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Warm up beforehand by writing something.
  We all perform better after we get in the rhythm.
 
Get excited.
  The easiest way to do this is to say something that matters to you, and to write directly to an audience with the intent of stirring them. (Yes, some test topics do make this difficult.)
 
Answer the question.
  Always remember to answer the question being asked. Read the question twice before beginning to write.
 
Be specific.
  If your test answer is two sentences long, make the first a thesis and the second an example.
 
Take a moment to prewrite.
  A few minutes spent planning will usually pay for themselves by giving you a sense of direction early.
 
Get on with it.
  Make sure your first sentence gets to the heart of things. Skip leisurely introductions. Never repeat yourself.
 
Write in your own language.
  It takes time to translate your writing into someone else's style; during an essay exam this is time you don't have.
 
Write only one draft.
  You don't have time to rewrite. If you write a few lines and then change your mind, just cross them out and keep going.
 
Be aware of the time.
  An unfinished good essay is worse than a finished ok essay.
 
Proofread for garbled meaning.
  Writing quickly almost guarantees you'll omit important words such as "not."
 
Double-check mechanics.
  If mechanics (such as punctuation) matter on this test, proofread for mechanics by checking for mistakes you commonly make.
 
Always do what the instructor wants.
  If an instructor is asking a question just to see how much you know, a thesis is irrelevant and possibly a handicap. If the instructor is checking to see how well you've done the reading, no matter how brilliant your essay, if you fail to cite the reading, you lose.

Instructor's purposes in giving a test may not be self-evident; the only way to find out what they are is to ask.

 
Think about the test.
 

Before taking a test, you might want to know:

  • Does style or mechanics (like spelling) count?
  • Does the instructor want to see you use the jargon of the course?
  • Is this in part a check to see if you've done the reading?
  • Is there a right answer?  Or are you being judged just on the quality of your argument?
Follow directions.
  With tests this is especially tricky because test questions tend to include lots of little, specific tasks. As you write your way into the essay, it takes on a life of its own and you forget exactly what you set out to do.

One solution is to itemize and number the instructions at the outset, and reread them halfway through the essay.

 
Structure to help the instructor.
  If you structure rigidly, conservatively and blatantly, the instructor will have an easy time grading your essay.

Outlining is strongly recommended. Have a thesis and state it up front. Let the instructor see when you're doing each assigned task (such as defining, contrasting, giving reasons). Consider numbering your tasks on the page.