How do I write an essay to get full marks?

Answer the question: First you need to identify what the question is really asking - is it asking you to compare texts, analyse an unseen extract, or argue 'to what extent' a proposed statement is true? This is the most important thing to identify, as it gives you a focus of what to include, and what not to include in your essay, such as memorised quotes, technical vocabulary, etc. For example, an essay that responds to an unseen extract usually only scores marks for talking about the extract only, with no outside knowledge required. Structure your answer well: Next, you should always write some sort of essay plan, even if it is very brief. This helps you organise your thoughts, and if you don't get time to write all your points, examiners can see what you were going to write in your plan, and you may be marked higher. PEEL: This basic formula can be used for all levels of essay. For each point you want to talk about, start by stating your Point in one concise sentence. Next use some Evidence (usually a short quote you have memorised), and Explain why this supports your point (e.g. this quote evidences the presence of religious allusion in Tess of the d'Urbervilles, as it refers to the serpent in the garden of eden that represents the devil). Finally, you Link what you have just said to the main line of argument that your essay takes (e.g. Thus, biblical allusion is one way in which Hardy paints Tess in the role of a sinner, by likening Alec's seduction of Tess to the snake's tempting of Eve in the garden of eden).