essay test.com

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Critique Report
• Writing Reports
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

Essay checker: free online paper corrector

Your best chance for an A+ essay. Try our free essay checker below.

Start typing, paste, or use

Get more suggestions to enhance this text and all your future writing

Your suggestions will show once you've entered some text.

Great job! We didn't find any suggestions in your text.

Why should you use a free essay checker?

The simple answer? Good grammar is necessary, but it's not easy. You've already done countless hours of research to write the essay. You don't want to spend countless hours correcting it too.

You'll get a better grade

Good grammar, or its absence, can determine if you get a good grade or a failing one. Impress your lecturer not just with how grammatically sound your writing is but how clear it is and how it flows.

You'll save time

Essay writing can be a long and tedious process. ProWritingAid's essay checker saves you the hassle by acting as the first line of defense against pesky grammar issues.

You'll become a better writer

Essay writing is a particular skill and one that becomes better with practice. Every time you run your essay through ProWritingAid's essay corrector, you get to see what your common mistakes are and how to fix them.

Good Writing = Good Grades

It's already hard to know what to write in an essay. Don't let grammar mistakes hinder your writing and prevent you from getting a good grade. ProWritingAid's essay checker will help you write your best essay yet. Since the checker is powered by AI, using it means that grammar errors don't stand a chance. Give your professors something to look forward to reading with clear, concise, and professional writing.

How does ProWritingAid's essay checker work?

Your goal in essay writing is to convey your message as best as possible. ProWritingAid's essay checker is the first step toward doing this.

Get rid of spelling errors

ProWritingAid's essay checker will show you what it thinks are spelling errors and present you with possible corrections. If a word is flagged and it's actually spelled correctly, you can always choose to ignore the suggestion.

Fix grammar errors

Professors aren't fans of poor grammar because it interrupts your message and makes your essay hard to understand. ProWritingAid will run a grammar check on your paper to ensure that your message is precise and is being communicated the way you intended.

Get rid of punctuation mistakes

A missing period or comma here and there may not seem that serious, but you'll lose marks for punctuation errors. Run ProWritingAid's essay checker to use the correct punctuation marks every time and elevate your writing.

Improve readability

Make sure that in the grand scheme, your language is not too complicated. The essay checker's built-in Readability report will show if your essay is easy or hard to read. It specifically zones in on paragraphs that might be difficult to read so you can review them.

What else can the essay checker do?

The editing tool analyzes your text and highlights a variety of key writing issues, such as overused words, incohesive sentence structures, punctuation issues, repeated phrases, and inconsistencies.

You don't need to drown your essay in words just to meet the word count. ProWritingAid's essay checker will help to make your words more effective. You'll get to construct your arguments and make sure that every word you use builds toward a meaningful conclusion.

Transition words help organize your ideas by showing the relationship between them. The essay checker has a built-in Transition report that highlights and shows the percentage of transitions used in your essay. Use the results to add transitions where necessary.

An engaging essay has sentences of varying lengths. Don't bore your professor with long, rambling sentences. The essay checker will show you where you need to break long sentences into shorter sentences or add more sentence length variation.

Generally, in scholarly writing, with its emphasis on precision and clarity, the active voice is preferred. However, the passive voice is acceptable in some instances. When you run your essay through ProWritingAid's essay checker, you get feedback on whether you're using the passive or active voice to convey your idea.

There are specific academic power verbs, like appraise , investigate , debunk , support , etc., that can add more impact to your argument by giving a more positive and confident tone. The essay checker will check your writing for power verbs and notify you if you have less than three throughout your essay.

It's easy to get attached to certain phrases and use them as crutches in your essays, but this gives the impression of boring and repetitive writing. The essay checker will highlight your repeats and suggest contextually relevant alternatives.

Gain access to in-house blog reports on citations, how to write a thesis statement, how to write a conclusion, and more. Venture into a world of resources specific to your academic needs.

What kinds of papers does ProWritingAid correct?

No matter what you're writing, ProWritingAid will adapt and show you where your edits are needed most.

• Argumentative
• Descriptive
• Textual analysis
• Lab reports
• Case studies
• Literature reviews
• Presentations
• Dissertations
• Research papers

Professors and students love using ProWritingAid

If you're an English teacher, you need to take a look at this tool - it reinforces what you're teaching, highlights strengths and weaknesses, and makes it easier to personalize instruction.

Jennifer Gonzales

Only reason I managed to get an A in all my freshman composition classes.

Chris Layton

Great tool for academic work. Easy to use, and the reports and summary evaluation of your documents in several categories is very useful. So much more than spelling and grammar!

Debra Callender

Questions & Answers

1. how do i use the essay checker online tool.

You can either copy and paste your essay in the essay checker field or upload your essay from your computer. Your suggestions will show once you enter text. You'll see a number of possible grammar and spelling issues. Sign up for free to get unlimited suggestions to improve your writing style, grammar, and sentence structure. Avoid unintentional plagiarism with a premium account.

2. Does the essay checker work with British English and American English?

The essay checker works with both British English and American English. Just choose the one you would like to use and your corrections will reflect this.

3. Is using an essay checker cheating?

No. The essay checker won't ever write the essay for you. It will point out possible edits and advise you on changes you need to make. You have full autonomy and get to decide which changes to accept.

4. Will the essay checker autocorrect my work?

The essay writing power remains in your hands. You choose which suggestions you want to accept, and you can ignore those that you don't think apply.

5. Is there a student discount?

Students who have an eligible student email address can get 20% off ProWritingAid Premium. You can apply for a student discount through Student App Centre .

6. Does ProWritingAid have a plagiarism checker?

Yes. ProWritingAid's plagiarism checker will check your work against over a billion webpages, published works, and academic papers, so you can be sure of its originality. Find out more about pricing for plagiarism checks here .

A good grade is closer than you think

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

Learning Materials

• Business Studies
• Combined Science
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• English Literature
• Environmental Science
• Human Geography
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics

The Ultimate Essay Test Guide: Achieve Top Grades With Ease

An essay test, a fundamental tool in academic assessment, measures a student's ability to express, argue, and structure their thoughts on a given subject through written words. This test format delves deeper into a student's critical thinking and writing skills unlike other conventional exam types.

What is an Essay Test?

An essay test is a type of assessment in which a student is prompted to respond to a question or a series of questions by writing an essay.

This form of test isn’t merely about checking a student’s recall or memorization skills , but more about gauging their ability to comprehend a subject, synthesize information, and articulate their understanding effectively.

Types of Essay Tests

Essay tests can be broadly classified into two categories: Restricted Response and Extended Response .

• Restricted Response tests focus on limited aspects, requiring students to provide short, concise answers.
• Extended Response tests demand more comprehensive answers, allowing students to showcase their creativity and analytical skills.

Advantages and Limitations of an Essay Test

Essay tests offer numerous benefits but also have certain limitations. The advantages of an essay test are :

• They allow teachers to evaluate students’ abilities to organize, synthesize, and interpret information.
• They help in developing critical thinking and writing skills among students.
• They provide an opportunity for students to exhibit their knowledge and understanding of a subject in a broader context.

And the limitations of an essay test are :

• They are time-consuming to both take and grade.
• They are subject to scoring inconsistencies due to potential subjective bias.
• They may cause the students who struggle with written expression may face difficulties, and these tests may not accurately reflect the full spectrum of a student’s knowledge or understanding.

Join over 90% of students getting better grades!

That’s a pretty good statistic. Download our free all-in-one learning app and start your most successful learning journey yet. Let’s do it!

Understanding the Structure of an Essay Test

Essay tests involve a defined structure to ensure organized, coherent, and comprehensive expression of thoughts. Adhering to a specific structure can enhance your ability to answer essay questions effectively .

The 7 Steps of an Essay

Writing an essay test typically involves seven steps :

• Understanding the question
• Brainstorming ideas
• Creating an outline
• Crafting a thesis statement
• Writing the essay body
• Formulating the conclusion
• Revising and editing for clarity and conciseness

The First Sentence in an Essay

The initial sentence of an essay, often termed a hook , plays a crucial role.

It aims to grab the reader’s attention and provoke interest in the essay topic. It should be engaging, and relevant, and set the tone for the rest of the essay .

The 5-Paragraph Essay Format

The 5-paragraph essay format is commonly used in essay tests, providing a clear and organized approach for students to articulate their ideas. In this format, the introduction and the conclusion include 1 paragraph while the body of the essay includes 3 .

• Introduction : The introduction sets the stage, providing a brief overview of the topic and presenting the thesis statement – the central argument or point.
• Body : The body of the essay contains three paragraphs, each presenting a separate point that supports the thesis statement. Detailed explanations, evidence, and examples are included here to substantiate the points.
• Conclusion : The conclusion reiterates the thesis statement and summarizes the main points. It provides a final perspective on the topic, drawing the essay to a close.

How to Prepare for an Essay Test?

Preparing for an essay test demands a structured approach to ensure thorough understanding and effective response. Here are some strategies to make this task more manageable:

#1 Familiarize Yourself with the Terminology Used

Knowledge of key terminologies is essential. Understand the meaning of directives such as “describe”, “compare”, “contrast”, or “analyze”. Each term guides you on what is expected in your essay and helps you to answer the question accurately.

To make it easier, you can take advantage of AI technologies. While preparing for your exam, use similar essay questions as prompts and see how AI understands and evaluates the questions. If you are unfamiliar with AI, you can check out The Best Chat GPT Prompts For Essay Writing .

#2 Review and Revise Past Essays

Take advantage of past essays or essay prompts to review and revise your writing . Analyze your strengths and areas for improvement, paying attention to grammar , structure , and clarity . This process helps you refine your writing skills and identify potential pitfalls to avoid in future tests.

#3 Practice Timed Writing

Simulate test conditions by practicing timed writing . Set a specific time limit for each essay question and strive to complete it within that timeframe. This exercise builds your ability to think and write quickly , improving your efficiency during the actual test.

#4 Utilize Mnemonic Techniques

To aid in memorization and recall of key concepts or arguments, employ mnemonic techniques . These memory aids, such as acronyms, visualization, or association techniques, can help you retain important information and retrieve it during the test. Practice using mnemonics to reinforce your understanding of critical points.

Exam stress causing you sleepless nights?

