Instead, read through all of the options. Jot down really brief ideas for each question before deciding.
Remember that the easiest-looking question is not always as easy as it looks. Focus your attention on questions for which you can explain your answer most thoroughly, rather than settle on questions where you know the answer but can’t say why.

Analyze the questions

Decide what you are being asked to do. If you skim the question to find the main “topic” and then rush to grasp any related ideas you can recall, you may become flustered, lose concentration, and even go blank. Try looking closely at what the question is directing you to do, and try to understand the sort of writing that will be required.
Focus on what you do know about the question, not on what you don’t.
Look at the active verbs in the assignment—they tell you what you should be doing. We’ve included some of these below, with some suggestions on what they might mean. (For help with this sort of detective work, see the Writing Center handout titled Reading Assignments.)

Information words, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject. Information words may include:

define—give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning.
explain why/how—give reasons why or examples of how something happened.
illustrate—give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject.
summarize—briefly cover the important ideas you learned about the subject.
trace—outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form.
research—gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you’ve found.

Relation words ask you to demonstrate how things are connected. Relation words may include:

compare—show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different).
contrast—show how two or more things are dissimilar.
apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation.
cause—show how one event or series of events made something else happen.
relate—show or describe the connections between things.

Interpretation words ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Don’t see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation. Interpretation words may include:

prove, justify—give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth.
evaluate, respond, assess—state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons (you may want to compare your subject to something else).
support—give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe).
synthesize—put two or more things together that haven’t been put together before; don’t just summarize one and then the other, and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together (as opposed to compare and contrast—see above).
analyze—look closely at the components of something to figure out how it works, what it might mean, or why it is important.
argue—take a side and defend it (with proof) against the other side.

Plan your answers

Think about your time again. How much planning time you should take depends on how much time you have for each question and how many points each question is worth. Here are some general guidelines:

For short-answer definitions and identifications, just take a few seconds. Skip over any you don’t recognize fairly quickly, and come back to them when another question jogs your memory.
For answers that require a paragraph or two, jot down several important ideas or specific examples that help to focus your thoughts.
For longer answers, you will need to develop a much more definite strategy of organization. You only have time for one draft, so allow a reasonable amount of time—as much as a quarter of the time you’ve allotted for the question—for making notes, determining a thesis, and developing an outline.
For questions with several parts (different requests or directions, a sequence of questions), make a list of the parts so that you do not miss or minimize one part. One way to be sure you answer them all is to number them in the question and in your outline.
You may have to try two or three outlines or clusters before you hit on a workable plan. But be realistic—you want a plan you can develop within the limited time allotted for your answer. Your outline will have to be selective—not everything you know, but what you know that you can state clearly and keep to the point in the time available.

Again, focus on what you do know about the question, not on what you don’t.

Writing your answers

As with planning, your strategy for writing depends on the length of your answer:

For short identifications and definitions, it is usually best to start with a general identifying statement and then move on to describe specific applications or explanations. Two sentences will almost always suffice, but make sure they are complete sentences. Find out whether the instructor wants definition alone, or definition and significance. Why is the identification term or object important?
For longer answers, begin by stating your forecasting statement or thesis clearly and explicitly. Strive for focus, simplicity, and clarity. In stating your point and developing your answers, you may want to use important course vocabulary words from the question. For example, if the question is, “How does wisteria function as a representation of memory in Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom?” you may want to use the words wisteria, representation, memory, and Faulkner) in your thesis statement and answer. Use these important words or concepts throughout the answer.
If you have devised a promising outline for your answer, then you will be able to forecast your overall plan and its subpoints in your opening sentence. Forecasting impresses readers and has the very practical advantage of making your answer easier to read. Also, if you don’t finish writing, it tells your reader what you would have said if you had finished (and may get you partial points).
You might want to use briefer paragraphs than you ordinarily do and signal clear relations between paragraphs with transition phrases or sentences.
As you move ahead with the writing, you may think of new subpoints or ideas to include in the essay. Stop briefly to make a note of these on your original outline. If they are most appropriately inserted in a section you’ve already written, write them neatly in the margin, at the top of the page, or on the last page, with arrows or marks to alert the reader to where they fit in your answer. Be as neat and clear as possible.
Don’t pad your answer with irrelevancies and repetitions just to fill up space. Within the time available, write a comprehensive, specific answer.
Watch the clock carefully to ensure that you do not spend too much time on one answer. You must be realistic about the time constraints of an essay exam. If you write one dazzling answer on an exam with three equally-weighted required questions, you earn only 33 points—not enough to pass at most colleges. This may seem unfair, but keep in mind that instructors plan exams to be reasonably comprehensive. They want you to write about the course materials in two or three or more ways, not just one way. Hint: if you finish a half-hour essay in 10 minutes, you may need to develop some of your ideas more fully.
If you run out of time when you are writing an answer, jot down the remaining main ideas from your outline, just to show that you know the material and with more time could have continued your exposition.
Double-space to leave room for additions, and strike through errors or changes with one straight line (avoid erasing or scribbling over). Keep things as clean as possible. You never know what will earn you partial credit.
Write legibly and proofread. Remember that your instructor will likely be reading a large pile of exams. The more difficult they are to read, the more exasperated the instructor might become. Your instructor also cannot give you credit for what they cannot understand. A few minutes of careful proofreading can improve your grade.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind in writing essay exams is that you have a limited amount of time and space in which to get across the knowledge you have acquired and your ability to use it. Essay exams are not the place to be subtle or vague. It’s okay to have an obvious structure, even the five-paragraph essay format you may have been taught in high school. Introduce your main idea, have several paragraphs of support—each with a single point defended by specific examples, and conclude with a restatement of your main point and its significance.

Some physiological tips

Just think—we expect athletes to practice constantly and use everything in their abilities and situations in order to achieve success. Yet, somehow many students are convinced that one day’s worth of studying, no sleep, and some well-placed compliments (“Gee, Dr. So-and-so, I really enjoyed your last lecture”) are good preparation for a test. Essay exams are like any other testing situation in life: you’ll do best if you are prepared for what is expected of you, have practiced doing it before, and have arrived in the best shape to do it. You may not want to believe this, but it’s true: a good night’s sleep and a relaxed mind and body can do as much or more for you as any last-minute cram session. Colleges abound with tales of woe about students who slept through exams because they stayed up all night, wrote an essay on the wrong topic, forgot everything they studied, or freaked out in the exam and hyperventilated. If you are rested, breathing normally, and have brought along some healthy, energy-boosting snacks that you can eat or drink quietly, you are in a much better position to do a good job on the test. You aren’t going to write a good essay on something you figured out at 4 a.m. that morning. If you prepare yourself well throughout the semester, you don’t risk your whole grade on an overloaded, undernourished brain.

If for some reason you get yourself into this situation, take a minute every once in a while during the test to breathe deeply, stretch, and clear your brain. You need to be especially aware of the likelihood of errors, so check your essays thoroughly before you hand them in to make sure they answer the right questions and don’t have big oversights or mistakes (like saying “Hitler” when you really mean “Churchill”).

If you tend to go blank during exams, try studying in the same classroom in which the test will be given. Some research suggests that people attach ideas to their surroundings, so it might jog your memory to see the same things you were looking at while you studied.

Try good luck charms. Bring in something you associate with success or the support of your loved ones, and use it as a psychological boost.

Take all of the time you’ve been allotted. Reread, rework, and rethink your answers if you have extra time at the end, rather than giving up and handing the exam in the minute you’ve written your last sentence. Use every advantage you are given.

Remember that instructors do not want to see you trip up—they want to see you do well. With this in mind, try to relax and just do the best you can. The more you panic, the more mistakes you are liable to make. Put the test in perspective: will you die from a poor performance? Will you lose all of your friends? Will your entire future be destroyed? Remember: it’s just a test.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Axelrod, Rise B., and Charles R. Cooper. 2016. The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing , 11th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Fowler, Ramsay H., and Jane E. Aaron. 2016. The Little, Brown Handbook , 13th ed. Boston: Pearson.

Gefvert, Constance J. 1988. The Confident Writer: A Norton Handbook , 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.

Kirszner, Laurie G. 1988. Writing: A College Rhetoric , 2nd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Woodman, Leonara, and Thomas P. Adler. 1988. The Writer’s Choices , 2nd ed. Northbrook, Illinois: Scott Foresman.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Studying for Essay Exams

Can you study for an essay exam?
The challenge of essay exams
Study Strategy 1: Create a study guide
Study Strategy 2: Try to guess the questions
Study Strategy 3: Study from old exams
Study Strategy 4: Outline or write possible answers
Study Strategy 5: Study in a group

Can you study for an essay exam?

Yes, you can! Many students mistakenly think that, because essay exams focus on analysis rather than memorization, they cannot really “study” for an essay exam. However, essay exams generally require you to pull together information from different parts of the course to create a coherent answer and to support an interpretation with specific examples. That is pretty hard to do well if you haven’t studied the course material! Indeed, there are a number of study strategies that are well-suited to preparing for an essay exam.

The Challenge of Essay Exams

Essay exams require you to interpret a complex and often lengthy question, develop a coherent thesis statement that addresses this question, and write an essay that provides specific evidence to develop and support this thesis. And, it requires you to do all of this under time pressure.

Meeting these challenges will require that you study in ways that will allow you to recognize both the major themes and ideas of the course as well as the specific facts, events, authors, or examples that are associated with those themes.

Study Strategy 1: Create a Study Guide

Essay exams require you to show connections between details, to gather up the specifics and tie them together with the major themes of the course. One of the best ways to prepare for this is to create a study guide.

A study guide is a document that attempts to identify the major themes and synthesize information from different units or weeks of the course. In a study guide, you list information from different units together under thematic categories. Here are some tips on creating a good study guide.

Step 1 : Read through lecture notes and reading notes and list the main themes of the class. This is not a list of facts, dates, events or authors, but of themes and ideas. For example, in your History 1500, this would NOT be a list of events or dates. It would be themes: terror and the state, religion and terror, technology and terror. In English 1000, your list would NOT be a list of authors or books that you have read. Instead, it would be a list of themes that are common to them: literary techniques, self and society, gender etc.

Step 2 : Now go back and read through your notes again. This time, you are looking for details such as authors, key terms, events, and examples. Use these details to flesh out your study guide and to show how the details build your understanding of the themes.

Sample Study Guide for History 1500

Theme: Religion and Terror

Module: Witch Craze

Catholicism and beliefs in white and dark magic
The Reformation/Wars of Religion brought social, cultural, and economic disruption, which bred anxiety.
Most intense hunting = 1550-1650 (religious wars = c.1540-1648)
Proximity to religious tension increases tendency to burn witches

Module: Crusades – List relevant examples

Study Strategy 2: Try to Guess the Questions

When professors write essay questions, they usually review the material they have covered and try to choose topics that will require students to bring together the major themes of the course. By guessing the questions that will be on the exam, you will engage in the same process. Look through your syllabus, lecture and reading notes, and study guide. What concepts or themes have been developed throughout the term? What questions would you ask if you were the professor?

Study Strategy 3: Study from Old Exams

While you are guessing the questions and preparing for an essay exam, it can be very helpful to consult previous exams in the course. While it is unlikely that a professor would use exactly the same questions again on your exam, it can be helpful to get a sense of the types of questions that have been asked in the past. Some professors share old exams with their classes. However, in classes where this is not the case, you can seek out sample questions from your textbook, syllabus, or assignment instructions. There are great online sources of sample questions from textbook publishers, but take caution when searching online. Some sites that crowdsource student work encourage acts of academic dishonesty; students should never share old exam questions or answers.

Study Strategy 4: Outline or Write Possible Answers

Trying to identify what questions might be on the exam is, of course, only one part of studying for the exam. You also need to try to create answers to these questions. You can do this by outlining answers. Begin with a clear thesis that addresses the question, and then create a section of the outline that develops each part of your thesis. Finally, add in specific examples that you would use to support your ideas in the appropriate section.

You can also write full answers to the essay questions you devise as you study. The act of writing will help you to remember the material, and although the identical question may not appear on the exam, you will usually be able to employ the connections and supporting details in a response that addresses similar issues.

Study Strategy 5: Study in a Group

One of the best ways to learn material is to talk about it with others. As you do, you deepen your understanding not only by having to explain concepts or themes to others but also by hearing their perspective on the central issues of the course.

While you will ultimately take an exam, and thus need to know course information, on your own, study groups can be a great supplement to independent study activities. Each group member could come prepared with one or two potential exam questions, and then other group members could try to answer them. Or, the entire group could review the course syllabus together and identify central themes or particularly challenging material. Through the process of discussing the information with others, you will increase your understanding and thus be studying for your essay exam.

The best ways to prepare for an essay exam

College students are often intimidated by essay exams, a common final exam format for courses in the humanities and social sciences. Because the exam itself provides so little structure for your answers, it can feel impossible to get all of your thoughts on paper in an organized way without running out of time. As someone who has graded a lot of college students’ exams, I’ve realized that students most often lose points because they don’t realize that an exam essay is a specific genre of writing that you can practice in advance , even if you don’t know the exact questions you’ll be answering. By developing a strategy for success in writing exam essays, you’ll be able to make sure that the material you worked hard all semester to learn shows up in your answers on the day of the test.

Before the Exam

1. brainstorm possible exam questions..

A good way to do this is to make two lists: one of all the lessons or units you’ve covered (for example, all the authors you’ve read for an English class, or all the historical events you’ve covered in a history class), and another of all the major concepts and key terms that you’ve talked about in the class. Then you can mix and match items from these lists to form potential questions. For example, if you were taking a theatre class, you might come up with a question like, “How do Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams use the techniques of psychological realism?”. O’Neill and Williams would come from your list of authors, and psychological realism would come from your list of key terms.

Other good examples of exam questions are discussion questions your instructor asked in class and any prompts you had for papers during the semester. While it’s unlikely your instructor will replicate any of these exact questions on the exam, reviewing what kinds of questions she asks will help you remember what key terms or concepts are particularly important to her. Write down several sample questions and outline the main ideas you would want to include in your answer.

2. Practice your essay-writing strategy using your sample questions.

I recommend practicing the three steps with a timer set for five minutes—these steps are for preparing and organizing an essay (not actually writing it), so you want to practice doing them relatively quickly. They’ll give you a clear structure to fill in.

The first thing to do when you start an essay is to quickly brainstorm a list of everything you can think of in relationship to that question: key terms, details, facts, dates, authors—whatever seems relevant. This should just be a quick task of getting everything in your head on paper.

Then figure out your claim . Answers to essay questions should have an argument that clearly answers the question and that makes a claim that is debatable (as opposed to factual or descriptive). If you’re having trouble, an easy format for writing an argument is “Although ____________, ______________.” For example, your claim could be, “Although both O’Neill and Williams use realism in their plays, Williams is more interested in how psychological realism can be achieved through design elements.” (This format works especially well for compare-contrast questions.)

Finally, outline the essay. The argument will come first, in the introduction, and then map out the main point you want to cover in each body paragraph.

During the Exam

1. keep track of time..

When the exam starts, write down the end time, and then write down when you should finish each section—for example, if it’s a three-hour exam, and you have five essays to write, you might choose to give yourself 30 minutes per essay, which leaves you 30 minutes at the end to reread your work. Make sure you stick to your schedule—you don’t want to spend a lot of time perfecting one essay and then run out of time for the rest. Many instructors will give partial credit even for an unfinished or messy essay, but they can’t give you any points for an essay you didn’t write at all.

2. Follow the essay-writing strategy you practiced: list, claim, outline, write .

Don’t bother including big general statements like, “Playwrights are always interested in psychology,” in your essays—just get straight to the specific points you want to cover. Sticking to your outline will help keep your essay organized, which will make it easier for you to cover all your main points in the available time. Staying organized will also make it easier for your instructor to follow your train of thought when she’s grading.

