How do I start a plan for an exam essay?

First, read the question and identify what it is asking you to do. Then decide what your argument is going to be e.g. if the question is asking you to assess the importance of the Russo-Japanese war to the Russian Revolution, decide whether you think it s the most important factor or if there were others which would better explain the conflict. Organise your points into the order you want to make them e.g. least to most important factor and assign roughly one paragraph to each point. Decide what facts or historical opinions you want to use to back up your point, analyse them and decide how you are going to show that they illustrate you argument. The introduction should briefly give the historical context of the essay and outline the points you wish to make as well as your overall argument. The conclusion should summarise how the points you have made prove your own argument. Given the time constraints in the exam, try to be brief and avoid overly descriptive sections, analysis is key.