Get a good night’s rest with our free teacher-verified study sets and a smart study planner to help you manage your studies effectively.

Strategies to Pass an Essay Test

Passing an essay test goes beyond understanding the topic; it also requires strategic planning and execution . Below are key strategies that can enhance your performance in an essay test.

• Read the exam paper thoroughly before diving into writing : read the entire exam paper thoroughly. Understand each question’s requirement and make a mental note of the points to be included in each response. This step will help in ensuring that no aspect of the question is overlooked.
• Answer in the First Sentence and Use the Language of the Question : Begin your essay by clearly stating your answer in the first sentence. Use the language of the question to show you are directly addressing the task. This approach ensures that your main argument is understood right from the start.
• Structure Your Essay : Adopt a logical essay structure , typically comprising an introduction, body, and conclusion. This helps in organizing your thoughts, making your argument clearer, and enhancing the readability of your essay.
• Answer in Point Form When Running Out of Time : If time is running short, present your answer in point form. This approach allows you to cover more points quickly, ensuring you don’t leave any questions unanswered.
• Write as Legibly as Possible : Your writing should be clear and easy to read. Illegible handwriting could lead to misunderstandings and may negatively impact your grades.
• Number Your Answers : Ensure your answers are correctly numbered. This helps in aligning your responses with the respective questions, making it easier for the examiner to assess your work, and reducing chances of confusion or error
• Time Yourself on Each Question : Time management is crucial in an essay test. Allocate a specific amount of time to each question, taking into account the marks they carry. Ensure you leave ample time for revising and editing your responses. Practicing this strategy can prevent last-minute rushes and result in a more polished essay.

Did you know that Vaia was rated best study app worldwide!

Frequently Asked Questions About Essay Tests

How do you answer an essay question, when taking an essay test what is the first step, what type of test is an essay test, what is the first sentence in an essay, what are the six elements of an essay.

Privacy Overview

Your path to academic success

Improve your paper with our award-winning Proofreading Services ,  Plagiarism Checker , Citation Generator , AI Detector & Knowledge Base .

Proofreading & Editing

Get expert help from Scribbr’s academic editors, who will proofread and edit your essay, paper, or dissertation to perfection.

Plagiarism Checker

Detect and resolve unintentional plagiarism with the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker, so you can submit your paper with confidence.

Citation Generator

Generate accurate citations with Scribbr’s free citation generator and save hours of repetitive work.

Happy to help you

You’re not alone. Together with our team and highly qualified editors , we help you answer all your questions about academic writing.

Open 24/7 – 365 days a year. Always available to help you.

Very satisfied students

This is our reason for working. We want to make  all students  happy, every day.

Fabulous Editing!

Allison made excellent edits to my paper! I am in awe of her work!

Absolutely great

Absolutely great. Really grateful for their expertise. Thank you Leona- a thousand times.

Helpful proofreading

The proofreading was very helpful and improved the article

Super fast and excellent help

Super fast and excellent help. Not only was my work corrected, but I also received positive feedback, which boosted my motivation. Highly recommended!

Scribbr has saved me valuable time by…

Scribbr has saved me valuable time by creating a service that allows me to academically and professionally share my discoveries and theories in way that supports my work in psychology and graphic design. The left brain hemisphere allows me use the concepts and text to communicate and the right brain hemisphere is supported by the citations and references used by the function of these tools. Thank you for this service, it is appreciated.

Love! It is helpful and keeps my sources organized.

It helps me write better papers with…

It helps me write better papers with proper references.

So useful and saves so much time!

So useful and saves so much time!! Great for uni students

This cite is very user friendly and…

This cite is very user friendly and love how it organizes the citations and paste function

Makes my work easier

It is so much easier and shortens the time I can be using doing my literature reviews. Excellent resource!

my experience is really good and i feel so happy after using this site.

The perfect tool for scholarly writing

I achieved 100% on my APA formatting every time using Scribbr. The only tool I trust for writing my assignments.

great tool. I love it

helps to keep everything in apa format

Very helpful!!!

I’ve found Scribbr to be an excellent ethical, and ad-free tool

I’ve found Scribbr to be an excellent citation generator that truly meets my needs for a free, ethical, and ad-free tool. It supports a variety of citation styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago, which is incredibly helpful for my diverse academic projects. The interface is easy to use, allowing me to quickly create accurate citations without any interruptions from ads. By streamlining the citation process, Scribbr helps me stay focused on my research and writing while ensuring that I maintain academic integrity. Its accessibility and user-friendly design make it a valuable resource for all my citation needs.

Saved me :)

It has saved me, as I was having difficulty cited and referencing for my first degree.

Helpful for checking reference format

I find this tool is very helpful when I am listing references as it allows me to check I have correctly formatted my references in accordance with APA 7

it's very easy to use if you can find…

it's very easy to use if you can find the articles/journals, which you can find most of

Very Impressed!

Makes referencing so easy and quick. Very simple to follow and understand. I love it!!

Everything you need to write an A-grade paper

Free resources used by 5,000,000 students every month.

Bite-sized videos that guide you through the writing process. Get the popcorn, sit back, and learn!

Lecture slides

Ready-made slides for teachers and professors that want to kickstart their lectures.

• Academic writing
• Citing sources
• Methodology
• Research process
• Dissertation structure
• Language rules

Accessible how-to guides full of examples that help you write a flawless essay, proposal, or dissertation.

Chrome extension

Cite any page or article with a single click right from your browser.

Time-saving templates that you can download and edit in Word or Google Docs.

Help you achieve your academic goals

Whether we’re proofreading and editing , checking for plagiarism or AI content , generating citations, or writing useful Knowledge Base articles , our aim is to support students on their journey to become better academic writers.

We believe that every student should have the right tools for academic success. Free tools like a paraphrasing tool , grammar checker, summarizer and an  AI Proofreader . We pave the way to your academic degree.

Ask our team

Want to contact us directly? No problem.  We  are always here for you.

• Email [email protected]
• Start live chat
• Call +1 (510) 822-8066
• WhatsApp +31 20 261 6040

Frequently asked questions

Our team helps students graduate by offering:

• A world-class citation generator
• Plagiarism Checker software powered by Turnitin
• Innovative Citation Checker software
• Professional proofreading services
• Over 300 helpful articles about academic writing, citing sources, plagiarism, and more

Scribbr specializes in editing study-related documents . We proofread:

• PhD dissertations
• Research proposals
• Personal statements
• Admission essays
• Motivation letters
• Reflection papers
• Journal articles
• Capstone projects

Scribbr’s Plagiarism Checker is powered by elements of Turnitin’s Similarity Checker , namely the plagiarism detection software and the Internet Archive and Premium Scholarly Publications content databases .

The add-on AI detector is powered by Scribbr’s proprietary software.

The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

Essay Test Preparation Tips and Strategies

Essay test questions can be very intimidating, but they can also be very rewarding. Unlike other types of exams (i.e., multiple choice, true or false, etc.) essay tests allow you develop an answer based on your understanding or knowledge.

If you’ve studied all semester, understand the course concepts, and have reviewed prior to the test, the following strategies can help you improve your performance on essay tests and exams.

Strategies to Help You Improve Your Performance on Essay Tests and Exams

Read the directions.

Reading the directions seems so obvious. Unfortunately, it’s still one of the biggest test taking mistakes students make. Before answering an essay question, thoroughly read the instructions. Do not jump to the answer without being sure of what exactly the question is asking. In many cases, the teacher is looking for specific types of responses. Never assume you know what is being asked, or what is required, until you’ve read the entire question.

Ask for clarification

Read essay questions in their entirety before preparing an answer. If the instructions are unclear, or you simply don’t understand a question, ask the teacher for clarification. Chances are if you’re confused so is someone else. Never be scared to ask for clarification from your teacher or instructor.

Provide detail

Provide as many details and specific examples when answering an essay question as you can. Teachers are usually looking for very specific responses to see whether or not you’ve learned the material. The more relevant detail you provide, the higher grade is likely to be. However, only include correct, accurate and relevant information. Including irrelevant “filler” that doesn’t support your answer will likely lower your grade.

Budget your time

Manage your time wisely when answering essay questions so you are able answer all the questions, not just the easy or hard ones. If you finish your test before time is up, go back and review your answers and provide additional details.

We recommend answering those essay questions you’re most familiar with first and then tackling more challenging questions after. It’s also not uncommon on essay tests for some questions to be worth more than others. When budgeting your time, make sure to allocate more time to those questions that are worth the most.

Follow the instructions

When a question is only requiring facts, be sure to avoid sharing opinions. Only provide the information the instructions request. It’s important to provide an answer that matches the type of essay question being asked. You’ll find a list of common types of essay questions at the bottom of this page.

In your answers, get to the point and be very clear. It is generally best to be as concise as possible. If you provide numerous facts or details, be sure they’re related to the question. A typical essay answer should be between 200 and 800 words (2-8 paragraphs) but more isn’t necessarily better. Focus on substance over quantity.

Write clearly and legibly

Be sure your essays are legible and easy to understand. If a teacher has a difficult time reading or understanding what you’ve written, you could receive a lower score.

Get organized

Organize your thoughts before answering your essay question. We even recommend developing a short outline before preparing your answer. This strategy will help you save time and keep your essay organized. Organizing your thoughts and preparing a short outline will allow you to write more clearly and concisely.

Get to the point – Focus on substance

Only spend time answering the question and keep your essays focused. An overly long introduction and conclusion can be unnecessary. If your essay does not thoroughly answer the question and provide substance, a well developed introduction or conclusion will do you no good.

Use paragraphs to separate ideas

When developing your essay, keep main ideas and other important details separated with paragraphs. An essay response should have three parts: the introduction; the body; and the conclusion. The introduction is typically one paragraph, as is the conclusion. The body of the essay usually consists of 2 to 6 paragraphs depending on the type of essay and the information being presented.

Go back and review

If time permits, review your answers and make changes if necessary. Make sure you employed correct grammar and that your essays are well written. It’s not uncommon to make silly mistakes your first time through your essay. Reviewing your work is always a good idea.

Approximate

When you are unsure of specific dates, just approximate dates. For example, if you know an event occurred sometime during the 1820’s, then just write, “in the early 1800’s.”

Common Question Types on Essay Exams

Being able to identify and becoming familiar with the most common types of essay test questions is key to improving performance on essay exams. The following are 5 of the most common question types you’ll find on essay exams.