Most of what you write in an essay is analysis of how the evidence you’ve chosen supports the argument you’re making. If you get stuck writing, ask yourself, “How does this evidence support my claim?” .

3. Go in confident.

You know you’re well-prepared—don’t let nerves get in your way! Eat a good breakfast, listen to your favorite song on the way to the exam, bring a bottle of water and lots of extra pens and pencils, and show up early. (And if you have a mental health condition or learning disability that can lead to test-taking anxiety, talk to the office of disability services at your school well in advance of the exam. They may be able to provide you with test-taking accommodations like a quiet room or extra time.) An essay exam is a chance for you to show off what you’ve learned this semester—it’s not meant to trick you. (Multiple choice exams are actually the place to worry about trick questions.) Instructors generally want you to do well on the final exam, so try to think of the exam as a great capstone for your hard work in the class. Good luck!

After growing up on a farm in Iowa, Danielle moved to Massachusetts, where she studied English with a citation (minor) in Spanish at Harvard University. At Harvard, Danielle was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior and graduated summa cum laude a year later. She spent most of her free time in college in the theatre shop, building sets with power tools. Danielle went on to earn her Master's degree in Renaissance Literature at the University of Cambridge, before accepting a Global Academic Fellowship in Writing at New York University Abu Dhabi for the following year. She is currently a PhD student in English and Theatre, and a member of the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society, at Columbia University.

Essay Test Preparation Tips and Strategies

Essay test questions can be very intimidating, but they can also be very rewarding. Unlike other types of exams (i.e., multiple choice, true or false, etc.) essay tests allow you develop an answer based on your understanding or knowledge.

If you’ve studied all semester, understand the course concepts, and have reviewed prior to the test, the following strategies can help you improve your performance on essay tests and exams.

Strategies to Help You Improve Your Performance on Essay Tests and Exams

Read the directions.

Reading the directions seems so obvious. Unfortunately, it’s still one of the biggest test taking mistakes students make. Before answering an essay question, thoroughly read the instructions. Do not jump to the answer without being sure of what exactly the question is asking. In many cases, the teacher is looking for specific types of responses. Never assume you know what is being asked, or what is required, until you’ve read the entire question.

Ask for clarification

Read essay questions in their entirety before preparing an answer. If the instructions are unclear, or you simply don’t understand a question, ask the teacher for clarification. Chances are if you’re confused so is someone else. Never be scared to ask for clarification from your teacher or instructor.

Provide detail

Provide as many details and specific examples when answering an essay question as you can. Teachers are usually looking for very specific responses to see whether or not you’ve learned the material. The more relevant detail you provide, the higher grade is likely to be. However, only include correct, accurate and relevant information. Including irrelevant “filler” that doesn’t support your answer will likely lower your grade.

Budget your time

Manage your time wisely when answering essay questions so you are able answer all the questions, not just the easy or hard ones. If you finish your test before time is up, go back and review your answers and provide additional details.

We recommend answering those essay questions you’re most familiar with first and then tackling more challenging questions after. It’s also not uncommon on essay tests for some questions to be worth more than others. When budgeting your time, make sure to allocate more time to those questions that are worth the most.

Follow the instructions

When a question is only requiring facts, be sure to avoid sharing opinions. Only provide the information the instructions request. It’s important to provide an answer that matches the type of essay question being asked. You’ll find a list of common types of essay questions at the bottom of this page.

In your answers, get to the point and be very clear. It is generally best to be as concise as possible. If you provide numerous facts or details, be sure they’re related to the question. A typical essay answer should be between 200 and 800 words (2-8 paragraphs) but more isn’t necessarily better. Focus on substance over quantity.

Write clearly and legibly

Be sure your essays are legible and easy to understand. If a teacher has a difficult time reading or understanding what you’ve written, you could receive a lower score.

Get organized

Organize your thoughts before answering your essay question. We even recommend developing a short outline before preparing your answer. This strategy will help you save time and keep your essay organized. Organizing your thoughts and preparing a short outline will allow you to write more clearly and concisely.

Get to the point – Focus on substance

Only spend time answering the question and keep your essays focused. An overly long introduction and conclusion can be unnecessary. If your essay does not thoroughly answer the question and provide substance, a well developed introduction or conclusion will do you no good.

Use paragraphs to separate ideas

When developing your essay, keep main ideas and other important details separated with paragraphs. An essay response should have three parts: the introduction; the body; and the conclusion. The introduction is typically one paragraph, as is the conclusion. The body of the essay usually consists of 2 to 6 paragraphs depending on the type of essay and the information being presented.

Go back and review

If time permits, review your answers and make changes if necessary. Make sure you employed correct grammar and that your essays are well written. It’s not uncommon to make silly mistakes your first time through your essay. Reviewing your work is always a good idea.

Approximate

When you are unsure of specific dates, just approximate dates. For example, if you know an event occurred sometime during the 1820’s, then just write, “in the early 1800’s.”

Common Question Types on Essay Exams

Being able to identify and becoming familiar with the most common types of essay test questions is key to improving performance on essay exams. The following are 5 of the most common question types you’ll find on essay exams.

1. Identify

Identify essay questions ask for short, concise answers and typically do not require a fully developed essay.

Ask yourself: “What is the idea or concept in question?”, “What are the main characteristics?”, “What does this mean?”
Keywords to look for: Summarize, List, Describe, Define, Enumerate, State
Example question: “Define what is meant by ‘separation of church and state.'”

Explain essay questions require a full-length essay with a fully developed response that provides ample supporting detail.

Ask yourself: “What are the main points?”, “Why is this the case?”
Keywords to look for: Discuss, Explain, Analyze, Illustrate
Example question: “Discuss the differences between the political views of democrats and republicans. Use specific examples from each party’s 2017 presidential campaign to argue which views are more in line with U.S. national interests.”

Compare essay questions require an analysis in essay form which focuses on similarities, differences, and connections between specific ideas or concepts.

Ask yourself: “What are the main concepts or ideas?”, “What are the similarities?”, “What are the differences?”
Keywords to look for: Compare, Contrast, Relate
Example question: “Compare the value of attending a community college to the value of attending a 4-year university. Which would you rather attend?”

Argue essay questions require you to form an opinion or take a position on an issue and defend your position against alternative positions using arguments backed by analysis and information.

Ask yourself: “Is this position correct?”, “Why is this issue true?”
Keywords to look for: Prove, Justify
Example question: “Argue whether robotics will replace blue collar manufacturing jobs in the next ten years.”

Assess essay questions involve assessing an issue, idea or question by describing acceptable criteria and defending a position/judgment on the issue.

Ask yourself: “What is the main idea/issue and what does it mean?”, “Why is the issue important?”, “What are its strengths?”, “What are the weaknesses?”
Keywords to look for: Evaluate, Criticize, Evaluate, Interpret
Example question: “With respect to U.S. national security, evaluate the benefit of constructing a wall along the southern border of the United States of America.”

Writing Tutorial Services

Taking an essay exam.

You may often be asked in college to take essay exams. In certain ways, the same principles for writing good out-of-class essays apply to writing good in-class essays as well. For example, both kinds of essays are more successful when you take into consideration your purpose, audience and information; when you develop a thesis with support; when you prove your assertions with evidence; when you guide your readers with transitions, etc.

However, there are some differences to keep in mind as you prepare to write. The most important one is the purpose for writing. Usually you write a research paper, for example, to learn more about your selected topic; however, you write essay exams to demonstrate your knowledge. You are not only conveying information, but also proving to your audience--the examiner--that you have mastered the information and can work with it. In other words, your purpose is both informative and persuasive. Keeping this purpose in mind will help you both prepare for and write the essay.

PREPARING FOR THE EXAM

Study connections between ideas. Your instructor is not looking for a collection of unrelated pieces of information. Rather, he or she wants to see that you understand the whole picture, i.e., how the generalizations or concepts create the framework for the specific facts, and how the examples or details fill in the gaps. So, when you're studying, try to think about how the information fits together.

Prepare practice questions. Try to prepare for questions that are likely to be asked. If your instructor has given you the questions themselves or a study sheet in advance, practice answering those questions. Otherwise, try to anticipate questions your instructor is likely to ask and practice those. At the very least, outline how you would answer the test questions; however, it's better to actually write out the answers. That way, you will know where you need to study more.

TAKING THE EXAM

Again, while you're taking the exam, remember that it's not simply what you say or how much you say, but HOW you say it that's important. You want to show your instructor that you have mastered the material.

Plan your time. Although you will be working under pressure, take a few minutes to plan your time. Determine how many minutes you can devote to each answer. You will want to devote most of your time to the questions that are worth the most points, perhaps answering those questions first. On the other hand, you might want to answer first the questions that you are best prepared for.

Read the questions thoroughly. Take a few minutes before writing your essay to read the question carefully in order to determine exactly what you are being asked to do. Most essay exam questions, or "prompts," are carefully worded and contain specific instructions about WHAT you are to write about as well as HOW you should organize your answer. The prompt may use one or more of the following terms. If you see one of these terms, try to organize your essay to respond to the question or questions indicated.

classify: Into what general category/categories does this idea belong? compare: What are the similarities among these ideas? What are the differences? contrast: What are the differences between these ideas? critique: What are the strengths and weaknesses of this idea? define: What does this word or phrase mean? describe: What are the important characteristics or features of this idea? evaluate: What are the arguments for and against this idea? Which arguments are stronger? explain: Why is this the case? identify: What is this idea? What is its name? interpret: What does this idea mean? Why is it important? justify: Why is this correct? Why is this true? outline: What are the main points and essential details? summarize: Briefly, what are the important ideas? trace: What is the sequence of ideas or order of events?

Plan your answer. Jot down the main points you intend to make as you think through your answer. Then, you can use your list to help you stick to the topic. In an exam situation, it's easy to forget points if you don't write them down.

Write out your essay, using good writing techniques. As was said earlier, essay exams are like other essays, so use the same good writing strategies you use for other kinds of writing. Keep in mind that your purpose is to persuade your reader—the examiner—that you know the material.

First, create a thesis for your essay that you can defend. Often, you can turn the questions stated or implied on the exam into an answer and use it as your thesis. This sentence also functions as an introduction.

For example, suppose you are given the following prompt in your psychology class:

Define "procedural knowledge" and describe its relationship to the results of studies of amnesic patients.

The implied question is:

What is "procedural knowledge" and how is it related to the results of studies of amnesic patients?

Note how you can turn the answer to that implied question into the thesis of your exam essay. This paragraph might serve as your introduction.

"Procedural knowledge" is knowing how to perform a task, such as tying a shoe or driving a car, and studies of amnesia have shown that this type of knowledge or memory is often retained by amnesic patients. Even in amnesic patients who have lost most of their declarative memory capacity, the ability to form new procedural memories is often intact...

Then, proceed immediately to explain, develop, and support your thesis, drawing upon materials from text(s), lectures, and class discussions. Be sure to support any and all generalizations with concrete evidence, relevant facts, and specific details that will convince your reader that your thesis is valid. Make your main points stand out by writing distinct paragraphs, and indicate the relationship between them with transitions.

For example, in response to this prompt from a social work class,

Identify and give an example of four alternative solutions available in cases of family conflict.

a student wrote the following paragraph. Note the transition phrase and the generalization supported by specific evidence.

. . . The fourth alternative open in cases of family conflict is violence, and this is not an uncommon response. 25% of all homicides in the U.S. involve one family member killing another; half of these are spouse homicides. Violence usually takes one of two forms: explosive or coercive. Explosive violence is not premeditated. When the son takes and crashes the family car, for instance, the father may explode and beat him. Coercive violence, on the other hand, is pointed and intentional; it has the goal of producing compliance or obedience. Thus, a blow delivered with a threat not to repeat certain behaviors would be coercive. . . .

Finally, sum up your argument with a brief conclusion that lends your essay a clear sense of closure.

Finishing the Exam

Proofread your answer. Reserve a few minutes after completing your essay to proofread it carefully. First, make sure you stick to the question. Always answer exactly the question asked without digressing. If you find you have digressed, neatly cross out the words or paragraphs. It's better to cross out a paragraph that is irrelevant (and to replace it with a relevant one if you have time) than to allow it to stand. In this context at least, quality is always preferable to quantity. Also check sentence structure, spelling and punctuation.

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Exam preparation: Strategies for essay exams

Essay exams test you on “the big picture”-- relationships between major concepts and themes in the course. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare for and write these exams.

Exam preparation

Learn the material with the exam format in mind.

Find out as much information as possible about the exam –- e.g., whether there will be choice –- and guide your studying accordingly.
Think, and make notes or concept maps, about relationships between themes, ideas and patterns that recur through the course. See the guide Listening & Note-taking and Learning & Studying for information on concept mapping.
Compare/contrast and think about what you agree and disagree with, and why.

Focus your studying by finding and anticipating questions

Find sample questions in the textbook or on previous exams, study guides, or online sources.
Looking for patterns of questions in any tests you have already written in the course;
Looking at the course outline for major themes;
Checking your notes for what the professor has emphasized in class;
Asking yourself what kind of questions you would ask if you were the professor;
Brainstorming questions with a study group.
Organize supporting evidence logically around a central argument.
Memorize your outlines or key points.
A couple of days before the exam, practice writing answers to questions under timed conditions.

If the professor distributes questions in advance

Make sure you have thought through each question and have at least an outline answer for each.
Unless the professor has instructed you to work alone, divide the questions among a few people, with each responsible for a full answer to one or more questions. Review, think about, and supplement answers composed by other people.

Right before the exam

Free write about the course for about 5 minutes as a warm-up.

Exam writing

Read carefully.

Look for instructions as to whether there is choice on the exam.
Circle key words in questions (e.g.: discuss, compare/contrast, analyze, evaluate, main evidence for, 2 examples) for information on the meaning of certain question words.
See information on learning and studying techniques on the SLC page for Exam Preparation .

Manage your time

At the beginning of the exam, divide the time you have by the number of marks on the test to figure out how much time you should spend for each mark and each question. Leave time for review.
If the exam is mixed format, do the multiple choice, true/ false or matching section first. These types of questions contain information that may help you answer the essay part.
If you can choose which questions to answer, choose quickly and don’t change your mind.
Start by answering the easiest question, progressing to the most difficult at the end.
Generally write in sentences and paragraphs but switch to point form if you are running out of time.

Things to include and/or exclude in your answers

Include general statements supported by specific details and examples.
Discuss relationships between facts and concepts, rather than just listing facts.
Include one item of information (concept, detail, or example) for every mark the essay is worth.
Limit personal feelings/ anecdotes/ speculation unless specifically asked for these.

Follow a writing process

Use the first 1/10 to 1/5 of time for a question to make an outline or concept map.
Organize the plan around a central thesis statement.
Order your subtopics as logically as possible, making for easier transitions in the essay.
To avoid going off topic, stick to the outline as you write.
Hand in the outline. Some professors or TAs may give marks for material written on it.
Write the essay quickly, using clear, concise sentences.
Include key words from the question in your thesis statement.
Body paragraph each containing one main idea, with a topic sentence linking back to the thesis statement, and transition words (e.g.: although, however) between paragraphs.
A short summary as a conclusion, if you have time.
If it is easier, leave a space for the introduction and write the body first.
As you write, leave space for corrections/additional points by double-spacing.
Review the essay to make sure its content matches your thesis statement. If not, change the thesis.

Further sources and attribution

For more information on exam preparation and writing strategies, see our Exams pages.

