30 tips to help you write a good English exam answer

People do not write good English exam answers by coincidence. There are some steps you can take which will help you to improve your prospects of getting good results.

1. Make sure you understand the question fully. Underline the key words of the question.
2. Understand the key words: make sure you have a definition in your head of what exactly the key words mean.
3. Take a moment to consider what exactly is being asked.
4. Answer the question asked, not what you would have liked to have been asked.
5. Avoid being irrelevant. Stay focused.
6. Make sure that you clearly show how all of your ideas relate to the question that was asked.
7. If asked to analyse a text: Look closely at it, think about the writer's use of language.
8. Do not waffle or generalise!
9. Do not just go for the most obvious approach in answering the question - be willing to think creatively.
10. Try to cover a good number of ideas, but without straying from the question! (See point 5).
11. DO NOT keep repeating the question in your essay ('This essay asks about ... and I am going to write about ...')
12. Do not start off with a dictionary definition.
13. Instead, create a strong opening, for instance by opening with a short, controversial statement.
14. Another good way to create a strong opening is by way of a relevant quotation or a relevant piece of evidence.
15. Whatever you do, think about a way of creating a strong opening - this will wake the person marking the exam up and ensure that they approach your work with a more positive attitude.
16. A strong ending is as important as a strong opening - it will create that lasting impression that you want. Equally, a weak ending can have a negative impact.
17. One way to create a strong ending is to save a new, strong, relevant point to the end.
18. Another way to do this is to end with a strong quote.
19. Sorry for the repeat but it needs to be said again: generalising are waffling are bad ideas!
20. Use brief but relevant quotations to prove each point you are making.
21. Think out each sentence (very quickly) before you write it down. Does it say what you want? Does it make the point?
22. If you know you have problems with spelling or punctuation, do something about it before the exam.
23. Examiners often award points for 'quality of language' - something to work on before the exam.
24. Know your text really well - know it so well, that relevant quotations and ideas come to your mind quickly and easily.
25. Blend textual quotations seamlessly into your own sentence structure.
26. Only quote memorised quotations if they are really relevant. Otherwise, resist the temptation of quoting them anyway!
27. Avoid repeating ideas.
28. Say what you want in a clear way, without going in circles.
29. 'As I mentioned earlier' will rarely earn you any extra marks - only use it if, somehow, it is really helpful.
30. Most essays require a formal register of language. Avoid colloquialisms. To help your language skills, read some literary criticism during your course.
    

For more advice read How to write a good English exam answer on Crossref-it.info