1. Identify

Identify essay questions ask for short, concise answers and typically do not require a fully developed essay.

• Ask yourself: “What is the idea or concept in question?”, “What are the main characteristics?”, “What does this mean?”
• Keywords to look for: Summarize, List, Describe, Define, Enumerate, State
• Example question: “Define what is meant by ‘separation of church and state.'”

Explain essay questions require a full-length essay with a fully developed response that provides ample supporting detail.

• Ask yourself: “What are the main points?”, “Why is this the case?”
• Keywords to look for: Discuss, Explain, Analyze, Illustrate
• Example question: “Discuss the differences between the political views of democrats and republicans. Use specific examples from each party’s 2017 presidential campaign to argue which views are more in line with U.S. national interests.”

Compare essay questions require an analysis in essay form which focuses on similarities, differences, and connections between specific ideas or concepts.

• Ask yourself: “What are the main concepts or ideas?”, “What are the similarities?”, “What are the differences?”
• Keywords to look for: Compare, Contrast, Relate
• Example question: “Compare the value of attending a community college to the value of attending a 4-year university. Which would you rather attend?”

Argue essay questions require you to form an opinion or take a position on an issue and defend your position against alternative positions using arguments backed by analysis and information.

• Ask yourself: “Is this position correct?”, “Why is this issue true?”
• Keywords to look for: Prove, Justify
• Example question: “Argue whether robotics will replace blue collar manufacturing jobs in the next ten years.”

Assess essay questions involve assessing an issue, idea or question by describing acceptable criteria and defending a position/judgment on the issue.

• Ask yourself: “What is the main idea/issue and what does it mean?”, “Why is the issue important?”, “What are its strengths?”, “What are the weaknesses?”
• Keywords to look for: Evaluate, Criticize, Evaluate, Interpret
• Example question: “With respect to U.S. national security, evaluate the benefit of constructing a wall along the southern border of the United States of America.”

Similar Posts:

• Guide on College and University Admissions
• Preschool – Everything You Need to Know
• How to Handle the Transition from High School to College

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

Essay Exams

What this handout is about.

At some time in your undergraduate career, you’re going to have to write an essay exam. This thought can inspire a fair amount of fear: we struggle enough with essays when they aren’t timed events based on unknown questions. The goal of this handout is to give you some easy and effective strategies that will help you take control of the situation and do your best.

Why do instructors give essay exams?

Essay exams are a useful tool for finding out if you can sort through a large body of information, figure out what is important, and explain why it is important. Essay exams challenge you to come up with key course ideas and put them in your own words and to use the interpretive or analytical skills you’ve practiced in the course. Instructors want to see whether:

• You understand concepts that provide the basis for the course
• You can use those concepts to interpret specific materials
• You can make connections, see relationships, draw comparisons and contrasts
• You can synthesize diverse information in support of an original assertion
• You can justify your own evaluations based on appropriate criteria
• You can argue your own opinions with convincing evidence
• You can think critically and analytically about a subject

What essay questions require

Exam questions can reach pretty far into the course materials, so you cannot hope to do well on them if you do not keep up with the readings and assignments from the beginning of the course. The most successful essay exam takers are prepared for anything reasonable, and they probably have some intelligent guesses about the content of the exam before they take it. How can you be a prepared exam taker? Try some of the following suggestions during the semester:

• Do the reading as the syllabus dictates; keeping up with the reading while the related concepts are being discussed in class saves you double the effort later.
• Go to lectures (and put away your phone, the newspaper, and that crossword puzzle!).
• Take careful notes that you’ll understand months later. If this is not your strong suit or the conventions for a particular discipline are different from what you are used to, ask your TA or the Learning Center for advice.
• Participate in your discussion sections; this will help you absorb the material better so you don’t have to study as hard.
• Organize small study groups with classmates to explore and review course materials throughout the semester. Others will catch things you might miss even when paying attention. This is not cheating. As long as what you write on the essay is your own work, formulating ideas and sharing notes is okay. In fact, it is a big part of the learning process.
• As an exam approaches, find out what you can about the form it will take. This will help you forecast the questions that will be on the exam, and prepare for them.

These suggestions will save you lots of time and misery later. Remember that you can’t cram weeks of information into a single day or night of study. So why put yourself in that position?

Now let’s focus on studying for the exam. You’ll notice the following suggestions are all based on organizing your study materials into manageable chunks of related material. If you have a plan of attack, you’ll feel more confident and your answers will be more clear. Here are some tips: 

• Don’t just memorize aimlessly; clarify the important issues of the course and use these issues to focus your understanding of specific facts and particular readings.
• Try to organize and prioritize the information into a thematic pattern. Look at what you’ve studied and find a way to put things into related groups. Find the fundamental ideas that have been emphasized throughout the course and organize your notes into broad categories. Think about how different categories relate to each other.
• Find out what you don’t know, but need to know, by making up test questions and trying to answer them. Studying in groups helps as well.

Taking the exam

Read the exam carefully.

• If you are given the entire exam at once and can determine your approach on your own, read the entire exam before you get started.
• Look at how many points each part earns you, and find hints for how long your answers should be.
• Figure out how much time you have and how best to use it. Write down the actual clock time that you expect to take in each section, and stick to it. This will help you avoid spending all your time on only one section. One strategy is to divide the available time according to percentage worth of the question. You don’t want to spend half of your time on something that is only worth one tenth of the total points.
• As you read, make tentative choices of the questions you will answer (if you have a choice). Don’t just answer the first essay question you encounter. Instead, read through all of the options. Jot down really brief ideas for each question before deciding.
• Remember that the easiest-looking question is not always as easy as it looks. Focus your attention on questions for which you can explain your answer most thoroughly, rather than settle on questions where you know the answer but can’t say why.

Analyze the questions

• Decide what you are being asked to do. If you skim the question to find the main “topic” and then rush to grasp any related ideas you can recall, you may become flustered, lose concentration, and even go blank. Try looking closely at what the question is directing you to do, and try to understand the sort of writing that will be required.
• Focus on what you do know about the question, not on what you don’t.
• Look at the active verbs in the assignment—they tell you what you should be doing. We’ve included some of these below, with some suggestions on what they might mean. (For help with this sort of detective work, see the Writing Center handout titled Reading Assignments.)

Information words, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject. Information words may include:

• define—give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning.
• explain why/how—give reasons why or examples of how something happened.
• illustrate—give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject.
• summarize—briefly cover the important ideas you learned about the subject.
• trace—outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form.
• research—gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you’ve found.

Relation words ask you to demonstrate how things are connected. Relation words may include:

• compare—show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different).
• contrast—show how two or more things are dissimilar.
• apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation.
• cause—show how one event or series of events made something else happen.
• relate—show or describe the connections between things.

Interpretation words ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Don’t see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation. Interpretation words may include:

• prove, justify—give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth.
• evaluate, respond, assess—state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons (you may want to compare your subject to something else).
• support—give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe).
• synthesize—put two or more things together that haven’t been put together before; don’t just summarize one and then the other, and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together (as opposed to compare and contrast—see above).
• analyze—look closely at the components of something to figure out how it works, what it might mean, or why it is important.
• argue—take a side and defend it (with proof) against the other side.

Plan your answers

Think about your time again. How much planning time you should take depends on how much time you have for each question and how many points each question is worth. Here are some general guidelines: 

• For short-answer definitions and identifications, just take a few seconds. Skip over any you don’t recognize fairly quickly, and come back to them when another question jogs your memory.
• For answers that require a paragraph or two, jot down several important ideas or specific examples that help to focus your thoughts.
• For longer answers, you will need to develop a much more definite strategy of organization. You only have time for one draft, so allow a reasonable amount of time—as much as a quarter of the time you’ve allotted for the question—for making notes, determining a thesis, and developing an outline.
• For questions with several parts (different requests or directions, a sequence of questions), make a list of the parts so that you do not miss or minimize one part. One way to be sure you answer them all is to number them in the question and in your outline.
• You may have to try two or three outlines or clusters before you hit on a workable plan. But be realistic—you want a plan you can develop within the limited time allotted for your answer. Your outline will have to be selective—not everything you know, but what you know that you can state clearly and keep to the point in the time available.

Again, focus on what you do know about the question, not on what you don’t.

Writing your answers

As with planning, your strategy for writing depends on the length of your answer:

• For short identifications and definitions, it is usually best to start with a general identifying statement and then move on to describe specific applications or explanations. Two sentences will almost always suffice, but make sure they are complete sentences. Find out whether the instructor wants definition alone, or definition and significance. Why is the identification term or object important?
• For longer answers, begin by stating your forecasting statement or thesis clearly and explicitly. Strive for focus, simplicity, and clarity. In stating your point and developing your answers, you may want to use important course vocabulary words from the question. For example, if the question is, “How does wisteria function as a representation of memory in Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom?” you may want to use the words wisteria, representation, memory, and Faulkner) in your thesis statement and answer. Use these important words or concepts throughout the answer.
• If you have devised a promising outline for your answer, then you will be able to forecast your overall plan and its subpoints in your opening sentence. Forecasting impresses readers and has the very practical advantage of making your answer easier to read. Also, if you don’t finish writing, it tells your reader what you would have said if you had finished (and may get you partial points).
• You might want to use briefer paragraphs than you ordinarily do and signal clear relations between paragraphs with transition phrases or sentences.
• As you move ahead with the writing, you may think of new subpoints or ideas to include in the essay. Stop briefly to make a note of these on your original outline. If they are most appropriately inserted in a section you’ve already written, write them neatly in the margin, at the top of the page, or on the last page, with arrows or marks to alert the reader to where they fit in your answer. Be as neat and clear as possible.
• Don’t pad your answer with irrelevancies and repetitions just to fill up space. Within the time available, write a comprehensive, specific answer.
• Watch the clock carefully to ensure that you do not spend too much time on one answer. You must be realistic about the time constraints of an essay exam. If you write one dazzling answer on an exam with three equally-weighted required questions, you earn only 33 points—not enough to pass at most colleges. This may seem unfair, but keep in mind that instructors plan exams to be reasonably comprehensive. They want you to write about the course materials in two or three or more ways, not just one way. Hint: if you finish a half-hour essay in 10 minutes, you may need to develop some of your ideas more fully.
• If you run out of time when you are writing an answer, jot down the remaining main ideas from your outline, just to show that you know the material and with more time could have continued your exposition.
• Double-space to leave room for additions, and strike through errors or changes with one straight line (avoid erasing or scribbling over). Keep things as clean as possible. You never know what will earn you partial credit.
• Write legibly and proofread. Remember that your instructor will likely be reading a large pile of exams. The more difficult they are to read, the more exasperated the instructor might become. Your instructor also cannot give you credit for what they cannot understand. A few minutes of careful proofreading can improve your grade.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind in writing essay exams is that you have a limited amount of time and space in which to get across the knowledge you have acquired and your ability to use it. Essay exams are not the place to be subtle or vague. It’s okay to have an obvious structure, even the five-paragraph essay format you may have been taught in high school. Introduce your main idea, have several paragraphs of support—each with a single point defended by specific examples, and conclude with a restatement of your main point and its significance.

