How should I structure essays in exams?

Before you launch into writing your essay, make sure you write a quick plan! This is one of the most important steps you can take in structuring your essay well, as it will make sure you are making several, separate points, and will also give you a few minutes to take a breath before you begin the essay itself! I would recommend using your question paper to note what your overall answer to the question will be, the three or four main factors you will explore in your essay, and finally remind yourself to write a conclusion! Once you have written your plan, which should take no more than five minutes per question, you can begin your essay.The plan demonstrates the perfect structure, so now its just a case of doing each part of your essay well. For your introduction the most important thing to remember is to actually answer the question! The rest of your essay should be used to explain how you reached that answer. This means that in each point you should not only provide pieces of 'knowledge' about each factor, but why it is more or less important than the other factors. This proves you are really 'analysing' the factor. Knowledge and analysis can both receive up to six points and so remember both are crucial to a high mark! The easiest way to make sure you are getting marks for both is to make a point, and then follow it with a specific, factual example. Repeat this twice for each factor, and you are writing the perfect essay. Complete your work with a conclusion that demonstrates you comparing each factor to each other, and proves you have explained the same answer you provided in the introduction. As ever, remember to check the marking scheme to understand all of the elements you will need to achieve top marks!