Some suggestions in this handout were adapted from “ Fastfacts – Short-Answer and Essay Exams” on the University of Guelph Library web site; “Resources – Exam Strategies” on the St. Francis Xavier University Writing Centre web site; and “Writing Tips – In-Class Essay Exams” and “Writing Tips – Standardized Test Essay Exams” on the Center for Writing Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign web site

How To Prepare For An English Essay Exam? 10 Must-Know Tips

As students, we often find ourselves at the crossroads of preparing for exams, each bringing its unique set of challenges and expectations. Among the diverse array of assessments, English essay exams stand out as a test of not just our knowledge but also our ability to convey it articulately and persuasively. Mastering the art of preparing for these exams is an invaluable skill, and in this blog, we’re going to delve into the comprehensive guide that can help you get an answer to – How To Prepare For An English Essay Exam?

Whether you’re in high school, or college, or pursuing an advanced degree, the tips and strategies you’ll discover here will empower you to approach English essay exams with confidence and competence. And, if you’re seeking additional support and guidance, remember that Ignite Training Institute offers the very best tutoring for English , helping you unlock your full potential.

Table of Contents

How To Prepare For An English Essay Exam? 10 Tips

5 accidental errors to avoid in your essay writing, what to include/exclude in essay writing, ignite training institute: best english tutors in dubai.

Preparing for an English essay exam demands a well-structured approach to effectively convey your thoughts and knowledge. Here are essential pointers to guide your preparation and ensure your success:

1. Understand Exam Structure

Begin by thoroughly understanding the exam format. This includes the number of questions you’ll be required to answer, the types of essays you’ll need to write, and any time constraints imposed. This foundational knowledge will help you plan your study and exam strategies more effectively.

2. Review Comprehensive Material

Revisit your class notes, textbooks, and any relevant reading materials. This comprehensive review ensures that you have a firm grasp of the topics and concepts that might be included in the exam. A deep understanding of the material will allow you to provide more insightful and well-supported responses.

3. Create A Study Schedule

Planning your study schedule is crucial. Allocate dedicated time for each topic or subject matter, ensuring you can cover all relevant material before the exam. Sticking to your schedule will help manage your time efficiently.

4. Practice Writing Essays

Practice makes perfect. Regularly write sample essays on a range of topics to enhance your writing skills. This practice not only helps you become more comfortable with the essay format but also sharpens your ability to express your ideas clearly and concisely.

5. Analyse Essay Prompts

Carefully dissect the essay prompts or questions you might encounter. Pay special attention to keywords like ‘analyze,’ ‘compare,’ or ‘discuss.’ Understanding these prompts thoroughly will help you tailor your responses to meet the specific requirements of each question.

6. Develop An Effective Outline

Before diving into your essays, create a structured outline. This should include sections for the introduction, main points or arguments, and a conclusion. A well-structured outline serves as a roadmap, helping you maintain a logical flow and coherence in your essays

7. Enhance Vocabulary

Broaden your lexicon by acquiring new words and idiomatic expressions. Incorporating these into your essays not only adds depth and richness to your writing but also showcases your command of the language, which can positively influence your exam results.

8. Proofread & Edit

After writing your essays, don’t overlook the importance of proofreading and editing. Conduct a comprehensive review of your work to pinpoint any grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Effective editing ensures that your essays are clear, and error-free, and convey your ideas effectively.

9. Seek Feedback

Share your practice essays with teachers, peers, or online writing communities. Constructive feedback can provide valuable insights into areas where you can improve, helping you refine your writing skills.

10. Master Time Management

During the exam, time management is crucial. Allocate a specific amount of time to each essay, but always reserve some time for reviewing and making any necessary revisions. Effective time management ensures that you can complete all essay questions within the allotted time frame and maintain the quality of your responses.

Related: 10 Tips On How To Prepare For English Board Exam Class 10

It’s essential to navigate the path of precision and clarity carefully. To ensure your writing shines, steer clear of these five accidental errors that can impact the quality and impact of your essays.

1. Grammatical & Spelling Mistakes

One of the most common errors in essay writing is grammatical and spelling mistakes. These errors can distract your readers and undermine the credibility of your writing. Always proofread your work carefully, and consider using grammar and spell-check tools to catch these errors.

2. Run-On Sentences & Sentence Fragments

Avoid overly long sentences that can make your writing confusing. At the same time, steer clear of sentence fragments that lack a subject or verb, as they disrupt the flow of your essay. Clear and effective communication relies on proper sentence structure.

3. Inconsistent Verb Tense

Maintain consistent verb tense throughout your essay. Shifting between past, present, and future tense can confuse your readers and disrupt the coherence of your writing. Choose a tense that suits your narrative and stick to it.

4. Misused Words & Homophones

Be vigilant about using the correct words and avoiding homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings). Common examples include “there” and “their,” “your” and “you’re,” or “its” and “it’s.” Misusing these words can lead to misunderstandings.

5. Lack Of Clarity & Conciseness

Ensure your writing is clear and concise. Avoid unnecessary jargon, overly complex sentences, or vague language. Be direct and to the point, using words that convey your message effectively.

Related: 10 Tips On How To Get Full Marks In Class 9 Maths Exam

The following steps outline what to include and exclude in essay writing, ensuring clarity, relevance, and conciseness in your work.

Include This In Essay:

1. Clear Thesis Statement: Your essay should begin with a clear and concise thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of your essay.

2. Relevant Evidence: Support your thesis with appropriate and credible evidence, such as facts, statistics, examples, or expert quotations.

3. Structured Organisation: Organise your essay into well-structured paragraphs, each addressing a single idea or point. Ensure a logical flow from one paragraph to the next.

4. Transitions: Use transitional phrases and words to guide your readers through your essay seamlessly, maintaining coherence and clarity.

5. Analysis: Go beyond presenting facts by analyzing and interpreting them. Explain the significance of your evidence and how it supports your thesis.

Exclude This In Essay:

1. Irrelevant Information: Stay on topic and avoid including information that doesn’t directly relate to your thesis or purpose.

2. Plagiarism: Never use someone else’s work without proper citation. Engaging in plagiarism is morally wrong and may lead to severe repercussions.

3. Personal Opinions Without Support: While personal opinions are acceptable, they should be supported by evidence and analysis. Avoid unsupported assertions.

4. Complex Language Unnecessarily: Avoid using complex words or jargon for the sake of it. Make sure your writing is easily understandable for your target readers.

5. Redundancy: Do not repeat the same information or ideas throughout your essay. Aim for brevity and lucidity in your writing.

Related: AP Exam Test Dates 2024: A Student’s Guide To Strategize

Ignite Training Institute is a leading destination for English tutoring in Dubai. With a team of highly qualified and experienced English tutors, they provide top-notch language instruction that caters to various proficiency levels and objectives.

Whether you’re looking to improve your conversational skills, prepare for exams, or enhance your professional communication, Ignite Training Institute offers tailored programs to meet your specific needs. Their commitment to delivering results is backed by a track record of student success, making them the go-to choice for anyone seeking the best English tutoring services in Dubai.

1. How Can I Write An English Essay Fast?

To write an English essay quickly, plan your essay structure, focus on your main points, and avoid perfectionism during the initial draft, reserving time for revisions and editing afterward.

2. How Can I Get Good Marks In Exam Essays?

To earn good marks in an exam essay, understand the essay prompt thoroughly, create a clear and structured outline, provide strong evidence, and ensure your writing is well-organized and error-free.

3. How Can I Write A Good English Essay?

To write a good English essay, clearly express a strong thesis, support it with well-researched evidence, and ensure your writing is coherent, well-structured, and free from grammatical and spelling errors.

In conclusion, preparing for an English essay exam is a journey that requires careful planning, practice, and a solid strategy. By understanding the exam format, reviewing the material diligently, practicing your writing skills, and managing your time effectively, you can boost your confidence and increase your chances of success.

Remember, preparation is not just about acquiring knowledge; it’s about developing the ability to articulate your thoughts coherently and persuasively. So, embrace the process, stay focused, and with dedication, you can navigate your English essay exams with skill and assurance, achieving the results you aspire to. Good luck with your exams!

Related: Top 5 Easiest AP Exams: A Guide to Achieving Success

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Basic Rules for Taking an Essay Exam

Plan your time according to how much each question is worth - One of the biggest problems students have (other than failing to prepare correctly) is running out of time. Plan a time budget and stick to it. You can always go back to a question that is giving you problems after you answer all the ones you do know. By spending too much time on a difficult question early in the test, you could lose credit for questions that you knew the answers to.

Plan your answer – identify the main concepts that you will use to answer this question. Also identify details - facts and statistics - that support your ideas. Be sure to answer each part of the question to avoid losing points for missing a part of the answer.

Outline your answers on scrap paper - This tactic is especially helpful if you “blank” from panic as you are running out of time to complete the test. By making a quick outline of your answers, you have at least something to write down for each question. Often the reassurance that the answer is there jogs your memory enough that you are able to calm down and supplement your outline and write a good answer.

Adapted from Kathleen Nulton Kemmerer, Pennsylvania State University

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to study for a test: 17 expert tips.

Other High School

Do you have a big exam coming up, but you're not sure how to prepare for it? Are you looking to improve your grades or keep them strong but don't know the best way to do this? We're here to help! In this guide, we've compiled the 17 best tips for how to study for a test. No matter what grade you're in or what subject you're studying, these tips will give you ways to study faster and more effectively. If you're tired of studying for hours only to forget everything when it comes time to take a test, follow these tips so you can be well prepared for any exam you take.

How to Study for a Test: General Tips

The four tips below are useful for any test or class you're preparing for. Learn the best way to study for a test from these tips and be prepared for any future exams you take.

#1: Stick to a Study Schedule

If you're having trouble studying regularly, creating a study schedule can be a huge help. Doing something regularly helps your mind get used to it. If you set aside a time to regularly study and stick to it, it'll eventually become a habit that's (usually) easy to stick to. Getting into a fixed habit of studying will help you improve your concentration and mental stamina over time. And, just like any other training, your ability to study will improve with time and effort.

Take an honest look at your schedule (this includes schoolwork, extracurriculars, work, etc.) and decide how often you can study without making your schedule too packed. Aim for at least an hour twice a week. Next, decide when you want to study, such as Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 7-8pm, and stick to your schedule . In the beginning, you may need to tweak your schedule, but you'll eventually find the study rhythm that works best for you. The important thing is that you commit to it and study during the same times each week as often as possible.

#2: Start Studying Early and Study for Shorter Periods

Some people can cram for several hours the night before the test and still get a good grade. However, this is rarer than you may hope. Most people need to see information several times, over a period of time, for them to really commit it to memory. This means that, instead of doing a single long study session, break your studying into smaller sessions over a longer period of time. Five one-hour study sessions over a week will be less stressful and more effective than a single five-hour cram session. It may take a bit of time for you to learn how long and how often you need to study for a class, but once you do you'll be able to remember the information you need and reduce some of the stress that comes from schoolwork, tests, and studying.

#3: Remove Distractions

When you're studying, especially if it's for a subject you don't enjoy, it can be extremely tempting to take "quick breaks" from your work. There are untold distractions all around us that try to lure our concentration away from the task at hand. However, giving in to temptation can be an awful time suck. A quick glance at your phone can easily turn into an hour of wasting time on the internet, and that won't help you get the score you're looking for. In order to avoid distractions, remove distractions completely from your study space.

Eat a meal or a snack before you begin studying so you're not tempted to rummage through the fridge as a distraction. Silence your phone and keep it in an entirely different room. If you're studying on a computer, turn your WIFI off if it's not essential to have. Make a firm rule that you can't get up to check on whatever has you distracted until your allotted study time is up.

#4: Reward Yourself When You Hit a Milestone

To make studying a little more fun, give yourself a small reward whenever you hit a study milestone. For example, you might get to eat a piece of candy for every 25 flashcards you test yourself on, or get to spend 10 minutes on your phone for every hour you spend studying. You can also give yourself larger rewards for longer-term goals, such as going out to ice cream after a week of good study habits. Studying effectively isn't always easy, and by giving yourself rewards, you'll keep yourself motivated.

Our pets are not the only ones who deserve rewards.

Tips for Learning and Remembering Information

While the default method of studying is reading through class notes, this is actually one of the least effective ways of learning and remembering information. In this section we cover four much more useful methods. You'll notice they all involve active learning, where you're actively reworking the material, rather than just passively reading through notes. Active studying has been shown to be a much more effective way to understand and retain information, and it's what we recommend for any test you're preparing for.

#5: Rewrite the Material in Your Own Words

It can be easy to get lost in a textbook and look back over a page, only to realize you don't remember anything about what you just read. Fortunately, there's a way to avoid this.

For any class that requires lots of reading, be sure to stop periodically as you read. Pause at the end of a paragraph/page/chapter (how much you can read at once and still remember clearly will likely depend on the material you're reading) and—without looking!—think about what the text just stated. Re-summarize it in your own words, and write down bullet points if that helps. Now, glance back over the material and make sure you summarized the information accurately and included all the important details. Take note of whatever you missed, then pick up your reading where you left off.

Whether you choose to summarize the text aloud or write down notes, re-wording the text is a very effective study tool. By rephrasing the text in your own words, you're ensuring you're actually remembering the information and absorbing its meaning, rather than just moving your eyes across a page without taking in what you're reading.

#6: Make Flashcards

Flashcards are a popular study tool for good reason! They're easy to make, easy to carry around, easy to pull out for a quick study session, and they're a more effective way of studying than just reading through pages of notes. Making your own flashcards is especially effective because you'll remember more information just through the act of writing it down on the cards. For any subjects in which you must remember connections between terms and information, such as formulas, vocabulary, equations, or historical dates, flashcards are the way to go. We recommend using the Waterfall Method when you study with flashcards since it's the fastest way to learn all the material on the cards.

#7: Teach the Material to Someone Else

Teaching someone else is a great way to organize the information you've been studying and check your grasp of it. It also often shows you that you know more of the material than you think! Find a study-buddy, or a friend/relative/pet or even just a figurine or stuffed animal and explain the material to them as if they're hearing about it for the first time. Whether the person you're teaching is real or not, teaching material aloud requires you to re-frame the information in new ways and think more carefully about how all the elements fit together. The act of running through the material in this new way also helps you more easily lock it in your mind.

#8: Make Your Own Study Guides

Even if your teacher provides you with study guides, we highly recommend making your own study materials. Just making the materials will help the information sink into your mind, and when you make your own study guides, you can customize them to the way you learn best, whether that's flashcards, images, charts etc. For example, if you're studying for a biology test, you can draw your own cell and label the components, make a Krebs cycle diagram, map out a food chain, etc. If you're a visual learner (or just enjoy adding images to your study materials), include pictures and diagrams.

Sometimes making your own charts and diagrams will mean recreating the ones in your textbook from memory, and sometimes it will mean putting different pieces of information together yourself. Whatever the diagram type and whatever the class, writing your information down and making pictures out of it will be a great way to help you remember the material.

How to Study for a History Test

History tests are notorious for the amount of facts and dates you need to know. Make it easier to retain the information by using these two tips.

#9: Know Causes and Effects

It's easy and tempting to simply review long lists of dates of important events, but this likely won't be enough for you to do well on a history test, especially if it has any writing involved. Instead of only learning the important dates of, say, WWI, focus on learning the factors that led to the war and what its lasting impacts on the world were. By understanding the cause and effects of major events, you'll be able to link them to the larger themes you're learning in history class. Also, having more context about an event can often make it easier to remember little details and dates that go along with it.

#10: Make Your Own Timelines

Sometimes you need to know a lot of dates for a history test. In these cases, don't think passively reading your notes is enough. Unless you have an amazing memory, it'll take you a long time for all those dates to sink into your head if you only read through a list of them. Instead, make your own timeline.

Make your first timeline very neat, with all the information you need to know organized in a way that makes sense to you (this will typically be chronologically, but you may also choose to organize it by theme). Make this timeline as clear and helpful as you can, using different colors, highlighting important information, drawing arrows to connecting information, etc. Then, after you've studied enough to feel you have a solid grasp of the dates, rewrite your timeline from memory. This one doesn't have to be neat and organized, but include as much information as you remember. Continue this pattern of studying and writing timelines from memory until you have all the information memorized.