Some physiological tips

Just think—we expect athletes to practice constantly and use everything in their abilities and situations in order to achieve success. Yet, somehow many students are convinced that one day’s worth of studying, no sleep, and some well-placed compliments (“Gee, Dr. So-and-so, I really enjoyed your last lecture”) are good preparation for a test. Essay exams are like any other testing situation in life: you’ll do best if you are prepared for what is expected of you, have practiced doing it before, and have arrived in the best shape to do it. You may not want to believe this, but it’s true: a good night’s sleep and a relaxed mind and body can do as much or more for you as any last-minute cram session. Colleges abound with tales of woe about students who slept through exams because they stayed up all night, wrote an essay on the wrong topic, forgot everything they studied, or freaked out in the exam and hyperventilated. If you are rested, breathing normally, and have brought along some healthy, energy-boosting snacks that you can eat or drink quietly, you are in a much better position to do a good job on the test. You aren’t going to write a good essay on something you figured out at 4 a.m. that morning. If you prepare yourself well throughout the semester, you don’t risk your whole grade on an overloaded, undernourished brain.

If for some reason you get yourself into this situation, take a minute every once in a while during the test to breathe deeply, stretch, and clear your brain. You need to be especially aware of the likelihood of errors, so check your essays thoroughly before you hand them in to make sure they answer the right questions and don’t have big oversights or mistakes (like saying “Hitler” when you really mean “Churchill”).

If you tend to go blank during exams, try studying in the same classroom in which the test will be given. Some research suggests that people attach ideas to their surroundings, so it might jog your memory to see the same things you were looking at while you studied.

Try good luck charms. Bring in something you associate with success or the support of your loved ones, and use it as a psychological boost.

Take all of the time you’ve been allotted. Reread, rework, and rethink your answers if you have extra time at the end, rather than giving up and handing the exam in the minute you’ve written your last sentence. Use every advantage you are given.

Remember that instructors do not want to see you trip up—they want to see you do well. With this in mind, try to relax and just do the best you can. The more you panic, the more mistakes you are liable to make. Put the test in perspective: will you die from a poor performance? Will you lose all of your friends? Will your entire future be destroyed? Remember: it’s just a test.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Axelrod, Rise B., and Charles R. Cooper. 2016. The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing , 11th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Fowler, Ramsay H., and Jane E. Aaron. 2016. The Little, Brown Handbook , 13th ed. Boston: Pearson.

Gefvert, Constance J. 1988. The Confident Writer: A Norton Handbook , 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.

Kirszner, Laurie G. 1988. Writing: A College Rhetoric , 2nd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Woodman, Leonara, and Thomas P. Adler. 1988. The Writer’s Choices , 2nd ed. Northbrook, Illinois: Scott Foresman.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Make a Gift

• EXPLORE Random Article
• Happiness Hub

How to Pass an Essay Test

Last Updated: January 18, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD . Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 39,844 times.

Essay exams are used to determine whether or not you can sort through a lot of information, figure out what is important, and explain why it is important. Essay exams challenge you to recall main ideas from a class, put them into your own words, and to use the interpretive or analytical skills you’ve learned in the class. If you are accustomed to multiple-choice tests, preparing for this format presents a different kind of challenge.

Preparing for the Test

• Find out what material will be covered with this test. Will it pertain to a certain set of readings, cover everything from a specific unit, or draw upon what you’ve learned throughout the course?
• Find out how much time you will have, how many questions there will be, and what you will need to bring to the test.
• Find out how many points will be dedicated to mechanics, like grammar and spelling, as opposed to the content of your answers.

• Look through your material and organize concepts into categories.
• Look for important ideas and organize your notes into groups.
• Brainstorm ways that these groups correspond to each other.

• Get a good night's sleep. [4] X Research source
• Eat a nutritious breakfast. [5] X Research source
• Do something that helps you relax, such as playing a game or taking a bath.

Planning to Write

• Decide how much time you will spend planning your writing, writing the actual essay, and proofreading.
• Consider using a 5-45-10 ratio (for an hour-long essay exam): 5 minutes to plan, 45 minutes to write, and 10 minutes to revise. You can adjust this ratio to fit your own time constraints. [6] X Research source

• Define: Provide the subject’s meaning (or definition). Often you will be asked to provide one than perspective on the subject's meaning.
• Explain why/how: describe the reasons why, or the steps leading up to how a particular thing occurred.
• Compare or contrast: Show how two or more things are similar or dissimilar.
• Prove: Give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth.
• Analyze: Look closely at the components of something to figure out what it might mean, or why it is important. [7] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

Writing the Essay

• Read your entire essay to check for clarity. Go back to the prompt and make sure that you have answered the question or questions.
• Proofread for grammar and spelling. Be sure to check spelling of words you learned in class!
• Check that every body paragraph has a topic sentence, specific evidence, and a connection to the thesis.
• If time allows (and if the essay is handwritten), rewrite the essay to reflect any changes you made. Use your best penmanship.

Community Q&A

• Keep it tidy! If you are composing this essay by hand, make sure you use legible handwriting. [13] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Look over previous essay tests from the same teacher in order to predict what kind of questions you will be asked. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Time spent on planning your writing can often be the most valuable. Jot brief notes (not complete sentences) to yourself about what you will address, and you will spend less time writing the paper. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't neglect any part of the prompt. Answer it wholly and completely, and refer back to it often during your writing. Watch out for two-part questions, and be certain to answer both parts. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uraHllrHjvA&ab_channel=ODUWritingCenter
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/essay-exams/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/4/
• ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/22/sleep-hours-exam-performance_n_5516643.html
• ↑ http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/kids-eat-breakfast-score-higher-iq-tests-article-1.1257823
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z73tswpuek&ab_channel=ODUWritingCenter
• ↑ http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/02/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/2/60/
• ↑ http://writing.umn.edu/sws/quickhelp/process/editing.html
• ↑ http://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/sat-essay

About this article

Reader Success Stories

Gabriela Tor

Jan 24, 2022

Did this article help you?

Sep 6, 2016

• About wikiHow
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Creating and Scoring Essay Tests

FatCamera / Getty Images

• Tips & Strategies
• An Introduction to Teaching
• Policies & Discipline
• Community Involvement
• School Administration
• Technology in the Classroom
• Teaching Adult Learners
• Issues In Education
• Teaching Resources
• Becoming A Teacher
• Assessments & Tests
• Elementary Education
• Secondary Education
• Special Education
• Homeschooling
• M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Florida
• B.A., History, University of Florida

Essay tests are useful for teachers when they want students to select, organize, analyze, synthesize, and/or evaluate information. In other words, they rely on the upper levels of Bloom's Taxonomy . There are two types of essay questions: restricted and extended response.

• Restricted Response - These essay questions limit what the student will discuss in the essay based on the wording of the question. For example, "State the main differences between John Adams' and Thomas Jefferson's beliefs about federalism," is a restricted response. What the student is to write about has been expressed to them within the question.
• Extended Response - These allow students to select what they wish to include in order to answer the question. For example, "In Of Mice and Men , was George's killing of Lennie justified? Explain your answer." The student is given the overall topic, but they are free to use their own judgment and integrate outside information to help support their opinion.

Student Skills Required for Essay Tests

Before expecting students to perform well on either type of essay question, we must make sure that they have the required skills to excel. Following are four skills that students should have learned and practiced before taking essay exams:

• The ability to select appropriate material from the information learned in order to best answer the question.
• The ability to organize that material in an effective manner.
• The ability to show how ideas relate and interact in a specific context.
• The ability to write effectively in both sentences and paragraphs.

Constructing an Effective Essay Question

Following are a few tips to help in the construction of effective essay questions:

• Begin with the lesson objectives in mind. Make sure to know what you wish the student to show by answering the essay question.
• Decide if your goal requires a restricted or extended response. In general, if you wish to see if the student can synthesize and organize the information that they learned, then restricted response is the way to go. However, if you wish them to judge or evaluate something using the information taught during class, then you will want to use the extended response.
• If you are including more than one essay, be cognizant of time constraints. You do not want to punish students because they ran out of time on the test.
• Write the question in a novel or interesting manner to help motivate the student.
• State the number of points that the essay is worth. You can also provide them with a time guideline to help them as they work through the exam.
• If your essay item is part of a larger objective test, make sure that it is the last item on the exam.

