Take the essay test
You may often be asked in college to take a written test. In some ways, the same principles for writing good essays outside of the classroom apply to writing good essays in class. For example, both types of essays are more successful when you consider your purpose, audience, and information. when you prepare a thesis with support; when you prove your claim with proof; when guiding your readers with transitions etc.

However, there are some differences to keep in mind when preparing to write. The most important is the purpose of writing. Usually, you write a research paper for example to learn more about your chosen topic; however, you take a written test to demonstrate your knowledge. You're not only communicating information, but you're proving to your audience - the reviewer - that you've mastered the information and can use it. In other words, your goal is both informative and persuasive. Keeping this goal in mind will help you both prepare and write your essay.

STUDY FOR TEST
Explore connections between ideas. Your instructor is not looking for a collection of unrelated pieces of information. Instead, he or she wants to see that you understand the big picture, i.e. how generalizations or concepts create a framework for specific facts and how examples or details fill in the gaps. . So as you study, try to think about how the information fits together.

Prepare practice questions. Try to be prepared for questions that may be asked. If your instructor gives you questions or a study sheet ahead of time, practice answering those questions. If not, try to anticipate questions your instructor might ask and practice them. At the very least, describe how you will answer the test questions; however, it is best to write down the answers. This way you will know where you need to learn more.

DO A TEST
Again, when you take the test, remember that it's not what you say or say that matters, but HOW you say it. You want to show your instructor that you've mastered the material.

Plan your time. Even though you're working under pressure, take a few minutes to plan your time. Determine how many minutes you can spend on each answer. You'll want to spend most of your time on the most scoring questions, being able to answer those first. On the other hand, you may want to answer the questions that you are most prepared for first.

Read the questions carefully. Take a few minutes before writing your essay to read the question carefully to determine exactly what you are asked to do. Most essay exam questions, or "prompts," are carefully written and have specific instructions on what you should write about and how to organize your answers. The prompt may use one or more of the following terms. If you see any of these terms, try to organize your essay to answer the question or questions indicated.