Know which direction events occur in to prepare for history tests.

How to Study for a Math Test

Math tests can be particularly intimating to many students, but if you're well-prepared for them, they're often straightforward.

#11: Redo Homework Problems

More than most tests, math tests usually are quite similar to the homework problems you've been doing. This means your homework contains dozens of practice problems you can work through. Try to review practice problems from every topic you'll be tested on, and focus especially on problems that you struggled with. Remember, don't just review how you solved the problem the first time. Instead, rewrite the problem, hide your notes, and solve it from scratch. Check your answer when you're finished. That'll ensure you're committing the information to memory and actually have a solid grasp of the concepts.

#12: Make a Formula Sheet

You're likely using a lot of formulas in your math class, and it can be hard remembering what they are and when to use them. Throughout the year, as you learn a new important formula, add it to a formula sheet you've created. For each formula, write out the formula, include any notes about when to use it, and include a sample problem that uses the formula. When your next math test rolls around, you'll have a useful guide to the key information you've been learning.

How to Study for an English Test

Whether your English test involves writing or not, here are two tips to follow as you prepare for it.

#13: Take Notes as You Read

When you're assigned reading for English class, it can be tempting to get through the material as quickly as possible and then move on to something else. However, this is not a good way to retain information, and come test day, you may be struggling to remember a lot of what you read. Highlighting important passages is also too passive a way to study. The way to really retain the information you read is to take notes. This takes more time and effort, but it'll help you commit the information to memory. Plus, when it comes time to study, you'll have a handy study guide ready and won't have to frantically flip through the book to try to remember what you read. The more effort you put into your notes, the more helpful they'll be. Consider organizing them by theme, character, or however else makes sense to you.

#14: Create Sample Essay Outlines

If the test you're taking requires you to write an essay, one of the best ways to be prepared is to develop essay outlines as you study. First, think about potential essay prompts your teacher might choose you to write about. Consider major themes, characters, plots, literary comparisons, etc., you discussed in class, and write down potential essay prompts. Just doing this will get you thinking critically about the material and help you be more prepared for the test.

Next, write outlines for the prompts you came up with (or, if you came up with a lot of prompts, choose the most likely to outline). These outlines don't need to contain much information, just your thesis and a few key points for each body paragraph. Even if your teacher chooses a different prompt than what you came up with, just thinking about what to write about and how you'll organize your thoughts will help you be more prepared for the test.

Fancy pen and ink not required to write essay outlines.

What to Do the Night Before the Test

Unfortunately, the night before a test is when many students make study choices that actually hurt their chances of getting a good grade. These three tips will help you do some final review in a way that helps you be at the top of your game the next day.

#15: Get Enough Sleep

One of the absolute best ways to prepare for a test-any test-is to be well-rested when you sit down to take it. Staying up all night cramming information isn't an effective way of studying, and being tired the next day can seriously impact your test-taking skills. Aim to get a solid eight hours of sleep the night before the test so that you can wake up refreshed and at the top of your test-taking game.

#16: Review Major Concepts

It can be tempting to try to go through all your notes the night before a test to review as much information as possible, but this will likely only leave you stressed to and overwhelmed by the information you're trying to remember. If you've been regularly reviewing information throughout the class, you shouldn't need much more than a quick review of major ideas, and perhaps a few smaller details you have difficulty remembering. Even if you've gotten behind on studying and are trying to review a lot of information, resist the information to cram and focus on only a few major topics. By keeping your final night review manageable, you have a better chance of committing that information to memory, and you'll avoid lack of sleep from late night cramming.

#17: Study Right Before You Go to Sleep

Studies have shown that if you review material right before you go to sleep, you have better memory recall the next day. (This is also true if you study the information right when you wake up.) This doesn't mean you should cram all night long (remember tip #15), but if there are a few key pieces of information you especially want to review or are having trouble committing to memory, review them right before you go to bed. Sweet dreams!

Summary: The Best Way to Study for a Test

If you're not sure how to study for a test effectively, you might end up wasting hours of time only to find that you've barely learned anything at all. Overall, the best way to study for a test, whether you want to know how to study for a math test or how to study for a history test, is to study regularly and practice active learning. Cramming information and trying to remember things just by looking over notes will rarely get you the score you want. Even though the tips we suggest do take time and effort on your part, they'll be worth it when you get the score you're working towards.

What's Next?

Want tips specifically on how to study for AP exams? We've outlined the f ive steps you need to follow to ace your AP classes.

Taking the SAT and need study tips? Our guide has every study tip you should follow to reach your SAT goal score.

Or are you taking the ACT instead? We've got you covered! Read our guide to learn four different ways to study for the ACT so you can choose the study plan that's best for you.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Preparing for exams

Exams can be stressful, but being prepared can help manage stress and allow you to perform at your best. There are lots of techniques you can try and resources available to make sure you get the most out of your exam study.

What to study

As early as possible, find out what topics will be covered in your exam, the type of exam and its conditions. Important details include the duration of the exam and whether it has open book, multiple choice, short answer or essay questions.

You can find information about your exam from a few sources.

The unit of study outline will show you the most important topics of the unit of study.
Your lecturer or tutor may suggest which topics are most important to focus on.

Plan your study

Make your plan as accurate as possible. Remember to include the time you need for important considerations such as transport, eating, family, work and sleep.
Update your plan each day.
Find out as soon as possible what topics you need to study, and work out how much time you have for each topic before the exam.
At the end of each study session, make a list of what you need to cover the next time you study.

Find out more about time management and making plans .

First, do a quick review of all the main topics. Then go back to the topics that are more difficult and review those in more detail.
If you don’t know how much detail you need to study, try looking at each topic in progressively more detail. That is, first study all of the topics at a very general level (for example, just the main concepts). Then go back and study each topic with more detail (for example, the major theories, key models, rules or facts). Finally, if you have enough time, go back and look at some extra details on each topic (for example, debates about the theories, specific studies and their methodologies).

Effective study

It’s not recommended that you leave studying for the night before a test. Research shows that losing sleep to study makes you perform worse academically. Having regular study sessions which don’t interfere with your sleep time means you’ll be well-rested and can learn more effectively.
Often you can improve and solidify your understanding by discussing the concepts and information with someone else.
For your learning to last beyond your short-term memory, try to make connections and relationships between facts and ideas. For example, think about how the facts or ideas relate to other things you have read, how you might use them in your future career, and whether you agree with the author's arguments.

Use your time efficiently

Choose to study at a time when you are naturally alert and focused. For example, if you are a ‘morning person’, don’t try to study late at night.
Before each task, remind yourself of its specific purpose. For example, do you really need to read the whole chapter, or to only check the paragraph about one particular topic?
If you lose concentration while you are reading or studying, stop. Think about how this paragraph fits into the big picture. Is it important?
Skim read every article or book chapter before you read it in full to get a sense of the main idea and if it’s relevant. That is, first read the title, abstract, introduction, headings/topic sentences and conclusion.
If you find that you’re procrastinating (spending your time on things that are a low priority, such as checking social media), stop and deal with it immediately. For example, turn off your phone, log out of your social media accounts, turn off the TV.

Find out more about time management and studying productively .

Exam strategies

Multiple choice.

In exams with multiple choice questions, often there is not much time for each question, for example one to two minutes. It’s therefore important to be efficient with your time.

Before the exam find out what the exam will cover, how many questions are included and how long you will have for each question.

During the exam:

circle the keywords as you read each question
be careful to notice and underline any negative words, such as 'not', 'never', 'no', 'none', 'lack', 'fail'. Be especially careful of double negatives, such as ‘which of the following is never present without respiratory symptoms?’
when you are reading the answers, immediately cross out any that are clearly wrong
don’t spend a long time on a question if the meaning is confusing or you don’t know the answer. Instead, move on and return to the difficult questions at the end.
for most exams, a wrong answer is worth the same as no answer (no marks). In that case, it’s better to guess than to leave a question blank.

To prepare for essay exams:

find out the topics that may be included in the exam, and brainstorm for each one. In particular, think of several ways of analysing the topic , which you could use to structure the paragraphs of an essay. For example, two or three different theories on the topic; the pros and cons of a particular approach to the topic; some evidence for your points of view; three different real-world applications of the topic.
closely analyse the essay question(s) and underline all the key words. What type of essay do they expect?
carefully plan your time, allowing time to create an essay outline before you start writing and to proofread your essay. You should leave 15 minutes to create an essay outline, and two to five minutes to proofread at the end. You may wish to leave more time for proofreading, for example if English is your second language.
your outline should include the topic of each paragraph, as well as the main facts, points or examples that each paragraph should include. Do not spend time on extra ideas that may stray away from the purpose of the essay
write a topic sentence for each paragraph to clearly present your argument
make sure you have both an introduction and conclusion. Try not to sacrifice a conclusion due to time constraints - if necessary, budget your time for each paragraph to make sure you finish the whole essay.

Managing stress and nerves

The first way to reduce any stress, anxiety or nervousness about exams is to be prepared.

There are also a number of strategies you can use to boost your confidence and stay calm.

Discuss the exam with other students beforehand, including any worries, but also the topics that you feel confident about.
Lower the stress hormones in your body through physical exercise.
Familiarise yourself with the environment of the exam. For example, find the exam room the day before.
Remind yourself of the positive points. For example, you have successfully completed other exams before, and you are prepared, this exam will probably be OK too.
On the day of the exam wear something you feel good in, and take along helpful items, such as a water bottle and your favourite pen.

Counselling and Psychological Services and Inclusion and Disability Services offer advanced techniques and extra support services, including workshops and consultations. Adjustments, such as a separate room or extra time to sit the exam, may be arranged if required.

If you have a serious illness, injury or circumstances arise that affect your ability to attend or complete an exam, you may have grounds to apply for special consideration or special arrangements .

This material was developed by the Learning Hub (Academic Language and Learning), which offers workshops, face-to-face consultations and resources to support your learning. Find out more about how they can help you develop your communication, research and study skills .

See our handouts on Understanding yourself as a learner (pdf, 1.2MB) and Becoming a more effective learner (pdf, 2MB) . There are also sample planners available on time management page .

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., how to study for exams.

You have a test on the horizon. It’s a big one, and you know you need to hit the books. Not sure where or how to begin? Don’t panic! Learn how to study for a test, step-by-step.

1. Ask the right questions

You don’t want to walk in on test day unprepared for what you're about to face. Try to get the answers to these crucial questions before you start studying.

Questions to ask before a test

What material will the test cover?
Will there be an exam review session during class?
Will there be after-school opportunities for more review?
What is the format of the exam? Multiple-choice? Short answer? Will there be essays to write?
How many points is the exam worth?
Do you have specific study tips to help me prepare? (After all, your teacher knows your work the best!).

2. Sort out your schedule

You can actually spend less time studying for your exam if you start with a great game plan. Make a list of what topics you need to cover and when you’re going to cover them. Start your study schedule as early as possible (usually a few weeks before your test), and figure out how much time you’ll need to study each day to stay on track.

3. Grab your gear

Gather up all your class notes , quizzes, handouts and worksheets. Your previous homework will help you see what your teacher thinks is important. (Plus, you can learn from your past quiz mistakes).

4. Study smarter

Instead of memorizing all your notes, prioritize what you’ll study. Start with what will definitely be on the the test, then what will probably be on the test, and finally what might be on the test. That way, if you run out of time, you know you at least have the essentials covered. By starting with the toughest material first, you have time to ask your teacher questions or get help from our tutors .

5. Mix it up

Now that you know WHAT you need to study, figure out the best way to review and internalize what you predict will be on the exam. Make flashcards for history class, outline your biology notes, record yourself practicing your French accent—whatever you need to do to get ready. Check out our favorite “outside of the box” study methods .

Read More: 10 Steps to Ace Your Next Test

6. What keeps you motivated?

Study groups can help you study more efficiently for exams. Make a plan with friends to review the class material together, share and compare notes, or work through tricky concepts. Or, reward yourself for each study session with something small (even if it’s just a TV break) to help you stay focused.

7. Sleep still matters

An all-nighter might sound like a good idea, but a restful night’s sleep is actually the key to your success. Start a healthy sleep routine in the weeks leading up to your exam, so you’ll be fresh and ready for test day. (But if you do happen to need some midnight study help, our on-demand tutors are there for you.)

8. Bring what you’re supposed to bring

Find out what you’re allowed to bring to the exam, and make sure you don’t leave anything essential at home. Many teachers will let you bring a calculator to math or science exams. Some classes may even hold open textbook or open notes exams. Stash pens, papers, and extra paper in your bag, so you’re ready for anything.

Stuck on how to study for exams?

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Preparing for Exams

Kate Derrington; Cristy Bartlett; and Anita Frederiks

Introduction

Exams are a common method of assessment at university and it is likely that you will need to undertake different types of exams as a student. This chapter is the first of two covering exams. It aims to equip you with the skills needed to plan consistently for your exams. It has a range of techniques to assist you to cope with large volumes of revision information and strategies for improving your memory and retention. It also covers on-the-day exam strategies and tips for dealing with exam stress. If you would like information on preparing for specific types of exams, we recommend that you continue to read the next chapter Types of Exams where essay, multiple choice, short answer, open book, closed and restricted exams, take home, online and numeracy (maths) exams are covered in more detail .

Revision Strategies

When preparing for your exams you are often revising content from your entire semester. We recommend that you consider what you wish to achieve from your study sessions and then choose strategies and approaches that will help you achieve those aims. We have provided a number of strategies (and how they work) to help you choose effective study strategies. Most of these strategies are designed to improve your understanding of the material and increase your ability to recall and use the information in exams.

Most of the strategies we discuss in this chapter are aimed at making the most of your memory and increasing your ability to recall the information when you need it in your exam. You don’t need to have a complex understanding of memory and how it works to use these strategies, however we have provided a brief overview about why these strategies work in each section. In addition to the revision strategies that we discuss in this chapter, the following will also help you to improve your memory:

Having adequate sleep (being tired negatively effects our memory)
Taking regular exercise
Consuming a healthy diet
Practising using your memory
Managing anxiety or stress (see the section on exam anxiety in this chapter)
Taking regular study breaks and resting
Having a study, work, life balance and spending time doing things that we enjoy

The first exam preparation strategy that you might find useful is spacing. Spacing refers to when you study. This technique requires a consistent approach over an extended period. It uses repetition with breaks or spaces in between study sessions to help you retrieve information. Why is this an effective method? Research suggests that giving yourself time between study sessions helps you forget the information. Strange as this may sound, forgetting is beneficial to remembering information long-term. How does this work? Every time you forget something, your brain must work harder to remember or relearn it. This repetition improves your understanding, retention, problem solving and application of knowledge.

Table 22.1 below demonstrates how spacing works. Assume you are going to spend about seven hours studying for a Biology exam. Cramming would have you spending most of those hours the night before the exam. With spacing however, you would study a little bit each day. See the section on cramming for further explanation why cramming is an inefficient study strategy.

Table 22.1 Spacing vs Cramming

Two timetables - one spaced, one crammed

Interleaving

Interleaving is another strategy that you might find useful when preparing for an exam. Interleaving refers to w hat you study. This technique involves switching between your study topics or subjects to help your memory. Why is this an effective method? Your brain must work harder to process this “mixed up” information. As with the spacing technique, this may cause some short-term forgetting, but can lead to better long-term outcomes for memory and learning. How does this work? This means not just spending each study session on one sort of problem or topic. Within each time block in your study plan, consider mixing up the content that you revise. Use interleaving with spacing to revisit material from a previous chapter or unit or revise different types of problems or question sets.