Scoring the Essay Item

One of the downfalls of essay tests is that they lack in reliability. Even when teachers grade essays with a well-constructed rubric, subjective decisions are made. Therefore, it is important to try and be as reliable as possible when scoring your essay items. Here are a few tips to help improve reliability in grading:

• Determine whether you will use a holistic or analytic scoring system before you write your rubric . With the holistic grading system, you evaluate the answer as a whole, rating papers against each other. With the analytic system, you list specific pieces of information and award points for their inclusion.
• Prepare the essay rubric in advance. Determine what you are looking for and how many points you will be assigning for each aspect of the question.
• Avoid looking at names. Some teachers have students put numbers on their essays to try and help with this.
• Score one item at a time. This helps ensure that you use the same thinking and standards for all students.
• Avoid interruptions when scoring a specific question. Again, consistency will be increased if you grade the same item on all the papers in one sitting.
• If an important decision like an award or scholarship is based on the score for the essay, obtain two or more independent readers.
• Beware of negative influences that can affect essay scoring. These include handwriting and writing style bias, the length of the response, and the inclusion of irrelevant material.
• Review papers that are on the borderline a second time before assigning a final grade.
• How to Study Using the Basketball Review Game
• Creating Effective Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
• Teacher Housekeeping Tasks
• 4 Tips for Effective Classroom Management
• Dealing With Trips to the Bathroom During Class
• Tips to Cut Writing Assignment Grading Time
• Collecting Homework in the Classroom
• Why Students Cheat and How to Stop Them
• Planning Classroom Instruction
• Using Cloze Tests to Determine Reading Comprehension
• 10 Strategies to Boost Reading Comprehension
• Taking Daily Attendance
• How Scaffolding Instruction Can Improve Comprehension
• Field Trips: Pros and Cons
• Assignment Biography: Student Criteria and Rubric for Writing
• 3 Poetry Activities for Middle School Students

Your Article Library

Essay test: types, advantages and limitations | statistics.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

After reading this article you will learn about:- 1. Introduction to Essay Test 2. Types of Essay Test 3. Advantages 4. Limitations 5. Suggestions.

Introduction to Essay Test:

The essay tests are still commonly used tools of evaluation, despite the increasingly wider applicability of the short answer and objective type questions.

There are certain outcomes of learning (e.g., organising, summarising, integrating ideas and expressing in one’s own way) which cannot be satisfactorily measured through objective type tests. The importance of essay tests lies in the measurement of such instructional outcomes.

An essay test may give full freedom to the students to write any number of pages. The required response may vary in length. An essay type question requires the pupil to plan his own answer and to explain it in his own words. The pupil exercises considerable freedom to select, organise and present his ideas. Essay type tests provide a better indication of pupil’s real achievement in learning. The answers provide a clue to nature and quality of the pupil’s thought process.

That is, we can assess how the pupil presents his ideas (whether his manner of presentation is coherent, logical and systematic) and how he concludes. In other words, the answer of the pupil reveals the structure, dynamics and functioning of pupil’s mental life.

The essay questions are generally thought to be the traditional type of questions which demand lengthy answers. They are not amenable to objective scoring as they give scope for halo-effect, inter-examiner variability and intra-examiner variability in scoring.

Types of Essay Test:

There can be many types of essay tests:

Some of these are given below with examples from different subjects:

1. Selective Recall.

e.g. What was the religious policy of Akbar?

2. Evaluative Recall.

e.g. Why did the First War of Independence in 1857 fail?

3. Comparison of two things—on a single designated basis.

e.g. Compare the contributions made by Dalton and Bohr to Atomic theory.

4. Comparison of two things—in general.

e.g. Compare Early Vedic Age with the Later Vedic Age.

5. Decision—for or against.

e.g. Which type of examination do you think is more reliable? Oral or Written. Why?

6. Causes or effects.

e.g. Discuss the effects of environmental pollution on our lives.

7. Explanation of the use or exact meaning of some phrase in a passage or a sentence.

e.g., Joint Stock Company is an artificial person. Explain ‘artificial person’ bringing out the concepts of Joint Stock Company.

8. Summary of some unit of the text or of some article.

9. Analysis

e.g. What was the role played by Mahatma Gandhi in India’s freedom struggle?

10. Statement of relationship.

e.g. Why is knowledge of Botany helpful in studying agriculture?

11. Illustration or examples (your own) of principles in science, language, etc.

e.g. Illustrate the correct use of subject-verb position in an interrogative sentence.

12. Classification.

e.g. Classify the following into Physical change and Chemical change with explanation. Water changes to vapour; Sulphuric Acid and Sodium Hydroxide react to produce Sodium Sulphate and Water; Rusting of Iron; Melting of Ice.

13. Application of rules or principles in given situations.

e.g. If you sat halfway between the middle and one end of a sea-saw, would a person sitting on the other end have to be heavier or lighter than you in order to make the sea-saw balance in the middle. Why?

14. Discussion.

e.g. Partnership is a relationship between persons who have agreed to share the profits of a business carried on by all or any of them acting for all. Discuss the essentials of partnership on the basis of this partnership.

15. Criticism—as to the adequacy, correctness, or relevance—of a printed statement or a classmate’s answer to a question on the lesson.

e.g. What is the wrong with the following statement?

The Prime Minister is the sovereign Head of State in India.

16. Outline.

e.g. Outline the steps required in computing the compound interest if the principal amount, rate of interest and time period are given as P, R and T respectively.

17. Reorganization of facts.

e.g. The student is asked to interview some persons and find out their opinion on the role of UN in world peace. In the light of data thus collected he/she can reorganise what is given in the text book.

18. Formulation of questions-problems and questions raised.

e.g. After reading a lesson the pupils are asked to raise related problems- questions.

19. New methods of procedure

e.g. Can you solve this mathematical problem by using another method?

Advantages of the Essay Tests:

1. It is relatively easier to prepare and administer a six-question extended- response essay test than to prepare and administer a comparable 60-item multiple-choice test items.

2. It is the only means that can assess an examinee’s ability to organise and present his ideas in a logical and coherent fashion.

3. It can be successfully employed for practically all the school subjects.

4. Some of the objectives such as ability to organise idea effectively, ability to criticise or justify a statement, ability to interpret, etc., can be best measured by this type of test.

5. Logical thinking and critical reasoning, systematic presentation, etc. can be best developed by this type of test.

6. It helps to induce good study habits such as making outlines and summaries, organising the arguments for and against, etc.

7. The students can show their initiative, the originality of their thought and the fertility of their imagination as they are permitted freedom of response.

8. The responses of the students need not be completely right or wrong. All degrees of comprehensiveness and accuracy are possible.

9. It largely eliminates guessing.

10. They are valuable in testing the functional knowledge and power of expression of the pupil.

Limitations of Essay Tests:

1. One of the serious limitations of the essay tests is that these tests do not give scope for larger sampling of the content. You cannot sample the course content so well with six lengthy essay questions as you can with 60 multiple-choice test items.

2. Such tests encourage selective reading and emphasise cramming.

3. Moreover, scoring may be affected by spelling, good handwriting, coloured ink, neatness, grammar, length of the answer, etc.

4. The long-answer type questions are less valid and less reliable, and as such they have little predictive value.

5. It requires an excessive time on the part of students to write; while assessing, reading essays is very time-consuming and laborious.

6. It can be assessed only by a teacher or competent professionals.

7. Improper and ambiguous wording handicaps both the students and valuers.

8. Mood of the examiner affects the scoring of answer scripts.

9. There is halo effect-biased judgement by previous impressions.

10. The scores may be affected by his personal bias or partiality for a particular point of view, his way of understanding the question, his weightage to different aspect of the answer, favouritism and nepotism, etc.

Thus, the potential disadvantages of essay type questions are :

(i) Poor predictive validity,

(ii) Limited content sampling,

(iii) Scores unreliability, and

(iv) Scoring constraints.

Suggestions for Improving Essay Tests:

The teacher can sometimes, through essay tests, gain improved insight into a student’s abilities, difficulties and ways of thinking and thus have a basis for guiding his/her learning.

(A) White Framing Questions:

1. Give adequate time and thought to the preparation of essay questions, so that they can be re-examined, revised and edited before they are used. This would increase the validity of the test.

2. The item should be so written that it will elicit the type of behaviour the teacher wants to measure. If one is interested in measuring understanding, he should not ask a question that will elicit an opinion; e.g.,

“What do you think of Buddhism in comparison to Jainism?”

3. Use words which themselves give directions e.g. define, illustrate, outline, select, classify, summarise, etc., instead of discuss, comment, explain, etc.

4. Give specific directions to students to elicit the desired response.

5. Indicate clearly the value of the question and the time suggested for answering it.

6. Do not provide optional questions in an essay test because—

(i) It is difficult to construct questions of equal difficulty;

(ii) Students do not have the ability to select those questions which they will answer best;

(iii) A good student may be penalised because he is challenged by the more difficult and complex questions.

7. Prepare and use a relatively large number of questions requiring short answers rather than just a few questions involving long answers.

8. Do not start essay questions with such words as list, who, what, whether. If we begin the questions with such words, they are likely to be short-answer question and not essay questions, as we have defined the term.

9. Adapt the length of the response and complexity of the question and answer to the maturity level of the students.

10. The wording of the questions should be clear and unambiguous.

11. It should be a power test rather than a speed test. Allow a liberal time limit so that the essay test does not become a test of speed in writing.

12. Supply the necessary training to the students in writing essay tests.

13. Questions should be graded from simple to complex so that all the testees can answer atleast a few questions.

14. Essay questions should provide value points and marking schemes.

(B) While Scoring Questions:

1. Prepare a marking scheme, suggesting the best possible answer and the weightage given to the various points of this model answer. Decide in advance which factors will be considered in evaluating an essay response.

2. While assessing the essay response, one must:

a. Use appropriate methods to minimise bias;

b. Pay attention only to the significant and relevant aspects of the answer;

c. Be careful not to let personal idiosyncrasies affect assessment;

d. Apply a uniform standard to all the papers.

3. The examinee’s identity should be concealed from the scorer. By this we can avoid the “halo effect” or “biasness” which may affect the scoring.

4. Check your marking scheme against actual responses.

5. Once the assessment has begun, the standard should not be changed, nor should it vary from paper to paper or reader to reader. Be consistent in your assessment.

6. Grade only one question at a time for all papers. This will help you in minimising the halo effect in becoming thoroughly familiar with just one set of scoring criteria and in concentrating completely on them.

7. The mechanics of expression (legibility, spelling, punctuation, grammar) should be judged separately from what the student writes, i.e. the subject matter content.

8. If possible, have two independent readings of the test and use the average as the final score.

Related Articles:

• Merits and Demerits of Objective Type Test
• Types of Recall Type Test: Simple and Completion | Objective Test

Educational Statistics , Evaluation Tools , Essay Test

Comments are closed.

English Typing Test Paragraphs

Stimulate your mind as you test your typing speed with this standard English paragraph typing test. Watch your typing speed and accuracy increase as you learn about a variety of new topics! Over 40 typing test selections available.

If you don't like a test prompt, you can get a different (random) prompt with the "change test" button - or select a specific paragraph to type from the list below. To find out how fast you type, just start typing in the blank textbox on the right of the test prompt. You will see your progress, including errors on the left side as you type. In order to complete the test and save your score, you need to get 100% accuracy. You can fix errors as you go, or correct them at the end with the help of the spell checker.

