Category: time management

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Help! I Have to Take an Essay Exam!

Maybe you hate writing and you’re better at multiple choice. Maybe you crushed your last two papers but your brain freezes under a time limit. Maybe the last time you wrote a timed essay was during the AP exam and all you can remember is scribbling as fast as you could until your hand cramped and your pinky turned blue from the ink. Essay exams can be challenging, but learning a few strategies for success can help you approach them with confidence.

You might be wondering, why do professors choose essay exams? Written exams allow you to demonstrate your understanding of key course ideas and show your capacity to engage with those ideas critically and analytically. Keep that important purpose in mind as you prepare.

How do I know what to expect?

Essay exams can vary, so you should read the syllabus and talk to your professor about the exam format. Is there one long essay? Several shorter ones? A multiple-choice section? Some kind of mash-up of everything? Is it open or closed note? Is there a choice of prompts? Are they provided in advance? What’s the time limit? Are there examples of successful in-class essays from previous years?

How should I study?

Study experts recommend that you start preparing the first day of class and avoid cramming. Your memory of the material will be more durable if you study consistently and leave plenty of time for repetition and reinforcement.

As the exam date approaches, your professor might preview the essay question or provide a list of possible prompts. In that case, review the relevant course materials and create an outline for each question that identifies a central argument and organizes evidence to support it.

When you don’t receive questions in advance, you can work to anticipate them (a good study method for all kinds of exams):

  • Think about what ideas your professor emphasized. What points came up repeatedly?
  • Look at the course syllabus. What themes are outlined?
  • Observe patterns of questions in prior tests.
  • Brainstorm questions with a study group.

Once you’ve anticipated some questions, review your notes and collect examples from readings, lectures, and discussions that you can use as evidence. Talking through this material with a study group can make the work faster and more effective: together, you’ll work on recall, synthesize the material, and draw connections between different readings, concepts, themes, etc. Organize your notes to support each prompt with a clear argument and evidence.

If it’s your first timed essay in a while, or you’re nervous about writing under pressure, practice timing yourself. Pick a topic and set a timer for five minutes. Write whatever comes to mind about that topic without backspacing or crossing things out. The important thing is to keep moving forward. If the test is handwritten, do this exercise by hand to get a feel for writing fast.

How much do I actually need to write?

Your professor will probably tell you, “write enough to answer the question.” How many points do you need to support your argument? How much supporting evidence do you have time to talk about? The time limit can also give you an idea of how much your professor expects. If you have three hours to write, your essay will be a lot longer and more complex than if you have less than an hour or multiple essays.

How should I manage my time?

Take the first 10% of the time to plan (5-6 minutes for an hour exam, 10-12 for a two hour exam, etc.).

First, preview the entire exam. Then apportion your time, allowing more time for longer, more complex questions or those worth more points. Start with the easiest questions and then move on to the harder ones. Careful time management is critical. Pay attention to the clock and make sure you leave some time for each question.

Read individual questions carefully and underline keywords. Notice when a question has multiple parts, and make sure you address each one. On scratch paper, quickly jot down useful points to help you answer the question, and then draft a thesis. It should be clear, direct, and argumentative. Write down the key points you want to make and specific evidence to support your thesis. You’ll end up with a rough outline that you can reference as you write.

Decide how you want to allot your time for individual questions. You could have a half-way checkpoint (I’ll have three paragraphs finished at 25 minutes), or, divide the time by section (I’ll spend 7 minutes on each paragraph). Save 5 minutes or so for the conclusion. Once your planning time is done, go ahead and start writing, even if you haven’t finished deciding how to address each point.

How should I structure my essay?

Start with a brief introduction. You need just enough context to explain your thesis, which should be clearly stated. Make sure your argument flows logically throughout your supporting paragraphs, and that you incorporate sufficient evidence. Remember the basic rule that one paragraph equals one idea.

If the exam is open book, you can include paraphrases and quotations, citing specific points. In each paragraph, clearly explain how each point ties back to your thesis. You might also address a counterargument to make your paper stronger.

End with a conclusion that emphasizes the implications (the “so what?”) of your argument.

As you write, reference your outline and check the clock to make sure you’re on track. If you fall behind schedule, either cut one of the points you plan to write and make sure your other points are really strong, or shorten your last couple of points. If you get stuck, try moving on to a different section and come back at the end. The conclusion can also be short: tie your points together and re-state your argument. If you don’t have time to look back over your essay, re-read your intro to make sure your thesis reflects what you’ve actually written in the paper. You may need to amend it slightly.