Table 22.2 Example of interleaving

Using mnemonics

Mnemonics (pronounced new-monics) are an exam revision strategy that can help you to remember things by using letters or phrases as a form of association. For example, if you have studied music you may have been taught the mnemonic device “every good boy deserves fruit” as a way of remembering EGBDF is the order of the notes on the music staff. Another example is NEWS (north, east, west, and south) to remember the points on the compass. Why and How do mnemonics work? When you are unfamiliar with the foundational concepts of a new learning task or process, these help you recall information quickly, especially for lists or processes with multiple steps. Once you are more familiar with your discipline area you probably won’t need mnemonics, but you will probably always remember them. Here are some familiar mnemonics you may find useful:

You can certainly make up your own mnemonics but be careful that your reminder isn’t so complex that it is more difficult to remember than the information you were relating it to.

Practising concept association

Concept association is an exam revision strategy that involves linking the information you are learning with information that you already know. This can help you to make sense of the new information and can improve your ability to recall the information when you need it (e.g. in an exam). For example, you may be reading about different approaches that nurses can take when communicating with a person in their care. If you have experienced being cared for by a nurse, then you can consider which communication approaches the nurse may have used, if they implemented the approach well, and if their communication was effective. This links the information you are learning with existing memories and can also provide you with a deeper understanding of the material and how it relates to the ‘real world’. You do not need to have direct experience with the topic to use the concept association approach. In the above example you may consider how the recommended communication approaches are similar or dis-similar to the approaches you take (or have observed others take) in different contexts. Alternatively, you may consider how the recommendations match with your understandings of good communication skills. The aim is to link the new information with information that you are already familiar with. The links to existing information provide pathways for recalling the new information, and the more pathways you have available the more likely you will be able to recall the information. By considering how the information relates to your experiences or knowledge also prompts you to think about the new information in different ways, which has the added bonus of increasing your understanding of the topic.

Generating idea clusters

The revision techniques involved in creating idea clusters are similar to those used when creating concept associations and mnemonics. They are deliberate techniques aimed at increasing your ability to remember information by connecting the new information with existing information. Unlike concept associations, idea clusters involve linking new material with unrelated, but well remembered information. For example, Andrea is an avid knitter and remembers how to create complicated stitches by associating them with nursery rhymes she read as a child. A complex delicate stitch, that Andrea thinks looks like part of it is hiding, brings to mind Red Riding Hood, and connecting it to that character helps Andrea recall the exact order of steps necessary to execute the design. You can do the same thing with song lyrics, lines from movies, or favourite stories where you draw a connection to the well-known phrase or song and the task you need to complete. This is a similar approach to using mnemonics, however with concept clusters you are linking new information to more complex known material (compared to simpler phrases or words using mnemonics). To be successful, you need to be able to link the new information to a well-remembered story, situation, or knowledge. This is a useful technique when you need to remember a series of steps, or more complex information and you have time to practice the association with an existing memory.

Cramming and why it doesn’t work well

Cramming involves attempting to cram all of the information required for your exam into your memory in a very short period of time, and it doesn’t work very well. It doesn’t work well because our memory works best when we focus on one concept at a time and spend time linking the concept to what we already know. Your brain also needs time to rest. Your brain and memory can only accept so much at any one time, in the same way that you cannot keep lifting a heavy weight indefinitely, you need to rest your muscles. Your brain needs time to rest before it’s ready to accept more information. Cramming does not allow time for this rest to occur.

In addition to not being able to easily recall the information you need in the exam, cramming can also cause stress, memory fatigue, and affect your ability to concentrate. This makes it even more difficult to recall the information in your exam. And if that wasn’t bad enough, you are also more likely to forget (or be unable to retrieve) later, any information that you did manage to recall in the exam. This may be a problem for you in future subjects that build on the information you are learning now. You may be required to spend time re-learning the information later when you are trying to complete future subjects. You are also likely to need to draw on this knowledge in your future career.

While our advice is to avoid cramming, we know that there are times when you may find you only have a short period of time to prepare for your exams. You can adapt the strategies listed above to maximise the effectiveness of the study time you have available. Allocate time to all of your subjects and use a mini interleaving approach where you alternate your study time across multiple subjects. Use mnemonics to assist you and monitor your concentration levels. Taking breaks while you are studying will help you to maintain your concentration during your study block.

Practice Testing

It can also be useful to test yourself both as you revise your work and again before taking the final exam. Practice testing has to do with how you study. It is not enough to just reread content. You must practice or test your ability to retrieve the information from your brain. You can do a practice “test” in a number of ways. For example, you might test yourself as you are reading information. Explicitly ask yourself what a paragraph or section means as you read. You could also read a section in the text, cover the material, and ask yourself, “What was the main idea of this section?” Recite aloud or write down your answer, and then check it against the original information. With practice testing you are not only practicing recalling or remembering the information, you are also thinking about the material in more depth, which creates more connections to existing memories and enables you to more easily recall the information.

This process works also to test your maths understanding. Follow the same principles by writing down the example question, covering up the working and trying it yourself. Then check your answer and working with the example provided. Do as many questions as you can, to assist with recalling the methods more readily when you are under pressure in an exam. Another way to practice test is to create flashcards or design your own test. This takes more time, but there are online programs (apps) that make it easier. Practice testing is an effective study strategy because it helps you practice or rehearse retrieving information and skills, which is important when taking the real exam. Another way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. Ask a friend or family member if you can explain something to them or practice a skill with them. You may find you know more about the subject than you thought, or it might highlight any gaps in your understanding. You can replicate the experience an actual exam produces by including timed writing into your study sessions. You don’t need all of your study time to exactly replicate the exam but find out the exam format in advance and practice the skills needed. For example:

For a history or law course where you may have to write essay style responses, set a timer and practice how much you can write in this time.
For a mathematics exam, where you need to complete problems and show working, incorporate timed problem-solving into your study.
Practice answering questions within a set time limit and with only the resources you will have in the exam.

Practicing under similar conditions to your exam will help you feel better prepared and confident in the exam. Create an environment where mistakes are safe and are expected as just another part of learning. This relates to the principles you learned in the section on grit and persistence (see Goals and Priorities chapter). An example of this might be taking practice quizzes on your own, outside of the more formal course activities. These quizzes could be found in your textbook, in tutorial activities, online, or you may develop quizzes with another student. Studying with a partner can increase your learning, since to create a good quiz you would need to learn the main concepts of the subject and answering the questions on your partner’s quiz might help you identify areas where you need more knowledge. The main idea with this practice is that you are creating an environment where it is safe to make mistakes, and importantly, learn from them. This should allow you to avoid those same mistakes in your formal assessments.

Taking the Exam

In the lead up to your exam.

Preparation and planning are the keys to exam success. Check that you know:

The date, location and time of your exam (e.g., which campus, online, or at a study centre).
The transport and parking arrangements for exam day. Find out where you can park and what are the costs and payment options.
The identification you require for admission into the exam (e.g., student ID, or drivers licence).
The type of exam and how long you have for completion.
Will there be additional perusal time before the exam commences (particularly for in person exams) where you can read and think about your response.
What you are allowed to take into the exam.
How much time to allocate to each question or section of the exam.

Knowing this information will help things run smoothly on exam day and reduce your stress. It will also impact the type of revision you do and the materials you may or may not be allowed to take into the examination room. There is more information about different types of exams and what they involve in the Types of Exams chapter.

If your exam is online, there are other considerations you need to organise prior to taking your exam. These may include the following:

Ensure you have a reliable device (laptop or computer) and internet connection.
Ensure you have all the required hardware to complete your exam (e.g., printer or scanner).
Test all devices and equipment prior to undertaking your exam.
Have all the items you require to complete your exam ready (e.g., calculator, translation dictionary, etc.)
Test comfort levels before you start (e.g., lighting, temperature, and seating).
Remove distractions (e.g., turn off your mobile phone and television).
Prepare for the online assessment just like you would for other exams.

Consider making an exam day plan as outlined in Table 22.3 . This will help you to use your exam time effectively.

Table 22.3 Exam day plan

On the day of your exam

On the day of the exam it is important to maintain your focus and remember your exam plan. For example, it can be helpful to wait quietly when you first arrive at the exam location rather than talking to your peers who may disrupt your thought processes. If you begin to feel rushed, return to the plan that you compiled in the lead up to the exam. This may assist you in gathering your thoughts, and organising what you are allowed to take into the exam. Consider the following exam day tips outlined below. This may assist you on arrival to a face-to-face exam or as you prepare to begin an online exam.

Arriving at the exam/ preparing to start an online exam

Get to the exam location or be prepared to start your online exam in plenty of time so you do not feel rushed
Don’t let other students interrupt your thinking and try not to compare what you have learned with others
Get to your designated place, organise whatever materials you can have, and calm your mind

At the beginning of your exam you will be provided with exam instructions. This might include information about how to respond to the exam question, if multiple choice, or explain how short response items will be marked. It is important to carefully listen to or read directions to ensure that you complete the exam as required. The following section outlines some considerations to optimise your exam performance.

Taking the exam

Listen carefully for any verbal directions or read the exam instructions carefully (if an online exam).
As soon as you receive the exam, scan quickly and familiarise yourself with the requirements and any choices if applicable (use perusal time if available).
Read the instructions carefully. Consider any options to choose questions, e.g., two from a selection of four short-answer questions. Misreading instructions and answering more questions than is necessary will not give you any additional marks and waste time that could be spent on another section of the exam.
Decide how you will allocate your time for each section (you should know this if you have made an exam plan).
Answer every required question on the exam. Even if you don’t complete each question, you may receive some marks for partial answers. Find out before the exam if marks will be allocated for partial answers.
Answer the questions about which you are the most confident first.

It is an achievement, and often a relief to finally reach the end of the exam. It can be tempting to leave the exam location or log off early if you haven’t used all of the allocated time. It is, however, advised that you use all the time available to maximise your chance of success. You can use this valuable time to review your responses and check your answers. Imagine that you accidentally missed an entire question, using the time at the end of the exam wisely would help you avoid this issue. The section below summarises some of the ways you can use extra time at the end of an exam.

At the end of the exam

Allow time to review your answers. Use this time to check your maths calculations, review an essay for grammatical and content errors, or answer the difficult multiple choice questions you skipped earlier.
Finally, make sure you have completed the entire exam: check the backs of pages, and verify that you have a corresponding answer section for every question section on the exam. It can be easy to skip a section with the idea you will come back to it but forget to do so.

Exam Anxiety

It is natural to experience some exam stress or anxiety. The good news is that there are a number of strategies you can use to manage any exam anxiety so that it does not become overwhelming. However, we recommend that you seek additional support if you find that your coping strategies are not working, or if exam stress is affecting your ability to undertake your studies. Below are some strategies that can be useful in managing exam anxiety or nerves.

Be prepared for your exams. Knowing that you are prepared for your exams will help reduce exam stress.
Physical activity will help you manage stress. Try to incorporate regular exercise in your schedule.
Do not underestimate the effectiveness of controlled deep breathing. Taking deep, slow breaths can help you focus. This can be particularly useful in exams.

Get some sleep. Getting enough sleep is important, particularly in the lead up to your exams.
Find what helps you relax, such as music, going for a walk, going to the beach, and schedule those things in your planner. For example, playing music that you enjoy can help you relax and feel less stressed.
Learn effective relaxation techniques including controlled breathing, visualisation, and meditation. These can help while you are in the exam itself too.

Special Accommodations for exams

Most universities will have processes in place to provide students with reasonable adjustments to their exam conditions for students who meet disability support or equity criteria. This can include additional time to undertake the exam, assistive technologies, furniture adjustments, or alternative locations. The aim is to provide an equitable exam experience and opportunities for academic success. We encourage you to contact your university for information about their specific services and support.

When things go wrong

Sometimes things just don’t go to plan on exam day. For example, you may be unwell on the day of your exam, or experience computer issues when undertaking an online exam. Your university will have processes in place for managing these circumstances. There are often time limits for rectifying issues on exam day, so contact your university as soon as practical when you realise you won’t be able to undertake your exam. We recommend that you know in advance how to contact your university for support during online exams, so if the unexpected does happen (e.g. someone cuts your internet connection) you are prepared and know what to do.

Checklist for exam success

The checklist below provides key strategies that will help you in your studies.

Exams are a common method of assessment at university and there are many different types. In this chapter we have introduced you to the idea of consistent planning for exam success. A variety of strategies were discussed to assist in coping with revising large volumes of material. Specific strategies to target memory and retention such as spacing, interleaving and practice testing were explained. The chapter also discussed what to do on the day of your exam to maximise your success and minimise your stress. The next chapter Types of Exams is recommended for more information on preparing for specific types of exams, such as essays, multiple choice, short answer, open book, closed and restricted exams, take home, online and numeracy (maths) exams.

Start preparing early with regular and consistent study
Make a study plan and stick to it
Use memory strategies; try spacing and interleaving. Find what works for you.
Know your exam type and practice accordingly
In the exam, answer all questions, and show all your working
Know the requirements for undertaking your exam (what you can take in with you) and have them ready
Plan how you will get to your exam, including where you will park and how long it will take to get there, to avoid exam day stress
It is common to experience exam anxiety, but strategies such as deep breathing can help you remain calm in your exam

Academic Success Copyright © 2021 by Kate Derrington; Cristy Bartlett; and Anita Frederiks is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Tests and Exams
Exam Revision

How to Prepare for an Exam

Last Updated: May 26, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Ted Dorsey, MA . Ted Dorsey is a Test Prep Tutor, author, and founder of Tutor Ted, an SAT and ACT tutoring service based in Southern California. Ted earned a perfect score on the SAT (1600) and PSAT (240) in high school. Since then, he has earned perfect scores on the ACT (36), SAT Subject Test in Literature (800), and SAT Subject Test in Math Level 2 (800). He has a BA in English from Princeton University and a MA in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,213,286 times.

Preparing for an exam can be stressful and time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be. There's no need to stress out or cram. By doing a couple of simple things ahead of time, you can ensure that you are confident and ready for anything that comes up on the test.

Preparing to Study

Only you know how long it takes you to study, so you are the best judge of when to start studying.
If the class material is especially difficult for you, start studying early. Give yourself enough time to truly grasp the material, practice it and then review it.
Get a full night's sleep before the exam. Your brain needs time to subconsciously digest everything you've put into it, so start early so you don't have to stay up all night. [2] X Research source

Step 2 Read through the entirety of your notes that will be on the exam.

If you only have five pages of notes, but your friend has twenty, then you probably missed some important information. Compare your notes to your friend's to see where the holes are in your notes.

Step 4 Ask your teacher about the test material.

Your teacher most likely won't tell you exactly what is on the test, but he or she might give you some pointers by handing you a study guide, or simply announcing what the exam will cover.

Reviewing the Information

Ask yourself, who, what, where, when for each theme/subject matter that you are supposed to know for the test.
You can look up information online to study from, but the best information to study from is the information presented to the class because the answers will be derived from your classroom materials. Sometimes information on the internet can vary from the information that you are presented in class.
If you are planning to study from information provided on the internet, stick with sources that end with .edu or .gov.

Ted Dorsey, MA

Remember to also study the topics that you're good at or know well. While you will definitely want to work on areas of weakness, you should also go back over your areas of strength. It can be easier to improve a grade by doing really well on a subject you're already good at than completely re-learning something that you don't know as well.

Break down complex subjects into steps or parts. For instance, if you are trying to learn the order of historical events, list out each event that happened in the order they happened. For instance, first Linus Pauling discovered DNA, then he was awarded a prize. Write down the time frame and the events that influenced each happening. Knowing these side notes should help you to recall information because they increase your level of understanding.

Some teachers write down the page numbers or chapters that each section of the syllabus pertains to in your book. Take note of those pages because you should definitely review them.

Step 4 Write down the major topics and themes that you pulled out of the syllabus.

You might be able to find a study guide online for the material that you are studying if you are not able to get one from your teacher.

Step 6 Re-read important selections of the textbook.

Note the chapter titles and section titles as you read. They are a dead give away to the major concepts that are covered in those sections.