Personalized Feedback

This feedback graph will follow you from page to page for your typing session. You can see more details by mousing over the graph. The session is reset when the tab on your browser is closed.

Type this... CHANGE TEST

Test begins when you start typing..., check your wpm typing speed here.

To find out how fast you type, just start typing in the blank textbox on the right of the test prompt. You will see your progress, including errors on the left side as you type.

You can fix errors as you go, or correct them at the end with the help of the spell checker. If you need to restart the test, delete the text in the text box. Interactive feedback shows you your current wpm and accuracy.

In order to complete the test and share your results, you need to get 100% accuracy. You can review your progress for this session with the feedback chart. Just hover over a dot to see what your average speed and accruacy are for that key.

Letter Drills

A | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z.

Select a Specific Typing Test:

Click on a topic to use it as your test prompt. Selections are ranked according to difficulty from '*' (easiest typing tests) to '*****' (most challenging typing tests). For more details, check the difficulty key at the bottom of the page.

Short typing tests for beginners: (1 - 3 minute typing test at < 30 wpm)

• Virtual Assistant (38.4 words) ****
• Slash: / Choosing Between Options (46 words) ***
• Confidentiality: Protecting Sensitive Information (43.8 words) ****
• Utilizing Technology to Your Advantage (47.4 words) ****
• Closed Captions (56.2 words) **
• Teachers (70.2 words) ****
• Business Casual (74 words) ***
• Paralegals (76.4 words) *
• Web Designers (77 words) ***
• Medical Transcription (82.6 words) ***
• Thumbing (83 words) ***
• Engineers (84.4 words) ****
• Translation (88 words) ***
• Stay Ahead of the Curve (50.8 words) ****
• Data Entry Accuracy (50.2 words) ***
• Boost Your Typing Speed (53.4 words) ****
• Quotation Marks: Capturing Words Directly (65.4 words) ***
• The Question Mark: Inquisitive and Curious? (56.6 words) ***
• Parentheses: A Whisper in the Reader's Ear (69.8 words) ****
• Email Etiquette (51.8 words) ****
• Making a Professional Impression (51.2 words) ****
• Proofreading Tips (56.8 words) ***
• The Hyphen: Connecting Words and Ideas (56.8 words) ***
• Brackets: [Adding Clarification and Context] (56.2 words) ****
• Your Workstation Setup Matters (59.6 words) ***
• The Apostrophe: Possession, Contraction, and More (59.4 words) ****
• The Ellipsis: ...And the Story Continues (62.4 words) **
• The Period: A Full Stop, A Moment of Pause. (61.8 words) ***
• Capture Information Efficiently (65.2 words) ***
• Business Writing Essentials for Administrative Professionals (75.8 words) ****
• Filing Systems for the Modern Office (82.6 words) ****
• The Key to Productivity (89.4 words) ****
• The Exclamation Point: Expressing Excitement and Urgency! (68 words) ****
• The Dash -- An Em Dash of Drama and Parentheses' Subtle Whisper (78.8 words) ***
• Owning Your Role in the Team's Success (87.2 words) ***
• The 10-Minute Pitch (80.8 words) ***
• The 30-Day Challenge (81.8 words) ***
• The 3-Month Internship (84 words) ***
• The $20 Bill (72 words) **

Intermediate typing tests: (3-6 minutes at 40 wpm)

• Proofreaders (90 words) **
• Typing Styles (91.8 words) ***
• Typing Tips for Efficiency and Accuracy (110.6 words) ***
• Careers for Skilled Typists (104.8 words) ****
• Embrace Your Uniqueness (110.4 words) ***
• Stepping Stones to Growth (94.6 words) ***
• Cultivate a Positive Mindset (101.8 words) ***
• Learn from Failure (101.6 words) ***
• Your Personal Cheerleading Squad (113 words) ***
• Set Inspiring Goals (115.2 words) ***
• Celebrate Your Achievements (110.6 words) ***
• Nurturing Your Mind, Body, and Spirit (105.2 words) ***
• The Ripple Effect of Positivity (112.2 words) ***
• The Power of Perseverance (114.4 words) ***
• The Power of Collaboration (154 words) ****
• The Foundation of Effective Teamwork (114 words) ***
• Communication: The Lifeline of Collaboration (123 words) ****
• Diversity: The Spice of Collaboration (114.2 words) ****
• Guiding the Team Towards Success (103 words) ****
• Adapting to Change and Overcoming Challenge (101.8 words) ***
• Celebrating Success (97.4 words) ****
• Turning Challenges into Opportunities (103.2 words) ****
• The Joy of Teamwork (112.6 words) ***
• Embracing a Growth Mindset (121 words) ***
• Prioritizing Self-Care for Optimal Performance (116.4 words) ****
• Utilizing Available Resources and Support Systems (117.2 words) ***
• Strategies for Maximizing Learning (123.2 words) ***
• Bouncing Back from Setbacks and Challenges (127 words) ***
• Active Learning Strategies (132.4 words) ****
• Effective Time Management (161.2 words) ****
• The Power of Goal Setting (156.8 words) ***
• The Importance of Budgeting (166.6 words) ***
• Building Wealth Over Time (167.4 words) ***
• The Debt Dilemma (181.8 words) ***
• The $5 Investment (98.4 words) ***
• The Coffee Shop Turnaround (107.2 words) ***
• The Unexpected Partnership (116 words) ****
• The Rise of the Eco-Friendly Startup (159.2 words) ****
• The 5-Year Plan (129.4 words) ***
• The 100th Customer (145.8 words) ***
• The 5-Year Career Pivot (137.6 words) ***
• The 10-Year Journey to the C-Suite (119.6 words) ***
• The 20-Year Transformation of a Company (174 words) ****
• The 30-Year Legacy of a Mentorship Program (199.6 words) ****
• The 1% Raise (100 words) ***
• The $50,000 Inheritance (120.6 words) ***
• The 5-Year Savings Goal (132.8 words) ***
• Typing Speed in WPM (100.4 words) ***
• Keyboard Shortcuts (104 words) *
• Buffer Method of Typing (105 words) **
• Transcription Service (107.4 words) ***
• Data Entry Clerks (112.4 words) **
• Hunt and Peck (128.2 words) **
• Touch Type (132.2 words) **
• Sales Methodologies (135.4 words) ***
• Invention of Touch Typing (147.4 words) ***
• Typing Speed Records (166.8 words) ****
• Comparing Typing Speed and Methods (169.2 words) ***
• Pharmacists (172.4 words) ***
• Editing (175.2 words) ***
• History of Flight (175.4 words) ****
• HR Management (177.4 words) ****
• Transcription Services (187.4 words) ****
• Motivation (192.4 words) ***
• Freelancers (194.6 words) ***
• Average Typing Speeds (195.2 words) ****

Hard typing tests for advanced typists: (over 4 minutes at 60+ wpm)

• The Future of Administrative Work (232.6 words) ****
• Understanding the Stock Market (332 words) ***
• The Legacy of the Family Business (224 words) ***
• The 10-Year Reunion (236.2 words) ***
• The $1 Million Business Deal (202.4 words) ***
• The Art of Transcription: Transforming Audio into Text (247.2 words) ****
• Word Processors (203.8 words) ***
• Class Reunion Report (211 words) ***
• Financial Reporting (221.2 words) *****
• Biking Story (233.6 words) *
• Event Description (233.8 words) *
• New York Stock Exchange (234.6 words) **
• Career Choice Article (236.6 words) *
• Self Confidence Article (244.8 words) ***
• FDA Article (246.8 words) ***
• Competitive Typing (250.4 words) ***
• Academic Success Article (256.6 words) **
• Typing as a Life Skill: Beyond the Workplace (219.8 words) ***
• Effective Communication in the Workplace: More Than Just Words (275.2 words) ****
• The Evolution of Typing: From Typewriters to Touchscreens (275.8 words) ***
• Emotions Article (272.8 words) **
• MBA Article (276 words) ****

If you have a topic that you would like to see added to the list above, please feel free to contact us with your suggestion for a new paragraph typing test.

Typing Test Difficulty Levels

Our typing tests are ranked on level of difficulty. The algorithm to calculate difficulty depends on the average word length and how many special characters like capitals, numbers and symbols are included in the text. Most standard pre-employment typing tests will be in the normal range. You should expect to get higher wpm scores on easier tests and lower wpm scores on the more difficult tests.

• * Very Easy Typing Test
• ** Easy Typing Test
• *** Normal Typing Test
• **** Difficult Typing Test
• ***** Very Difficult Typing Test

Share your success... challenge your friends!

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Writing Essays for Exams

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

What is a well written answer to an essay question?

Well Focused

Be sure to answer the question completely, that is, answer all parts of the question. Avoid "padding." A lot of rambling and ranting is a sure sign that the writer doesn't really know what the right answer is and hopes that somehow, something in that overgrown jungle of words was the correct answer.

Well Organized

Don't write in a haphazard "think-as-you-go" manner. Do some planning and be sure that what you write has a clearly marked introduction which both states the point(s) you are going to make and also, if possible, how you are going to proceed. In addition, the essay should have a clearly indicated conclusion which summarizes the material covered and emphasizes your thesis or main point.

Well Supported

Do not just assert something is true, prove it. What facts, figures, examples, tests, etc. prove your point? In many cases, the difference between an A and a B as a grade is due to the effective use of supporting evidence.

Well Packaged

People who do not use conventions of language are thought of by their readers as less competent and less educated. If you need help with these or other writing skills, come to the Writing Lab

How do you write an effective essay exam?

• Read through all the questions carefully.
• Budget your time and decide which question(s) you will answer first.
• Underline the key word(s) which tell you what to do for each question.
• Choose an organizational pattern appropriate for each key word and plan your answers on scratch paper or in the margins.
• Write your answers as quickly and as legibly as you can; do not take the time to recopy.
• 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).
• Support your thesis with specific references to the material you have studied.
• Proofread your answer and correct errors in spelling and mechanics.

Specific organizational patterns and "key words"

Most essay questions will have one or more "key words" that indicate which organizational pattern you should use in your answer. The six most common organizational patterns for essay exams are definition, analysis, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, process analysis, and thesis-support.

