Different tests call for different types of essays. For example, an essay may attempt to inform or persuade the reader, or perhaps describe or narrate a scene. It is important to use the appropriate type of essay for a given task.
A high-scoring essay can be written by following several simple rules.
- Identify the type of essay to be written. If the essay doesn’t correctly address the prompt, it will always receive a low score.
- Determine what the main point and organizational structure of the essay will be. It is much easier to write using a clear outline than to haphazardly organize along the way.
- Make sure that your essay uses sound evidence while maintaining a style that’s appropriate to the test. A good essay doesn’t have to be complicated; it just needs to have a clear, well-reasoned position.
All of this must be accomplished within a limited time frame. Fortunately, the essay graders will understand that a first draft written under test conditions does not need to be as polished as a final essay in a classroom assignment.
There are different ways to organize an essay. In the limited time frame of an exam, however, it is best to stick to a basic five-paragraph essay that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. This structure can be used to discuss nearly any topic and will be easy for graders to follow.