Preparing for the Exam

For instance, if the statement is Linus Pauling was one of the discoverers of DNA, then write on the flash card the question, who was one of the main discoverers of DNA? Write the question on one side, and the answer on the other. [8] X Research source
Sometimes a question will spark an idea for a follow-up question. When you're making flashcards, often you'll be able to see how you may have forgotten to study something. For instance, who were the other discoverers of DNA? This question springs from the Linus Pauling statement because the word “main” reminds you that there were other people involved in DNA's discovery.
If you don't know the answer to follow-up questions, then you should research the information and make flashcards for those questions too.
Start making flashcards for the information that you are having trouble remembering or grasping. This is the information that you need to review the most. Then, move on to information that you already know pretty well.
Making physical copies of flashcards is recommended because you have to write down the questions and answers, which is a repetitive process that will help you remember the information. Also, you can carry the flashcards around and use them at anytime. However, there are websites such as cram.com that allow you to make online flash cards.

If you keep getting certain questions wrong, review your notes and textbook again to see if there is something you're not understanding.

If you still have more time before your exam, ask for assistance either from a teacher or a friend.

Step 4 On the day of the exam, set your alarm at least two hours before the test.

Determining Exam Questions

Although reviewing past exams might not give you the exact questions that will appear on your test, it will give you an idea of how the information will be tested.
It also will tell you how the test will be scored. You'll know if you should give long detailed answers or if your answers should be straight to the point. If you are able to review a test with answers on it, pay attention to answers that were given high marks and those that weren't. Also, pay attention to any notes in the margins that the teacher may have written explaining why points were taken off.

If you understand the format of the test, you know what information to pull out and how detailed or open-ended it might be.
You'll also be able to assess the distribution of points. Is the essay worth much more than the multiple choice? With the past test to review, you can assess what you've already studied and re-assess.

Step 3 Go to class the day before the exam.

Forming Study Groups

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Community Q&A

Be sure to take breaks or refresh your mind with something calming to help your brain subconsciously process information. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Always re-write the important sections of your notes, it will help you memorize them. Thanks Helpful 45 Not Helpful 3
Eat right and have a good rest every night before an exam. Thanks Helpful 49 Not Helpful 6

Tips from our Readers

Before starting a study session, make sure the things you need are easily accessible, so you won't need to look for something in the middle of your study session and potentially become distracted.
Avoid trying to memorize everything at once, or you may get overwhelmed. Instead, you might find it more helpful to focus on 1-2 topics during each of your study sessions.
When you take a break, try setting a timer so you'll know when it's time to get back to studying.
Study in a quiet place with minimal distractions. This can help improve your concentration.

Don't make unnecessary notes to fill your pages. While reading them, you may forget the important notes! Thanks Helpful 35 Not Helpful 4
Don't stay up all night studying. Cramming late at night is not a good idea. Make sure you get enough sleep before the day of the exam. Thanks Helpful 33 Not Helpful 6
Don't wait till the last minute to study. You'll be frazzled and ill-prepared when you're taking the test. Plus, your brain needs time to process information and that takes time. Thanks Helpful 22 Not Helpful 5
Don't do all your studying at once. You'll learn best if you read a little bit of your textbook each day. If you stress, you might forget whatever you have memorized. Thanks Helpful 29 Not Helpful 8

↑ https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/preparing-for-exams.html
↑ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/school-and-sleep/final-exams-and-sleep
↑ https://mcgraw.princeton.edu/undergraduates/resources/resource-library/preparing-for-exams
↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-notes-while-reading/
↑ https://usm.maine.edu/agile/using-flashcards
↑ http://www.cram.com/flashcards/create
↑ https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/37752/studying-with-quizzes-helps-make-sure-the-material-sticks
↑ https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/developing-assignments/exams/exam-preparation
↑ https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc/learning/exam-prep/exam-prep-5-strategies
↑ https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/study-and-training/help-with-study/how-to-study-better/top-10-study-tips

About This Article

To prepare for an exam, start at least a few days ahead by re-reading your notes and key sections of your textbook and reviewing any available study guides. While you’re reading and reviewing, pull out important information and make flash cards to quiz yourself with. You can also go online or use your textbook to work through practice problems. If you learn better by talking things through, try working with a friend or forming a study group. For more tips on preparing for an exam, like reviewing the syllabus or looking at old exams, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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EssayBanyan.com – Collections of Essay for Students of all Class in English

Essay on How to Prepare For Exams

Exams are held to check the knowledge and potential of the students. Exams are like filters that assess the students of different sections. Many of us have exam phobia. We undergo a condition of tension and depression before the arrival of the examination. An unwanted fear distracts us from concentrating on our topics for the exam. The examination period becomes very difficult for us as we do not know where to start. We are confused with different queries in mind.

Short and Long Essay on How to Prepare For Exams in English

Essay on How to Prepare For Exams for students of class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and class 12 in English in 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 500 words. Also find short How to Prepare For Exams essay 10 lines.

How to Prepare For Exams Essay 10 Lines (100 – 150 Words)

1) Exams are the critical periods of a student’s life.

2) Try to complete the entire syllabus before the commencement of exams.

3) Prefer smart study rather than studying the whole day and night.

4) You can solve previous years’ question papers for more confidence.

5) Revise all the chapters at least twice for remembrance.

6) Take sufficient sleep during the preparation to boost your memory.

7) Take 45 minutes of rest between the continuous study routine.

8) It is necessary to stay motivated while preparing for the exams.

9) Studying in the morning will make you understand things quickly.

10) Proper planning and time management helps in preparing for the exams.

Short Essay 250 Words – Smart Study for Exam Preparation

Introduction

The examination is a common thing that we all have faced in our life. It might be the examination in school, colleges, entrance, competitions, etc. These examinations help us in evaluating our knowledge and potential. We cannot escape from this and therefore always be ready to face it with good preparation to become successful in life.

Smart Study for Exam Preparation

Students have to face examinations either they are in school or college life. They get promoted to higher sections only after going through the examination. As the exams are closer the level of tension in students gets doubled. The smart way of studying helps us in doing good preparation for exams. It will also be beneficial for students who do not have studied regularly and have only last time for exam preparation.

Read the important topics.
Solve the previous year’s exam papers.
Give more time to the subject that is weak.
Never care about the preparations of the others.
Eat nutritious food and sleep on time to be healthy and fit.
Stay motivated and take necessary breaks after 45 minutes of studies.

Computer and Internet aids in preparation for Exams

The students get good tips for exam preparation with the help of the internet and computers. Every type of information along with different chapters with their videos is available on the internet. This might help the students to prepare for the difficult chapters.

Conclusio n

The entire life is like an examination and we need to do good preparation to get success at every step of life. The examination makes us more confident about the knowledge and potential that we possess. We must do our best efforts for exam preparation instead of developing fear from exams or waiting for the last moment preparation. The better we do today is the best we get tomorrow.

A long essay has been provided that contains different ways to prepare for the examination. I hope it might be very helpful to all the students regularly facing this fear.

How to Prepare for Exams and Get Rid of Exam Fear – Long Essay (1000 Words)

Exam time is one of the most difficult times in the life of students. They have to totally dedicate themselves to understand the syllabus and clear out the topics to be studied. It might be easy for the students who are regularly studying but not for all. I think during the exam period every student faces some problems and these problems create unwanted tension and fear from the examination. The parents and students both are bothered equally during examination months.

What are the Exams?

It is the way of accessing the student’s capability by conducting oral or written tests for different subjects. Generally, the months of March and April are termed examination months. The students start worrying and preparing notes to prepare for the examination. The parents of the students are also fully involved with them to guide their children during the examination. Exams are only the steps that upon passing will let us step ahead in our life and further help in achieving our aim.

What should Students do to Relieve the Stress of Examination?

Generally, we become much stressed as the exam months are closer. A lot of confusion exists within our minds. After getting the date sheet we become tenser as it is very difficult to decide what to prepare and how to prepare in an efficient way and score good marks. Many of us have pressure to bring excellent grades in the examination. It has always been seen that sometimes due to excessive stress the good students also score average marks.

Ways to Prepare for Exams:

There are many ways that might help us in getting relieved from the stress during the examination period. These techniques will not only help us relieve our stress but will also help us to score good marks in our examination.

Begin by Planning – It is very necessary to develop a time table or study plan before starting our studies for examination. It will help us in deciding which subject to be prepared first and what to prepare at last. We can divide time for different subjects. More time can be given to our weaker subjects. This strategy will give us proper time designation for different subjects and each subject can be covered within a certain time. We must assure that we concentrate on studying the subject at the time allocated for the same. We can also refer to the previous year’s question papers to get an idea of the type of question paper and prepare accordingly.
Develop the Habit of Studying in the Morning – Morning time is the best and appropriate time to study. Our mind and body are more energetic and stress-free during the early morning time. The subject matter can easily be understood and well reminded if we study during the morning hours.
Best Way to Memorize whatever Read – Reading and writing are the two skills of learning. Many times it happens that we study and memorize different things by both reading and writing and while writing in exams we forget everything. Therefore in order to memorize whatever we have studied, we have to start studying in an efficient way. After studying we can explain the same to our friends or to ourselves. In this way, we can memorize the things we have studied for a longer time. We should not study continuously but take a short break after every 2-3 hours of study.
Perform Workouts – A 10-20 minutes exercise will help us in managing the stress. This will make us more energetic and also help us to remain fit during exam time.
Change the Place of Study – It sometimes happens that studying at the same place daily make us feel bored and less concentrated. We can change our place of study. We can sit sometimes in the garden or outside to study. The scene of nature will make us feel better and thus we can concentrate better on our studies.
A Smart and Efficient Way of Studying – These days we are benefitted from different aid of learning and understanding the subjects. We can study by the visual, models, kinesthetic ways of learning methods. It is difficult to understand the theoretical concepts for many of us. We can study them by figures and flow charts. We can also opt for a group study with our friends.
Be Healthy and Fit – We must remember that we have to be well and fit during the examination time. We have to take much care of ourselves. We need to sleep well, take a healthy diet, and do meditation to keep ourselves healthy and fit.
Try to Study by Co-Relating different Subjects – In this universe, everything is directly or indirectly related to each other. Therefore we can study different subjects by co-relating different subjects. It will make our study easier and is a better way of understanding the concept. Co-relative studies are the best approach to make different subject studies more interesting.
Be Optimistic – The exam time will not remain forever. It will also fly like a moment of time. The thoughts of enjoying and doing different activities after exams are over will motivate and help us to concentrate during the exams.

Are Preparation Strategies Really Helpful in Getting Rid of Exam Fear?

A lot of effort is required to win any competition in the same way exams need different preparation techniques to score well in exams. This can only happen when we prepare for our exams before our exams. It is not possible to become a topper at the last moment of preparation. The pre-exam strategies help us to prepare in a better way and also relieve our fear of the exam. The clearing of exams will promote us to a higher level and bring us close to our aim. In this way, we can state that efficient strategies are helpful in bringing us out of fear of the exams. Instead, it will motivate us to prepare for our exams in a better way.

The preparation of the examination requires the skill of time management. Everything is possible if we do things on time. We cannot depend on the last day for the preparation for the exam. The last day is meant for the revision and going through the underlined topics. We need to have sound sleep before every exam so that our mind is fresh and energetic on the day of the exam. If we follow the techniques for preparing for exams we can score well in our exams.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Ans . The exam was invented by an American businessman and philanthropist Henry Fischel.

Ans . Exams are important as it helps us to know our knowledge and potential.

Ans . The UPSC Civil Services Examination is considered the toughest exam in India.

Ans . It was Ancient China to conduct a test in the whole world known as imperial examination to fill the government vacancies.

Ans . Exams are the oral or written tests conducted to evaluate the knowledge and progress of students.

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CLEP College Composition Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

The College Board administers the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), which offers affordable exams to help students across the country receive college credits. This article covers the CLEP College Composition exam, which tests your writing skills and general English knowledge.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free CLEP College Composition practice test!

What is the CLEP College Composition Exam?

As mentioned previously, if you are already familiar with a particular subject without having a college education, CLEP exams can be taken to earn college credits for those subjects. If you have learned the exam material through life experience, previous studies, or on-the-job training, you can take this one exam and receive college credit as if you took the one-semester course!

By taking and passing the CLEP College Composition exam, you can skip the composition class at college, which could potentially result in the following:

Save you money because the test is cheaper than a semester at college
Allow you to earn three or more college credits
Add flexibility to your degree program
Allow you to graduate on time or possibly to graduate ahead of schedule

It is important that you check with your college before taking this exam to make sure it is an exam they will accept.

CLEP College Composition Exam Eligibility

There are no eligibility requirements to take this exam! CLEP exams are available for anyone to take at any time, regardless of age or formal education.

Generally, you will see the following groups of people taking the CLEP College Composition exam:

Homeschool students
High school students who are preparing to graduate
College students
Adults who are returning to school
Professionals who want to use the exam results to help advance their careers
Applicants to master’s degree programs that still have undergraduate prerequisites they need to fulfill

CLEP College Composition Exam Outline

The CLEP College Composition exam contains 50 multiple-choice questions and two essays. The multiple-choice questions have a time limit of 55 minutes, while the essays are timed at 70 minutes.

The multiple-choice questions are split into four categories:

Conventions of Standard Written English (10%)

The knowledge and skills tested in this section include:

Logical comparison
Punctuation
Identification of correctly written sentences
Logical agreement
Sentence boundaries
Passive and active voice

Revision Skills (40%)

Sentence structure
Transitions
Evaluation of evidence
Use of language
Organization
Consistency of point of view
Main idea and thesis statements
Topic sentences
Level of detail
Author’s appeal
Rhetorical effects
Awareness of audience

Ability to Use Source Materials (25%)

Reference materials
Source evaluation
Integration of resource material
Source documentation

Rhetoric Analysis (25%)

In this section, you will be asked to write two essays.

Check out Mometrix's Study Guide

Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons

CLEP College Composition Exam Registration

The CLEP College Composition exam is administered year-round on a very flexible schedule, and you can register via the College Board website.

First, you must create a College Board account. This will allow you to register, and you will be able to see any exams you have taken and view the grades of the exams you have taken. You can also request a transcript from this page.

During the registration process, you will need to pay the $90 exam fee and choose whether to take the exam at a testing center or from home via an online proctor.

Testing In-person

Once you have selected the testing center, date, and time that works best for you, you will need to print your exam ticket. You will not be admitted into the testing center without this printed ticket (a screenshot of the ticket will not be accepted).

Testing Remotely

Before you register, you should ensure that you meet the system requirements:

You must have a PC desktop or laptop (Macs, Chromebooks, and tablets are not supported).
Your computer must be using the Windows 10 operating system (Windows 11 is not supported).
Your computer must have the most recent version of Google Chrome installed.
You must have a speaker of some kind, internal or external (headphones are not allowed).
You must have a camera and microphone, internal or external.
You must have a reliable internet connection.

Once you have selected the date and time that works best for you, you will need to download the ETS Online Test desktop application. This app is what allows you to take the exam on your computer at home.

In-person Testing

On the day of your exam, you should arrive at the testing center 15-30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. Once you arrive, you will be asked to provide a valid, government-issued photo ID, as well as your printed registration ticket.

Before you enter the testing room, you will be asked to leave all personal items (cell phone, bag, coat, notes, food, etc.) in a secure locker outside the testing area. Since you are not allowed to bring your own calculator, a TI-30XS MultiView scientific calculator will be made available within the testing software:

Texas Instruments TI-30XS MultiView Scientific Calculator

Remote Testing

On the day of your exam, you will need to log in to your CLEP account 15-30 minutes prior to your scheduled exam time. Once you have logged in, you will need to download and install the Proctortrack desktop application. Within this app, you will be asked to verify your identity with a face scan, and you will need to scan your photo ID. You will also be asked to scan your testing room using your webcam.