Typical questions

• "Define X."
• "What is an X?"
• "Choose N terms from the following list and define them."

Q: "What is a fanzine?"

A: A fanzine is a magazine written, mimeographed, and distributed by and for science fiction or comic strip enthusiasts.

Avoid constructions such as "An encounter group is where ..." and "General semantics is when ... ."

• State the term to be defined.
• State the class of objects or concepts to which the term belongs.
• Differentiate the term from other members of the class by listing the term's distinguishing characteristics.

Tools you can use

• Details which describe the term
• Examples and incidents
• Comparisons to familiar terms
• Negation to state what the term is not
• Classification (i.e., break it down into parts)
• Examination of origins or causes
• Examination of results, effects, or uses

Analysis involves breaking something down into its components and discovering the parts that make up the whole.

• "Analyze X."
• "What are the components of X?"
• "What are the five different kinds of X?"
• "Discuss the different types of X."

Q: "Discuss the different services a junior college offers a community."

A: Thesis: A junior college offers the community at least three main types of educational services: vocational education for young people, continuing education for older people, and personal development for all individuals.

Outline for supporting details and examples. For example, if you were answering the example question, an outline might include:

• Vocational education
• Continuing education
• Personal development

Write the essay, describing each part or component and making transitions between each of your descriptions. Some useful transition words include:

• first, second, third, etc.
• in addition

Conclude the essay by emphasizing how each part you have described makes up the whole you have been asked to analyze.

Cause and Effect

Cause and effect involves tracing probable or known effects of a certain cause or examining one or more effects and discussing the reasonable or known cause(s).

Typical questions:

• "What are the causes of X?"
• "What led to X?"
• "Why did X occur?"
• "Why does X happen?"
• "What would be the effects of X?"

Q: "Define recession and discuss the probable effects a recession would have on today's society."

A: Thesis: A recession, which is a nationwide lull in business activity, would be detrimental to society in the following ways: it would .......A......., it would .......B......., and it would .......C....... .

The rest of the answer would explain, in some detail, the three effects: A, B, and C.

Useful transition words:

• consequently
• for this reason
• as a result

Comparison-Contrast

• "How does X differ from Y?"
• "Compare X and Y."
• "What are the advantages and disadvantages of X and Y?"

Q: "Which would you rather own—a compact car or a full-sized car?"

A: Thesis: I would own a compact car rather than a full-sized car for the following reasons: .......A......., .......B......., .......C......., and .......D....... .

Two patterns of development:

• Full-sized car

Disadvantages

• Compact car

Useful transition words

• on the other hand
• unlike A, B ...
• in the same way
• while both A and B are ..., only B ..
• nevertheless
• on the contrary
• while A is ..., B is ...
• "Describe how X is accomplished."
• "List the steps involved in X."
• "Explain what happened in X."
• "What is the procedure involved in X?"

Process (sometimes called process analysis)

This involves giving directions or telling the reader how to do something. It may involve discussing some complex procedure as a series of discrete steps. The organization is almost always chronological.

Q: "According to Richard Bolles' What Color Is Your Parachute?, what is the best procedure for finding a job?"

A: In What Color Is Your Parachute?, Richard Bolles lists seven steps that all job-hunters should follow: .....A....., .....B....., .....C....., .....D....., .....E....., .....F....., and .....G..... .

The remainder of the answer should discuss each of these seven steps in some detail.

• following this
• after, afterwards, after this
• subsequently
• simultaneously, concurrently

Thesis and Support

• "Discuss X."
• "A noted authority has said X. Do you agree or disagree?"
• "Defend or refute X."
• "Do you think that X is valid? Defend your position."

Thesis and support involves stating a clearly worded opinion or interpretation and then defending it with all the data, examples, facts, and so on that you can draw from the material you have studied.

Q: "Despite criticism, television is useful because it aids in the socializing process of our children."

A: Television hinders rather than helps in the socializing process of our children because .......A......., .......B......., and .......C....... .

The rest of the answer is devoted to developing arguments A, B, and C.

• it follows that

A. Which of the following two answers is the better one? Why?

Question: Discuss the contribution of William Morris to book design, using as an example his edition of the works of Chaucer.

a. William Morris's Chaucer was his masterpiece. It shows his interest in the Middle Ages. The type is based on medieval manuscript writing, and the decoration around the edges of the pages is like that used in medieval books. The large initial letters are typical of medieval design. Those letters were printed from woodcuts, which was the medieval way of printing. The illustrations were by Burn-Jones, one of the best artists in England at the time. Morris was able to get the most competent people to help him because he was so famous as a poet and a designer (the Morris chair) and wallpaper and other decorative items for the home. He designed the furnishings for his own home, which was widely admired among the sort of people he associated with. In this way he started the arts and crafts movement.

b. Morris's contribution to book design was to approach the problem as an artist or fine craftsman, rather than a mere printer who reproduced texts. He wanted to raise the standards of printing, which had fallen to a low point, by showing that truly beautiful books could be produced. His Chaucer was designed as a unified work of art or high craft. Since Chaucer lived in the Middle Ages, Morris decided to design a new type based on medieval script and to imitate the format of a medieval manuscript. This involved elaborate letters and large initials at the beginnings of verses, as well as wide borders of intertwined vines with leaves, fruit, and flowers in strong colors. The effect was so unusual that the book caused great excitement and inspired other printers to design beautiful rather than purely utilitarian books.

From James M. McCrimmon, Writing with a Purpose , 7th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1980), pp. 261-263.

B. How would you plan the structure of the answers to these essay exam questions?

1. Was the X Act a continuation of earlier government policies or did it represent a departure from prior philosophies?

2. What seems to be the source of aggression in human beings? What can be done to lower the level of aggression in our society?

3. Choose one character from Novel X and, with specific references to the work, show how he or she functions as an "existential hero."

4. Define briefly the systems approach to business management. Illustrate how this differs from the traditional approach.

5. What is the cosmological argument? Does it prove that God exists?

6. Civil War historian Andy Bellum once wrote, "Blahblahblah blahed a blahblah, but of course if blahblah blahblahblahed the blah, then blahblahs are not blah but blahblah." To what extent and in what ways is the statement true? How is it false?

For more information on writing exam essays for the GED, please visit our Engagement area and go to the Community Writing and Education Station (CWEST) resources.

• A leading institute for IAS Examination!
• Admission Form
• NEFT/UPI Payment
• Student’s Portal

Lead with Edge

Call/whatsapp, [email protected].

• ESSAY TEST SERIES
• Instructor Lukmaan IAS
• 1 Students Enrolled
• Course Duration 10 week

ESSAY TEST SERIES (ETS1024) (OCTOBER MONTH)

Starts from 4th october 2024.

MODE: ONLINE / OFFLINE TOTAL SEVEN TESTS TOTAL FEE : Rs. 8,500/-

ESSAY TEST SERIES (ETS0624) (JUNE MONTH-2024) BATCH-I

• ADMISSION OPEN

MODE: ONLINE / OFFLINE TOTAL SEVEN TESTS TOTAL FEE-Rs 8,500/-

FOR LUKMAAN AIPMT QUALIFIED STUDENTS (ESTS0624)

• TOTAL FEE- Rs 8,500/- Rs-7500/-

FOR LUKMAAN EX STUDENTS (ESTS0624)

• TOTAL FEE- Rs 8,500/- Rs-6500/-

FOR LUKMAAN EX-FOUNDATION STUDENTS (ESTS0624)

• TOTAL FEE- Rs 8,500/- Rs-6000/-

ESSAY TEST SERIES (ETS0724) (JULY MONTH-2024) BATCH-II

MODE: ONLINE / OFFLINE TOTAL SEVEN TESTS TOTAL FEE- Rs 8,500/-

FOR LUKMAAN AIPMT QUALIFIED STUDENTS (ESTS0724)

For lukmaan ex students (ests0724), for lukmaan ex-foundation students (ests0724), essay sectional test series (essts0624) (june month- 2024).

• MODE: ONLINE / OFFLINE
• TOTAL FOUR TESTS

FOR ANY OTHER LUKMAAN EX-STUDENTS

• TOTAL FEE- Rs 4,500/- Rs-4,000/-

FOR LUKMAAN EX-FOUNDATION STUDENTS

Essay mock test series (esmts0824) (august month- 2024), for lukmaan ex-foundation students (esmts0824), for any other lukmaan ex-students (esmts0824).

Essay is about a long piece of article which demands self-insight, originality and ability to give an analytical view. It demands a different level of writing skill which include not only effective articulation but also giving a logical and coherent view.

Not all can be good at essay writing and for some, it is part and parcel of life. The role of philosophical essay has further complicated the matter for students.

We at Lukmaan IAS have guided hundreds of students in essay including AIR 13 of CSE 2023, AIR 05 of 2016, AIR 18 of 2018, AIR 53 of 2016 Manuj Jindal. Marks also have been secured as high as 160 by Avnindra Kumar CSE 2017.

The Essay Test Series has total seven tests based on the UPSC pattern. It means there are total 56 topics, of which more 40 topics are philosophical. We follow a blend of philosophical and subject-matter based topics so that students have practice on all variety of topics.

The Test Series is conducted under the supervision of S. Ansari who also takes discussion of the first two essay tests. The approach is to imbibe in students articulative, coherent and analytical skill with philosophical bent of mind so that they are able to match the demand of UPSC’s Essay. The program includes model answer, discussion, copy evaluations and mentoring.

Concession for Students who fulfil the following conditions:

50% concession for -.

1. An ex-student of Lukmaan IAS, and 2. Has qualified the UPSC CSE.

40% Concession for -

A candidate who has qualified UPSC CSE.

For more details, please contact us at +91 9654034293 or email us at [email protected]

“Since 2013, the UPSC has been changing its pattern and moving towards more Philosophical type essay. In 2018, Section B all four topics were based on philosophical type. And it was a surprise for students. But in 2019, this surprise became a shocker as in Section A, all four topics were not philosophical but rather based on philosophical ethics. We at Lukmaan IAS since 2013 have followed this standard. We have been asking philosophical topics. In total 56 topics, we have almost 32 philosophical topics. We have also been teaching how to write a piece of content of 1000 words on your own terms rather than memorising and adopting some techniques of inter-linkages and following mechanically.  we too have introduced a major shift due to the pattern of 2019. Now we will also have 32 philosophical / philosophical ethics topics. All philosophical ethics discussion taken by S. Ansari (the best teacher for Ethics Paper).