Things to remember:

First, your professor isn’t looking for a perfectly polished essay. They know you haven’t had weeks to revise. Prioritize the content over sounding pretty.

Second, don’t panic! If you find yourself in an anxious spiral, take a mini break. Look away from the paper. Take a breath. Take apart your pen and put it back together. Whatever calms your mind for 30 seconds. Then, refocus.

Third, when you finish the exam, try not to over-analyze what you could have done differently or compare the amount you wrote to your classmates. Be proud that you did it.

Finally, the WCC will be with you in spirit. You’ve got this!

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Maintaining Normalcy While Learning Remotely

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended student plans and disrupted learning routines at campuses across the country, including at William & Mary. Many of us left for Spring Break not realizing we’d be gone the rest of the semester or longer. Now that remote classes have started, it can be a struggle to stay motivated and focused on learning in these new formats and without our usual on-campus inspiration. Here are a few tips that can help you reduce stress, improve productivity, and generally make the most out of this unexpected experience.

1. Create a routine that you can take with you.

A routine doesn’t have to be complicated – it can be as simple as five things you do every day when you wake up or when you go to bed. The idea is to build a practice that can travel with you, so you are able to do it no matter where you are. My portable routine includes waking up early, practicing meditation and yoga, writing down at least one gratitude and goal for the day, and then eating breakfast. I can do this easily at home, in my dorm, in a hotel room, at a friend’s place, and so on. Maintaining a simple routine gives your mind and body a familiar pattern to follow and helps you manage the stress caused by events that are out of your control.

2. Create a dedicated study space.

Claiming a space as your own can be challenging, especially if your living arrangements aren’t conducive to studying, or if you have multiple people in your home working remotely. But even establishing a part-time study space—for example, by setting up the kitchen table as your “desk” for a few hours every day—can make a big impact on your productivity. When we try to study in spaces typically used for sleep or relaxation, we may subject ourselves to an unnecessary emotional muddle. For example, try to avoid working in bed. When I work from my bed, my mind begins to associate that spot with the energy and emotions I feel during work and school, which can make it much harder to unwind and fall asleep in that same bed at night. By separating the spaces, I avoid this emotional overlap and make it easier to be productive in my study space and fall asleep in my bed at night.

3. Minimize distractions and take notes.

Remote learning can be difficult because it often comes with many more distractions than learning in a classroom does – noisy backgrounds, family members interrupting, food, pets, and so on. During an online class session, maximize the browser on your screen so you can’t see other distractions on your computer, use headphones to help block out other sounds, ask family members if they can keep the volume down for the time you are in class, and take notes with a pen and paper so that you can stay focused on the class and not the tabs open on your computer.

4. Take purposeful and regular breaks.

It is easy to end up sitting at your computer or in front of the TV all day when working from home because it can seem like there isn’t much else to do. It is important, however, to take regular breaks from the screen to relax your eyes, muscles, and mind. Use these breaks purposefully: exercise, take a walk outside, play with your pet, or do something creative like knitting, drawing, painting, or writing. The goal is to give your brain regular rest periods throughout the day. A rested brain is better able to retain information. Keeping these breaks purposeful can help you stay energized and motivated to continue your studies.

5. Stay connected and use campus resources.

When we are on campus, our friends, classmates, professors, and campus resources are all nearby and more immediately available. Now that we are studying remotely, we have to take the extra step to reach out to others and seek support. Contact your friends and organize group FaceTime or Zoom calls. Setting a regular time for socializing can help replace the positive energy that used to come from running into friends on campus. In my case, I used to meet a friend every week at the Rec; now we FaceTime each other while exercising.

Many campus resources are also available online. Online appointments are available at the  Writing Resources Center and the Tribe Tutor Zone. The Wellness Center and Counseling Center have created a  Virtual Health & Wellness  page with pre-recorded classes on yoga, meditation, mindful arts, and more. The Office of Academic Advising has created a Studying with Distance Learning resources page, and their professional advisors are available for online appointments. The Dean of Students Office has created a student support page and is available for phone and Zoom meetings. If you’re struggling to keep up with your studies during this pandemic, it is important to ask for help.

Most of these tips can be used any time, not just during this unexpected campus hiatus. Implementing small changes to our daily habits, and staying connected to others, can help us maintain our sense of normalcy wherever life takes us. Stay healthy, W&M!