Once the check-in process is complete, you will need to open the ETS Online Test desktop app, and the proctor will get you set up and start the exam.

During the exam, you must ensure that no one enters your testing area. If someone comes into your room, you must immediately ask them to leave, and you cannot say anything else.

How the CLEP College Composition Exam is Scored

CLEP exams are scored with one point for each correct answer, and you will not have points removed for any incorrect answers or skipped questions. The number of correct answers you have will be your raw score.

Your raw score is converted into a scaled score, which is typically in numeric form ranging from 20 to about 80.

An unofficial score report will appear on the screen as soon as you finish the exam, and an official report will be made available the day after the exam when you log in to your CLEP account.

Passing Score

Each college has its own CLEP score requirements, so there is no universal passing score. You can usually find this score requirement on your college’s website or course catalog.

According to the American Council on Education, a scaled score of 50 or higher is often what colleges require.

Check out Mometrix's Flashcards

Get complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts

How to Study for the CLEP College Composition Exam

How to study effectively.

Your success on CLEP test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It’s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking CLEP College Composition practice tests to evaluate your progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a free CLEP College Composition exam practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:

The questions you got wrong
The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right
The ones you found difficult or slow to work through

This will show you exactly what your weak areas are and where you need to devote more study time. Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn’t understand the material? Was it because you didn’t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.

Answer Explanations

Additionally, many CLEP College Composition practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question’s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you’re positive you have a thorough understanding.

Comprehend Each Topic

As you go along, keep in mind that the CLEP practice test is just that: practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same exact questions. If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won’t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you’ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.

Strategy for CLEP College Composition Practice

When you’re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:

Remove Limitations. Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and CLEP study guide handy. Take your time and focus on applying the strategies you’ve learned.
Time Yourself. Take the second practice test “open book” as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourself to finish in time.
Simulate Test Day. Take any other practice tests as if it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials. Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as quickly and accurately as possible.
Keep Practicing. Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it’s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you’ll be able to focus on recalling the material you’ve learned.

How many questions are on the CLEP College Composition exam?

There are 50 multiple-choice questions and two essays on the exam.

How long is the CLEP College Composition exam?

The total time limit for the exam is about 2 hours; the multiple-choice questions are timed at 55 minutes, and the essays are timed at 70 minutes.

What is the passing score for the CLEP College Composition exam?

There is no set passing score for the exam, but a scaled score of 50 is recommended.

How much does the CLEP College Composition exam cost?

The exam fee is $90.

By Peter Rench

Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&M University.

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by Mometrix Test Preparation | This Page Last Updated: May 24, 2024

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School Education /

Essay On What Makes Me Happy for Students in English

Updated on
May 30, 2024

What makes you happy? A normal person is happy when he/ she is surrounded by his/ her loved ones. Family, friends, success in life, and personal interests are the main factors determining our happiness. However, feeling happy is a subjective view that differs from person to person. Here are some samples of how to write an essay on what makes me happy for school students.

Table of Contents

1 Short Essay On What Makes Me Happy
2 Essay On What Makes Me Happy For Class 6
3 10 Things That Makes Me Happy

Short Essay On What Makes Me Happy

Essay On What Makes Me Happy For Class 6

10 Things That Makes Me Happy

Spending time with my family and friends- Spending time with my loved ones makes me very happy. Whether it’s doing an activity together or simply enjoying each other’s company in silence, these simple moments are worth sharing with your friends and family.
Connecting with nature – Nature provides a sense of relaxation and calm. The sound of birds and a calm breeze might bring you joy along with peace.
Engaging in hobbies – Doing something you enjoy can connect you to your creative side, which can provide a sense of relaxation and happiness.
Helping others – Helping others, even in simple ways like being nice or offering a listening ear, can give you a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
Learning new things – Learning something new can provide a sense of satisfaction, which promotes growth. This might be a great opportunity to grow in a variety of ways.
Achieving goals – Achieving your goal after a lot of effort can provide a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment, bringing peace to one’s mind.
Enjoying a good meal – A good meal can improve your mood. So, whether you’re making or eating meal, it will give you a lot of joy.
Expressing Gratitude- Acknowledging and appreciating the things around us reflects blessings in our life, which promotes a sense of contentment.
Relax – Relaxing does not just mean sleeping or taking a nap; it also includes ways that recover your body from tiredness. It could be a relaxing bath, meditation, or anything else that reduces stress.
Laughter – Laughing for a few seconds can instantly improve your mood. Have a good laugh whenever you get the chance. It can be an inside joke or watching a comedy scene; just a few seconds can re-energize you.

A.1 True and lasting happiness comes from deeper sources like meaningful relationships, personal fulfilment, and a sense of life satisfaction.

A.2 Being in nature brings peace, which reduces anger, anxiety, and stress. Spending a few minutes in nature can improve your emotional well-being.

A.3 Happiness differs from person to person because everyone has a different sense of what makes them happy. Their pleasure is determined by their life expectations, cultural and societal impact, and purpose in life.

Bhumika Sharma

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Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide

Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event. The family asked for privacy and that people honor Murray by being kind to one another.

“If that becomes his legacy, we could ask for nothing else,” Eric and Terry Murray said in a statement released by the PGA Tour.

Murray, a two-time PGA Tour winner, spoke in January after winning the Sony Open in Honolulu about turning the corner in his life, his golf and battles with alcoholism and mental health. He died Saturday morning.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes a discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org .

Murray had to go through the Korn Ferry Tour to get his PGA Tour card back. And then he birdied the last hole at the Sony Open to get into a playoff, and made a 40-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole for an emotional win.

“It's not easy,” Murray said immediately after winning. "I wanted to give up a lot of times. Give up on myself. Give up on the game of golf. Give up on life, at times.”

Murray tied for 43rd last week in the PGA Championship, which enabled him to hold his position among the top 60 to earn a spot in the U.S. Open next month at Pinehurst No. 2 in his native North Carolina.

He shot 68 in the opening round at Colonial. The next round, he was 5 over and coming off three straight bogeys when he withdrew citing an illness.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said he spoke with Murray's parents about halting play at Colonial and they insisted the golf tournament continue.

Monahan flew to Fort Worth, Texas, to be with players. Many of them wore black-and-red pins on their caps Sunday in honor of Murray. Those are the colors of the Carolina Hurricanes, his favorite NHL team.

“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone. It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It’s a nightmare,” his parents shared in their statement.

"We have so many questions that have no answers. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, by his friends, by his fellow players and — it seems — by many of you who are reading this. He was loved and he will be missed.

“Life wasn't always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now.”

Grayson was a raw talent after taking up golf at age 8. He won his age division three straight years at the prestigious Junior World Championship in San Diego. But he struggled to fit in at college, going to Wake Forest, East Carolina and then Arizona State.

His first coach was Ted Kiegel in North Carolina, who like so many others was devastated.

“Words cannot express the tragedy of this moment,” Kiegel said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “Grayson came from something that was ordinary and made it EXTRAORDINARY. ... He burned bright for the 30 years he gave us.”

Murray won as a 22-year-old rookie at the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky, and frustration began to set in as he didn't improve as quickly as others whom he routinely beat as amateurs.

He was always open about depression and anxiety, and his bouts with alcohol. One of his darker moments was at the Sony Open in 2021 when he was suspended for an incident in a Hawaii bar. Murray took to social media to say, "Why was I drunk? Because I’m a (expletive) alcoholic that hates everything to do with the PGA Tour life and that’s my scapegoat.”

He also accused the tour of not giving him proper help, which the tour denied.

Monahan said Saturday at Colonial that he called Murray right after that posting and subsequently spent a lot of time with him.

“I think one of the elements of his legacy is his resiliency,” Monahan said. "So you think of going back to 2017, winning the Barbasol Championship, going back and forth between the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour. ... self-assessing, coming back, becoming in his own eyes a stronger human being, and then winning three times in the past year.

“To me, that’s a level of resiliency that is extraordinary.”

When he won on the Korn Ferry Tour last year, Murray talked about his parents having “been through hell and back basically for the last six years for me fighting some mental stuff.”

“Everyone has their battles,” Murray said a year ago. “Sometimes people are able to hide them and function, and sometimes you're not. I think our society now is getting better about accepting that it's OK to not be OK. I've embraced that mentality. I'm not ashamed that I go through depression and anxiety.”

He also used social media to reach out to others dealing with similar issues in a sport where losing takes place far more than winning.

Murray said in January after he won the Sony Open that he often felt like a failure who had wasted his talent.

“It was a bad place, but like I said, you have to have courage," he said. "You have to have the willingness to keep going. Lo and behold, that’s what I did, and I’m here, and I’m so blessed and I’m thankful.”

He saw that Sony Open victory — which got him into the Masters for the first time — as the start of a new chapter. He said he had become a Christian and was engaged to Christiana Ritchie. He said in January the wedding had been planned for late April.

“My story is not finished. I think it’s just beginning,” Murray said in Hawaii. “I hope I can inspire a lot of people going forward that have their own issues.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

A golf television broadcast is played at the broadcast tent showing a photo of Grayson Murray during the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, May 25, 2024. Two-time PGA Tour winner Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the tournament. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Importance of Mains Test Series for UPSC Mains Exam Preparation

Enrolling a mock Mains test series for UPSC is a crucial strategy for candidates preparing for the UPSC Mains exam. This step in the preparation process is not merely about testing your knowledge, but also about understanding the demands of the exam, improving time management skills, and building confidence.

The UPSC Mains examination is a comprehensive test designed to gauge a candidate’s depth of understanding and ability to apply the knowledge they have been accumulating ever since they started their preparation. Unlike preliminary tests that are objective, the UPSC Mains exams are descriptive, requiring a nuanced grasp of subjects, articulation prowess, and critical thinking. Thus, preparation must go beyond acquiring information in terms of simply completing the syllabus, and instead evolve to mastering the presentation of that information and knowledge in a subjective way under highly pressurised exam conditions.

Let us explore the multifaceted benefits of mock mains test series for UPSC Mains to underline their importance in helping an aspirant secure a rank in the final list:

Creating Familiarity with UPSC Mains Exam Pattern

Mock Mains test series for UPSC are designed to simulate the actual Mains exam, including the structure of the paper and difficulty level of questions by incorporating questions from high probable areas of the syllabus. Regular participation in these tests helps candidates understand the layout and subtleties of the UPSC mains question paper, which reduces anxiety and increases efficiency during the actual exam.

Helping with Time Bound Completion of Syllabus

One of the biggest challenges of the UPSC Mains exam preparation is managing to get material and consolidating the vast syllabus within the limited time of the exam. Mock Mains test series for UPSC like NEXT IAS Mains Test Series (MTS) help candidates practise how to allocate time effectively across different sections, ensuring that they can complete the syllabus within the allotted time. For CSE Mains 2024, candidates can join the sectional test plan of MTS which will allow them to complete the syllabus in a systematic manner as the test schedule is based on a careful break-up of UPSC mains syllabus. Conversely, if the candidate has given multiple UPSC mains exams before and is familiar with the exam pattern, then he/she could go for a full year test plan at MTS.

Identification of your Strong and Weak Areas

Attempting UPSC Mains Test Series allows candidates to pinpoint their weak areas both within each General studies paper for mains. As each GS paper has more than 4 broad topics under them, it is not necessary that the aspirant will have the same expertise for all these areas while attempting the subjective answers from them. Giving a mock Mains test paper allows the candidate to identify such flaws and challenges. This feedback is crucial as it enables candidates to focus their efforts more efficiently, dedicating more time to improving on weaknesses rather than revisiting strengths repeatedly.

Helps in Refining your Unique Strategy

Every candidate has a unique approach to answering questions. Mock Mains test series for UPSC provide an opportunity to experiment with different strategies, such as the order in which questions are attempted or how to craft more effective answers with respect to using tabular columns, bullet points and value additions like maps, timelines and flowcharts. But it would be rather problematic to use this in the CSE mains 2025 exam hall without doing a trial before to see how it influences your existing writing style and speed across various GS papers. This experimentation can lead to a refined strategy that maximises a candidate’s performance during the actual exam.

Time management in attempting the UPSC Mains Exam Papers

It is one thing to practise CSE mains answer writing using previous year questions in the comfort of your home or room. But it is quite a different thing to write a 10 marker subjective question in 7.5 minutes and a 15 marker question in 11.5 minutes and to replicate the same pace across 20 questions in the tensed atmosphere you would be in.

A UPSC Mains Test Series with evaluation and good mentor support as in NEXT IAS MTS helps the candidate to identify areas where they are disproportionately investing their time, with respect to marks they secure. It also helps you to inculcate new ways of approaching the question and writing, that is conducive to the desired pace required to complete your paper on time without compromising the quality of answers. Read more: 7 Important Steps to Improve Answer Writing for UPSC Mains

Building Stamina, Endurance and Reducing Anxiety

The UPSC Mains exam is a gruelling series of papers that requires sustained intellectual and physical stamina. Attempting the papers in the comfort of your homes would never equip you to be familiar with real CSE mains exam where you will have to attempt two GS papers back to back, continuously across the entire week, across the prevailing weather condition in the region where your UPSC Mains exam centre is located.

Regularly sitting through mock tests that mimic the length and intensity of actual exam papers helps build the necessary endurance to maintain high performance throughout the actual exam days. Familiarity breeds confidence. By exposing themselves to the exam-like conditions through Mock Mains Test Series for UPSC, candidates can reduce their anxiety that would happen on the d-day of CSE Mains 2024 examination. This psychological readiness is as important as academic preparation, as it directly impacts a candidate’s ability to perform under pressure.

Systematic Reinforcement of Concepts through Repeated Testing

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Every test series fundamentally helps you to acquire a systematic reinforcement of what you have studied through periodic tests. Mock UPSC mains test series provided by reputed, experienced and accountable coaching institutions like NEXT IAS are the closest you get to the real CSE 2024 mains exam during your preparation They are not just about testing what you have learned during your preparation, but they are about applying what you know in an optimised manner in the simulated environment of UPSC mains exam.

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GMAT Sample Paper 2024: Section-wise Questions with Answers

Updated on May 29, 2024, 04:50

If you plan to study business courses abroad, your world probably revolves around GMAT prep! After helping thousands of business school aspirants find their dream university, we know what difference a good GMAT score can make!

This standardised test assesses analytical writing, quantitative, verbal, and integrated reasoning skills and is a crucial component of the application process for many MBA and other business-related courses. Given the high stakes, thorough preparation is essential for success.

GMAT sample papers, including practice questions and full-length practice exams, are a powerful tool for preparing GMAT.

On this page, we’ll explore the best GMAT sample papers! (Read till the end to access free GMAT Question Papers).

On This Page

1. GMAT Exam Preparation Tips: Verbal Reasoning

Most students find the Quantitative section of the GMAT a tad bit challenging. However, with enough preparation, it can be cracked easily!

The Quantitative section is designed to assess your mathematical skills and your ability to reason quantitatively. Most of the questions related to problem-solving and data sufficiency. Below are some GMAT math sample questions.

2. GMAT Sample Paper: Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT exam is probably the simplest of all sections, yet thorough preparation is required to increase your chances of getting a good score.

The verbal reasoning portion evaluates your ability to comprehend various kinds of text material, analyse arguments, and construct correct sentences (as per standard English). Scoring well in this section is a great opportunity to prove your communication and analytical skills.

3. GMAT Sample Paper: Data Insights

Data Insights is designed to test your ability to interpret data. This portion of the test will require you to analyse data tables, graphs, and charts. Business schools regard data analysis as an important skill.

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GMAT Sample Paper: Quantitative Section

x is 1 ⁄ 5 less than 9 ⁄ 10

x is between 2 ⁄ 5 and 4 ⁄ 5

A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.

B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.

C. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

D. EACH Statement ALONE is sufficient.

E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data are needed.

