A Better Student

Mastering the Essay Questions Tips that Every College Student Should Know

You've got your high school diploma in hand, a great summer job, a newfound independence ... as a teenager heading off to college; you think you know it all! However, it only takes a few weeks for reality to set in once the college semester starts. Studying is hard work! And all that studying does not always prepare you for that first essay test. Believe it or not, it takes a special skill to tackle those essay questions.

First of all, before learning about some important tips for tackling an essay test, there are a few general guidelines that apply to any work you do in college, especially those essay questions. Practicing good penmanship is essential. If your professors cannot read what you wrote, chances are that they will just count the question wrong. They do not have the time to decipher chicken scratch. In addition, you are in college now and expected to know how to punctuate, spell and use proper grammar. Some professors are sticklers for detail and will take points off for answers that are written poorly, even if the response itself is correct.

Now on to those Essay Questions ...

It is important to say that studying actually helps when it comes to testing. College students are notorious for those late night cram sessions. And while you might pass this way, it is not effective in the long run. Be sure to study a little bit every day. You are your own time manager. Mom and dad are not there to prod you along. By studying each day, even if only for a little while, you will be much more effective come test day. And with that said, here are some great tips for mastering those essay questions:

1. Practice time management. All tests must be completed within a specified time frame, and you want to make sure you write efficiently. Take a few moments and read through the test. When you study, note which questions will likely require more time and thought. Also take into account those questions that are weighted more than others in regards to your test score.

Tackle the harder essay questions first. These will require more thought from you and chances are that they are also the ones that are weighted more as well. Do not try to revise your answers at that time. Tackle the rest of your exam and with the time you might have left, go back and read through your answers and refine them at that time.

2. Thoroughly read the essay question before answering. You want to understand exactly what it is you have to answer. It sounds simple, doesn't it? However, many college students, no matter how well written the answers are, fail simply because they did not answer the question properly. Don't let that happen to you. When in doubt, ask the professor!

3. Outline your thoughts for each essay question. Most professors will give you extra paper to write out your answers. Make use of that paper by outlining your thoughts before putting them in a coherent fashion on your exam. This allows you to jot down everything you know about the question and then reassembling each line item in an appropriate order. From there, you can then compose your answer to the essay question. Whatever you do, don't throw in too much superfluous information. It just weighs down your answer and wastes time.

4. Reread and revise. This was touched on under time management, but it bears repeating. After you have answered your essay questions and still have time left, go back and reread your answers. Sometimes, this will prompt your memory and you will remember another important fact that should be included in an answer. Clean up any grammatical errors at that time as well as check your spelling and punctuation.

Because everyone's study habits and learning styles differ, do not hesitate to revise some of the tips above to suit you. For example, you may not be an "outline" type of person. Try drawing a diagram instead. Sometimes a flow chart full of your ideas works too. It is imperative, however, that you have good study habits in order for these essay tips to work. And don't despair if your first essay question test is less than stellar. Sometimes, it is all a matter of learning the professor's teaching style and knowing what he or she expects.