Ten Tips for Answering Essay Questions

TL;DR version: Spend more time thinking and less time writing.

Why do instructors ask essay questions? The purpose usually is to gauge your depth of understanding. If your instructor wanted to test your ability to memorize facts he or she would have given you multiple choice or short-answer questions (which are much easier to grade).

This doesn't always mean that your answer has to be long. Irrelevant details give the impression that you don't really understand the topic and are using a "shotgun" approach in hopes that something will stick.

Before you start:

1. Instead of immediately picking up your pencil and starting to write, read all of the questions before you answer any of the questions. This saves you time in the long run and will almost always earn you a higher grade.

2. Read the question carefully. Be sure you understand what the question is asking. If you're uncertain, ask the instructor for clarification.

3. Check the grade value for the question. Usually the number of points will reflect the level of detail that your instructor expects.

4. Identify key points you will make in your response. Jot these down in the margins or on a separate piece of paper (such as the back of the exam) to help organize your answer.

Writing your answer:

5. Answer the question that is asked. This is the most common reason for low scores (other than simply not knowing the material). If the question asks about causes, don't talk about effects. If the question asks you to explain, don't just give examples. If the question asks about the atmosphere, don't talk about rivers and lakes.

6. Use time wisely. Answer the questions you're most confident about first. For each question start with the most important points and then add supporting details later if time allows (and only if the details are really necessary). Don't waste time on things like repeating the question.

7. Organize your response. If you write a collection of random facts the instructor may think you don't really understand the material, even if some of the facts are relevant.

8. Write clearly. Your instructor needs to make sense of your answer. Use complete sentences that follow a logical order. Make sure your handwriting is neat enough to be legible - if your instructor can't read it, they can't give you credit for it. If you use diagrams you need to explain and label them.

When you're done:

9. Review your answer. Did you forget any important points? Does your answer include any irrelevant statements? Does your writing need to be clearer?

10. Make any corrections as neatly as possible. Use a pencil (unless your instructor specifies ink) so that you can make clean erasures. Don't assume your instructor can make sense of crossed-out sentences replaced with a trail of arrows pointing to words scribbled in the margins. He or she will probably try, but could fail.

Bonus 11th tip:

Never leave a question completely blank. Most instructors give partial credit for a good-faith attempt. That's hard to justify when there's no response at all.