Answer: (A)

E. $90,000

E. 30

Answer: (C)

GMAT Sample Paper: Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT exam is probably the simplest of all sections, yet thorough preparation is required to increase your chances of getting a good score.

Directions:

The questions in this group are based on the content of a passage. After reading the passage, choose the best answer to each question. Answer all questions following the passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Question:

Schools expect textbooks to be a valuable source of information for students. My research suggests, however, that textbooks that address the place of Native Americans within the history of the United States distort history to suit a particular cultural value system. In some textbooks, for example, settlers are pictured as more humane, complex, skilful, and wise than Native Americans. In essence, textbooks stereotype and depreciate the numerous Native American cultures while reinforcing the attitude that the European conquest of the New World denotes the superiority of European cultures. Although textbooks evaluate Native American architecture, political systems, and homemaking, I contend that they do it from an ethnocentric European perspective without recognising that other perspectives are possible.

One argument against my contention asserts that, by nature, textbooks are culturally biased and that I am simply underestimating children's ability to see through these biases. Some researchers even claim that students know they cannot take textbooks literally by the time they are in high school. Yet substantial evidence exists to the contrary. Two researchers, for example, have conducted studies that suggest that children's attitudes about particular cultures are strongly influenced by the textbooks used in schools. Given this, an ongoing, careful review of how school textbooks depict Native Americans is certainly warranted.

Which of the following is most likely the topic of the paragraph immediately following the passage?

(A) Specific ways to evaluate the biases of United States history textbooks

(B) The centrality of the teacher's role in United States history courses

(D) The contributions of European immigrants to the development of the United States

(E) Ways in which parents influence children's political attitudes

Answer: (A)

Critical Reasoning Question

For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

Mall Owner: Our mall’s occupancy rate is so low that we are barely making a profit. We cannot raise rents because of an unacceptably high risk of losing established tenants. On the other hand, a mall that is fully occupied costs about as much to run as one in which a rental space here and a rental space there stands empty. Clearly, therefore, to increase profits we must sign up new tenants.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) The mall’s operating costs could be cut by consolidating currently rented spaces so that an entire mall wing could be closed up.

(B) The mall is located in a geographic area in which costs incurred for air-conditioning in the hot summers exceed those incurred for heating in the mild winters by a wider margin.

(D) The mall lost tenants due to each of the two major rent increases that have occurred there.

(E) None of the mall’s established tenants will likely need additional floor space there in the foreseeable future.

GMAT Sample Paper: Data Insights

A good score in this section indicates that you may be exceptionally good at decision making, and other valuable leadership skills.

What is the monthly rent for a certain apartment?

(1) The monthly rent per person for 4 people to share the rent for the apartment is $375.

(2) The monthly rent per person for 4 people to share the rent of the apartment is $125 less than the monthly rent per person for 3 people to share the rent.

(A) Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.

(B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.

(D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.

(E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Answer: (D)

As the digital age advances, the number of visitors to traditional libraries across various cities in India has seen a shift. The chart provided highlights the visitor counts in four distinct cities for 4 different years in a span of 14 years.

Complete the statement that most accurately reflects the information provided.

Between 2009 and 2023, the visitor count to traditional libraries in ______saw an increase of approximately ______ percent, rounded to the nearest 10 percent.

Answer:

Blank 1: Bangalore

Blank 2: 20 percent

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Q. How often should I practice with GMAT sample papers?

A. It’s helpful to include at least one GMAT sample paper every week for effective preparation. Sample papers are a great way to familiarise yourself with the test and allow you figure out your strength and weaknesses. As you progress in your GMAT preparation, try to solve more and more practice tests on a weekly basis.

Q. How can I effectively review my performance on GMAT sample papers?

A. One way would be to self evaluate your performance by comparing the questions and answers. If you’re score is increasingly progressively then, you’re on the right track. You could start by analysing incorrect answers to understand mistakes. Identify patterns in your mistakes, and refine your preparation strategy.

Q. What are some good resources for GMAT preparation?

A. Some good resources for GMAT prep include:

GMAT books
GMAT sample papers
GMAT question papers from previous years

You could also refer to subject-related books to focus your preparation on a single section. You can also refer to novels, newspapers, and magazines to improve your reading comprehension.

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Exploring special education teacher certification: Requirements and exam preparation

Special education teach giving individual attention to a young student.

The teacher shortage is real and students with disabilities, including those in less wealthy and rural districts, are often the most impacted.

Take the case of Nico Mossa, a seventh-grader with disabilities in Wake County, N.C.

Nico is a fun-loving kid with autism and a seizure disorder who requires necessary accommodations. 1 However, when school started in July 2023, his class didn’t have a qualified special education teacher for five months.

While the district launched a search to fill the position, his mom worried that mandated services, which were outlined in his individualized education plan (IEP), were not being implemented. If Nico had a seizure in class, there was no guarantee the instructional aide or substitute assigned to his class would know where to find his medication or how to administer it.

Additionally, the certified special ed teacher next door had to juggle lesson planning responsibilities, their class, and Nico’s class—which resulted in a fragmented learning experience for students. 1

In this guide, we cover the career outlook for special education teachers. You will also learn about the steps to obtain special education certification, including exams and state requirements.

Career Opportunities

The career outlook for special education teachers is exceptionally promising, as indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics which projects around 33,500 new job openings between the years 2022 and 2023. 2

However, experts emphasize that this estimate may be conservative, given the demand; the United States currently serves over seven million students requiring special services or accommodations, highlighting a significant need for skilled special education professionals. 3,4

Although some challenges exist, including financial support gaps in certain states, the overall trend is toward increased awareness and early identification of disabilities, leading to a foreseeable surge in the demand for qualified special education teachers. 4

This growing recognition of the importance of special education services is paving the way for exciting opportunities in this rewarding field.

Unlocking the path: Essential steps for special education certification

Embarking on a career in special education is a profound commitment to empowering lives and shaping futures.

The journey to becoming a certified special education teacher requires dedication, compassion, and hands-on training.

Individuals who join the profession often teach the same cohort of students for multiple years and find they develop positive relationships with their students, families, caregivers, and community.

The importance of special education teachers like Brian Skinner

By the time students land on special education teacher Brian Skinner’s caseload, they have often convinced themselves they cannot excel at subjects like reading and math and decide to give up.

As 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year, Skinner is driven to instill a belief that his students can succeed, and they do. 5

If you pursue a path toward special education certification, you, too, can become a champion of educational equity for students with special needs. Through advocacy, specialized instruction, and interventions, you will be able to create inclusive learning environments where your students will thrive. 6

Your role could include various settings, from resource rooms to mainstream classrooms where special education and regular students learn together. Crafting Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) under federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), you'll ensure each student receives a free, appropriate education tailored to their needs. For instance, a student with ADHD might get extended time on learning activities or a modified exam. 1

Types of special education certifications

Because your students’ needs will vary greatly, you’ll want to consider gaining additional expertise in the areas you want to impact most.

Many online master’s degree programs offer specializations in areas, such as autism spectrum disorders or transition services for graduating students with disabilities.

Another option is to choose a specialization after teaching in a special education classroom for a few years and complete a certification program offered through organizations like the National Association of Special Education Teachers.

Other certifications include:

Autism Spectrum Disorder : Acquire strategies in behavior management and social skills development tailored for individuals across the autism spectrum 7,8
High Incidence Disabilities: Support students with learning disabilities and ADHD
Low Incidence Disabilities: Specialize in supporting students with less common disabilities such as traumatic brain injuries 7,8
Inclusion in Special Education : Learn how to integrate students with disabilities into general education settings effectively 7,8
Secondary Education Transitions : Prepare students with disabilities for life after high school through vocational training and independent living skills 7,8

Earning these qualifications can set you apart from other candidates and enhance opportunities for career advancement.

Prerequisites for certification

Fulfilling the prerequisites for special education certification mandates a robust educational foundation:

Educational Background: Complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an approved teacher preparation program. You may need to include official transcripts with your job applications 9
Cumulative GPA: A GPA of 3.0 or higher demonstrates academic rigor and commitment 9
Professional Resume or CV: Showcase your qualifications, achievements, and any education-related work experiences. Then, apply to special education teaching positions for which you are qualified 9
Pass Required Exams: Most states require teachers to take and pass a standardized exam before earning their initial special educator teaching license 9

Field experience and student teaching

Gaining practical experience is one of the best ways to prepare for a career in special education and complement what you learn in a degree program. In fact, most states require you to complete student teaching before you become a certified special education teacher.

Under the supervision of a seasoned educator, you get the chance to teach students in special education programs, get feedback on your teaching strategies, and gain insights into how various technologies are used to support learners.

If you want to expand your knowledge of diverse learning needs and strategies, consider an assistant teaching role in a special education classroom. 7 This can help bridge gaps between classroom theory and actual practice.

Finally, volunteering with programs that serve individuals with disabilities also provides valuable hands-on training. 7

Through these experiences, you will build essential skills, confidence, and empathy, all of which are crucial for success in the field of special education.

Background checks and clearance

School districts seek to hire the most qualified special education teachers, with a demonstrated commitment to child safety and ethical conduct. Background checks enable employers to assess whether job candidates are highly qualified and eligible to work with children.

According to Checkr, every U.S. state has laws mandating criminal background checks for K-12 teachers, while 38 states extend this requirement to other school employees who directly interact with children but without supervision. 10

To gain additional information about job candidates, schools may conduct screenings, such as: 10

Criminal background check
Education verification
Verification of previous employment
Professional license checks
Driving record checks

Some states require teachers to undergo background checks every few years to ensure no disqualifying convictions have occurred since their initial pre-employment screening and that any professional licenses remain active. 9 Employers must follow local, state, and federal regulations when conducting these background checks.

Certification exams

Each state has its own guidelines concerning these exams. You can check with your state Board of Education to find the licensing requirements for your state. Many states use the Praxis II exams, which test your knowledge in specific areas.

The special education Praxis II exam tests core knowledge and applications. You have two hours to complete 120 questions that cover the following content categories: 11

Development and Characteristics of Learners
Planning and the Learning Environment
Instruction
Foundations and Professional Responsibilities

State-specific requirements

Prospective special education teachers must research the specific certification requirements in their state or the state where they plan to teach. They should be sure to research what exams are mandatory, the passing scores needed, and any additional coursework or practical experience requirements.

Besides the Praxis exam, you may have to take tests covering topics related to hearing impairment, American Sign Language, mild to moderate disabilities, or early childhood.

Other state assessments include:

Content Exams: If you want to work in a high school, you may be required to take exams covering content areas such as English, social studies, or math
edTPA : The Education Teacher Performance Assessment evaluates a teacher candidate's readiness for the classroom, including planning, instruction, and assessment practices. As of Fall 2017, 18 states have either adopted statewide policies requiring a performance assessment for aspiring teachers or are actively considering such a step 12

After fulfilling certification requirements, you'll be on your way to a fulfilling career as a special education teacher, where you can impact students' lives and help shape the future of education.

Take the first steps toward special education certification

If you’re passionate about inclusive education, you could help alleviate the teacher shortage and ensure that students like Nico Massa receive the high-quality instruction and support services mandated by federal law.

The University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences offers top-ranked special education master’s and certificate programs that can help you become the qualified education specialist that each of your students needs. 13

With a committed faculty and progressive curriculum that keeps up with the changing demands of the modern and inclusive classroom, KU’s online master’s is an unmated opportunity that offers tremendous career benefits for those in the field.

Schedule a call with a KU admissions outreach advisor today to learn how joining a KU special education online master’s-level program can help you excel and make a true difference.

Retrieved on April 18, from www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2023/01/26/schools-struggle-to-retain-special-ed-teachers-advocates-say-invest-more-in-them/
Retrieved on April 18, from bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm
Retrieved on April 18, from motherjones.com/politics/2023/12/how-americas-broken-promise-to-millions-of-students-became-the-status-quo/
Retrieved on April 18, from pbs.org/newshour/show/whats-driving-a-special-education-teacher-shortage-and-how-schools-are-responding
Retrieved on April 18, from iheart.com/podcast/269-how-we-teach-this-141528755/episode/s8e2-demystifying-special-education-with-2023-141528765/
Retrieved on April 18, from parentcenterhub.org/iep-speceducator/
Retrieved on April 18, from tealhq.com/certifications/special-education-teacher
Retrieved on April 18, from naset.org/career-center/inclusive-board-certified-inclusive-education-specialist-bcies-program
Retrieved on April 18, from masters-in-special-education.com/how-to-become-a-special-education-teacher/
Retrieved on April 18, from checkr.com/resources/articles/teacher-background-checks
Retrieved on April 18, from ets.org/content/dam/ets-org/pdfs/praxis/5354.pdf
Retrieved on April 18, from aacte.org/faq/edtpa/
Retrieved on April 18, 2024, from usnews.com/education/online-education/education/online-special-education-rankings

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You must be realistic about the time constraints of an essay exam. If you write one dazzling answer on an exam with three equally-weighted required questions, you earn only 33 points—not enough to pass at most colleges. This may seem unfair, but keep in mind that instructors plan exams to be reasonably comprehensive.
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What to Prepare for an Essay Exam. Study Different Essay Requirements: Using the list below of different essay types, learn the different kinds of essays, the keywords that help you identify what type of essay is required, and the basic outline of what you need to write to get a good grade on that type of essay. Study Clue Words: Study the types of question words that clue you what sort of ...
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Plan the essay first. Use the first 1/10 to 1/5 of time for a question to make an outline or concept map. Organize the plan around a central thesis statement. Order your subtopics as logically as possible, making for easier transitions in the essay. To avoid going off topic, stick to the outline as you write. Hand in the outline.
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Preparing for Exams
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On the day of the exam, set your alarm at least two hours before the test. Scientists believe that a good night's rest is the key to better test scores. [11] An hour and a half before the exam, start running through all the themes and sub-topics in your head. Like always, check your notes if you get stuck.
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Essay on My Preparation for Examination

100 Words Essay on My Preparation for Examination

Making a Study Plan

Study Materials

250 Words Essay on My Preparation for Examination

Creating a Study Plan

Adopting Effective Study Techniques

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Regular Assessments

Stress Management

500 Words Essay on My Preparation for Examination

Time Management

Active Learning

Practice and Revision

Healthy Lifestyle

Positive Mindset

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How to Prepare for an Essay Exam

Participating in Class

Reviewing the Material

Practicing Ahead of Time

Community Q&A

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Essay Exams

Why do instructors give essay exams?

What essay questions require

Taking the exam

Analyze the questions

Plan your answers

Writing your answers

Some physiological tips

Works consulted

Studying for Essay Exams

Can you study for an essay exam?

The Challenge of Essay Exams

Study Strategy 1: Create a Study Guide

Study Strategy 2: Try to Guess the Questions

Study Strategy 3: Study from Old Exams

Study Strategy 4: Outline or Write Possible Answers

Study Strategy 5: Study in a Group

The best ways to prepare for an essay exam

Before the Exam

2. Practice your essay-writing strategy using your sample questions.

During the Exam

2. Follow the essay-writing strategy you practiced: list, claim, outline, write .

3. Go in confident.

Essay Test Preparation Tips and Strategies

Strategies to Help You Improve Your Performance on Essay Tests and Exams

Ask for clarification

Provide detail

Budget your time

Follow the instructions

Write clearly and legibly

Get organized

Get to the point – Focus on substance

Use paragraphs to separate ideas

Go back and review

Approximate

Common Question Types on Essay Exams

1. Identify

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PREPARING FOR THE EXAM

TAKING THE EXAM

Finishing the Exam

Writing Tutorial Services social media channels

Exam preparation: Strategies for essay exams

Exam preparation

Focus your studying by finding and anticipating questions

If the professor distributes questions in advance

Right before the exam

Exam writing

Manage your time

Things to include and/or exclude in your answers

Follow a writing process

Further sources and attribution