• The 8 Qs are prepared by the Faculties. More than 40 Qs are philosophical including ethics type, which give ample practice experience for students.
• Test papers are prepared by specialised faculties in the respective sections of GS of which PAPER-II & PAPER-IV are dealt by S. ANSARI SIR.
• There is a dedicated team working under the supervision and guidance of S. ANSARI SIR and Prof. Mujtaba Sir since 2013, hence, it is a highly experienced team.
• Lucid model answers are prepared very meticulously. The model answers can also work as a valuable resource support.
• The test discussions are so elaborate that one gets thorough understanding of theme, structure, content, coherence between preceding and succeeding paragraphs and overall perspective of the essay.
• The faculties: S. Ansari, Prof. Mujtaba Hussain, Laxmikant Jaybhaye and Abhijit Jha
• The Main Mentor for one to one mentoring is: Abhijit Jha.

• THE FEATURES OF THE TEST SERIES
• ESSAY HIGHEST TOPPERS’ MARKS

READING MATERIALS

• SYLLABUS & PAPER ANALYSIS
• MAINS ANSWER STRATEGY

• BSTI – BRIGHTMINDS SCHOLARSHIP TEST FOR IAS
• IGPI 2 YEARS GS FOUNDATION
• GS (PRE CUM MAINS)
• GS Paper-II
• GS PAPER-III
• ETHICS FOUNDATION BATCH
• ETHICS CASE STUDY BATCH
• PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• THE NEW MAINS GUIDANCE PROGRAM (NEW MGP)
• PUBLIC ADMIN. ENRICHMENT BATCH
• ETHICS ENRICHMENT BATCH
• MAINS-24 MARATHON CLASSES
• PT-24 MARATHON CLASSES
• TAKKAR PT 100 TOPICS
• PANCHSUTRA-2025
• TAKKAR PT MCQs
• TAKKAR PRELIMS TEST SERIES
• GS PAPER-II TEST SERIES
• ETHICS TEST SERIES
• GS MAINS TEST SERIES
• TAKKAR MAINS TEST SERIES
• PUBLIC ADMIN. TEST SERIES
• SOCIOLOGY TEST SERIES
• All INDIA OPEN ESSAY TEST
• PYQs INTENSIVE MAINS PRACTICE
• ALL INDIA MAINS MOCK TEST SERIES
• EEO MOCK TEST SERIES
• ESSAY MOCK TEST SERIES
• ETHICS MOCK TEST SERIES
• GS MOCK TEST SERIES
• PUBLIC ADMIN. MOCK TEST SERIES
• GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL MOCK TEST SERIES
• PSIR OPTIONAL MOCK TEST SERIES
• HISTORY OPTIONAL MOCK TEST SERIES
• TAKKAR – A YEAR LONG TEST SERIES FOR IAS
• PUBLIC ADMIN. YEAR LONG TEST SERIES
• GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL TEST SERIES
• PSIR YEAR LONG TEST SERIES
• HISTORY OPTIONAL YEAR LONG TEST SERIES
• ECONOMICS OPTIONAL YEAR LONG TEST SERIES
• INTERVIEW GUIDANCE PROGRAM
• COMBO COURSES
• TAKKAR MCQs
• UPSC 2.0 LECTURE SERIES
• ADMISSION FORM
• ONLINE CONSULTATION
• DEMO VIDEOS
• TESTIMONIALS
• OFFICE TOUR
• VISIT OUR BLOG
• STUDENT’S PORTAL
• AFFILIATE PROGRAM

Modal title

Message modal

• Organizations
• Admissions Coaching
• Academic Tutoring

Online Essay

• Test Anxiety Resources
• Scholarships

 by Test Innovators

The Online Essay is a proctored writing sample administered to students applying to independent schools as part of the admissions process. It is administered virtually with students receiving instructions from a live proctor via Zoom who also monitors them for the duration of the online essay session. During the online essay session, students are presented with a single essay prompt and have 30 minutes to type their response. After the essay response, students will have an additional 15 minute analytical thinking exercise as part of their online essay session. Their submission is then sent to requested schools to be included in their admissions application.

How to Register

1. Access the Registration Portal

2. Set Your Time Zone

3. Choose a Session

4. Submit Your Registration

Do you require further assistance with registering? Check out our FAQ’s or contact us at 1-800-280-1857  or email us at  [email protected] .

What to Expect on Essay Day

Online Essay Demo

See the online essay platform in action!

Sample Prompts

Students will be asked to write an essay in response to the given prompt. Below are some examples of the types of prompts that will be used.

Essay Topic

If you could take a class on any topic, what would you choose to learn about and why, describe someone who has inspired you., essay strategies.

The way in which each admissions department uses the online essay varies from school to school, but the following are the main essay elements that will be evaluated:

• Topic Choice
• Organization
• Use of examples and details
• Writing mechanic (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

Below you’ll find our strategies for ensuring you submit your best essay.

Topic choice.

Try to choose a topic that showcases something you care about and are familiar with. Remember to write in a way that shows you in a positive light, and that highlights part of your personality. This is your chance to show the school who you are outside of school!

For example, imagine that you are given this prompt:

If you were granted the power to move anywhere in the world, where would you decide to live and why?

Make sure to pick a topic that is personally important to you! Is there a place you have visited that has meant a lot to you, or a place where people that you care about live? Make sure to choose something you know about, care about, and can tell stories about.

Time management

With limited time to write, managing your time effectively is incredibly important. Start by spending the first 2-5 minutes outlining your work. After you have a plan, go ahead and get writing! This is where you will spend the bulk of your time. Youʼll need to watch the clock, and save yourself 2-5 minutes at the end for review.

Plan: 2–5 minutes Write: 15–20 minutes Revise: 2–5 minutes

Examples and details

The magic is in the details! Your writing should include examples and specific details that make your writing come alive. The body of your writing should draw on details and stories from your life so that the reader can get to know you better.

If you are writing about a place youʼd want to move, for example, tell about an important visit you had there. Describe the scenery and the sights and sounds! Use words that appeal to the readerʼs senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

Essay structure

For the essay, you should have a clear, focused topic that directly answers the given question.

It should be structured much like essays youʼve written in school:

• an introduction
• two or three body paragraphs
• and a conclusion

In the introduction, state your topic and then introduce your 2-3 reasons ‒ these will be the topics of your body paragraphs. In the body paragraphs, include specific examples from your experiences to support each of these reasons. Then, in the conclusion, rephrase your main points and offer something new to the reader, such as describing how this topic will affect your actions in the future.

Editing and reviewing at the end is a crucial step in creating a polished writing sample.

Try to catch any grammar, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation mistakes, and change “weak” words or phrases to “strong” ones.

I walked to the beach → I strolled leisurely to the beach. -or- I dashed down the path to the beach.

You want your writing to be as smooth and polished as possible.

Pre-Essay Checklist

Please complete this checklist at least 24 hours ahead of your Online Essay session. Students who do not have working technology at the start of their session will be rescheduled to a future date and may be subject to a rescheduling fee.

Confirm Device & Browser Compatibility

Your device must:

• be a laptop or desktop computer. Tablets, iPads, and phones are NOT allowed.
• have a working web camera.
• have a strong, uninterrupted internet connection.
• have a fully charged battery and/or be plugged into an outlet.

Your internet browser must:

• be Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. The Safari browser is NOT allowed due to technical unreliability.
• be updated to its latest version.

Download & Test Zoom: Screen Sharing, Video & Audio

• Download Zoom at zoom.us/download .
• Test Zoom screen sharing.

Note: this is the most common Zoom issue experienced by Online Essay takers.

• In the Zoom app, join a New Meeting
• Select the green “Share Screen” option at the bottom of your screen. 

If you receive an error message or a message about permissions , follow Zoom’s troubleshooting steps here , or call our support team if these don’t work.

• Test Zoom video & audio
• Join Zoom’s Meeting Test at this link , and follow the prompts. 
• Follow Zoom’s troubleshooting steps if you have any issues.

Test the Online Essay Site

• Test your login credentials
• Navigate to https://testinnovators.com/essays
• Log in using the Appointment ID and Last Name listed in your registration email.
• If you cannot log in now, you will not be able to log in on test day. Please contact our support team now to resolve the issue.

Participating Schools

Interested in using the online essay for your school.

Contact us to learn more about how our Online Essay can enhance students' admissions applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

The analytical thinking exercise will take place after students are done writing their essay in the online essay session. Students will have 15 minutes to respond to an analytical thinking question by typing a response.

Ravenna will show the Online Essay as a to-do item, but Test Innovators does not have access to your Ravenna account. We will send you a confirmation receipt for your registration.

Individual schools to which you are applying will mark this step complete in your application when they receive the essay from us, approximately one week after the writing session is complete.

Yes, before the Online Essay date, you can make changes to your registration. This includes adding or removing schools your student is applying to. You can make this change by clicking on the “Change/Cancel Appointment” button in your confirmation email.

If you need to add schools after your Online Essay date, please contact support at [email protected]  or  1-800-280-1857  9 am – 5 pm ET. Our support team will help get the essay sent to the additional schools.

We will send the essay responses to the schools that you have indicated in your registration within 1 week of the essay session. It may take the schools several business days to update your Ravenna account with confirmation that they have received your essay response.

We send essay responses to schools on the first working day after your Online Essay date. However, it is up to the school to process the essay and update the status in your Ravenna application, which can take some time. We recommend waiting to see this status update, or contacting the school directly.

We do not offer any test prep services for the Online Essay.

You can reschedule or cancel your registration by clicking on the “Change/Cancel Appointment” button in your confirmation email.

No, you may not use an iPad because the default setting for switching between apps will often interfere with the Zoom meeting. You do not want to accidentally close out of the Zoom meeting during the Online Essay, as you are not allowed to leave before the exam time is over.

Yes, the use of scratch paper during the online essay for planning and note taking is allowed. However, make sure to type your essay into our system before your allotted time is over. We do not accept essays written on paper. All essay submissions must be typed into our online essay platform.

Which essay would you like to register for?

Middle school, (applying to grades 5–8), high school, (applying to grades 9–12).