How do you write an effective essay exam?

1- Read through all the questions carefully.

2- Budget your time and decide which question(s) you will answer first.

3- Underline the key word(s) which tell you what to do for each question.

4- Choose an organizational pattern appropriate for each key word and plan your answers on scratch paper or in the margins.

5- Write your answers as quickly and as legibly as you can; do not take the time to recopy.

6- Begin each answer with one or two sentence thesis which summarizes your answer. If possible, phrase the statement so that it rephrases the question's essential terms into a statement (which therefore directly answers the essay question).

7- Support your thesis with specific references to the material you have studied.

8- Proofread your answer and correct errors in spelling and mechanics.

Referance: http://owl.english.purdue.edu