What is the best way to approach an essay question in an exam?

Exam essay questions test your ability to produce a coherent argument using knowledge and ideas learned during the year. It is often tempting to try to include everything you've learned, but the best answers usually explore a smaller number of pieces of evidence in greater depth. It is absolutely crucial to spend at least a few minutes planning your answer. First decide what your answer will be, and then decide which examples you will discuss to support it. If you have memorized a few quotes that support your case then it can be helpful to include them, but it is not essential! More important than learning quotes is to be able to show you have thought closely about the relevant themes, ideas, and evidence.The essay should begin with a brief introduction stating your argument and indicating what you will discuss. This should be followed by a series of paragraphs each focusing on a different part of your argument. This may be a single fact or piece of evidence, or a number of different facts that share a common theme. An hour-long essay answer will usually have between three and five of these paragraphs. Each paragraph should be clearly structured around 'PEA': begin by stating the point (P) you are making, then present your evidence (E), and finally analyze (A) that evidence by showing how it supports your case. You should consider possible objections to your evidence and show why you are interpreting it the way that you are. Consider why the evidence is important, how it helps your argument, and whether it is reliable. After presenting your evidence, your concluding paragraph should summarize your argument and remind readers of how the evidence you've presented supports your case. Finally, it is absolutely essential to set aside 5-10 minutes to reread your answer! In the pressure of an exam it is easy to make spelling mistakes, use terms that aren't clear, or even leave sentences incomplete. It may feel like it takes too much time away from writing, but being sure that your answer is clear and coherent is more important than a few extra sentences.