How can I get the best mark in an A-Level History long answer essay?

In order to maximise your chances of getting a top mark in your long answer essay, there are a few steps to take that will put you on the right path. Firstly, revision; Secondly, essay structure; Thirdly, time management. The foundations of a good essay begin with a solid understanding of the topic in question. Given the long timeframes involved in A Level topics, the prospect of showing solid understanding and knowledge for a specific essay question can be daunting. However, there is no need to worry - the necessary understanding and knowledge can be ensured through efficient revision. Revision is an individual process, so to begin find out what works for you: are you a visual (mind-maps), verbal (record yourself reading notes), or performative (re-writing notes) leaner? Once this is known, you can engage with the syllabus and tick off the various themes/topics likely to be focused on in an essay question. Make sure to also revise marking criteria, in order to understand how you can apply your knowledge to what the examiner is looking for. In the exam, the following two steps come into play: essay structure and time management. As soon as you've got your essay question, it's worth making a plan. Here, you will deconstruct the question in order to identify what is being asked, and how to go about answering that in a clear and simple manner. I recommend structuring your essay as follows: 1. Introduction (use this to outline your argument, and then overview how each paragraph will evidence your argument). 2. Main Body (this is where you will back up your argument, using one paragraph per point. There is no set number of paragraphs to use, however I'd recommend illustrating your argument through 4/5 points). 3. Conclusion (this should be a brief final paragraph in which you summarise all points made, restating how thy evidence your overall argument. Do not introduce new points here). While writing the essay, keep an eye on the clock and stick to your time frames. It's easy to get carried away, waffle and end up with an incomplete essay - in order to maximise your chance of a good mark, complete your essay according to the plan and time designated for each section.