Techniques for Taking Essay Tests

Studying--even for "open book" tests

Obviously, before taking any exam, you need to be prepared. Whether the test is open-book or not, you need to know the material backwards and forwards in your own mind. Open-book exams, in fact, are often harder than closed-book exams, because teachers will ask more detailed questions, and expect you to quote and analyze specific passages from the books to support your answers.

Step 1: Reread and take notes

First, reread all the material carefully, and take notes. Writing things down helps you both remember and understand them better. (Please refer to the lesson on Note-Taking for suggestions on ways to organize your thoughts.)

Also, memorize some particularly interesting (brief) quotations to use in your answers. While you probably won't be asked to quote directly from sources in a closed-book exam, you still need specific evidence from the course materials to prove your points. The more specific you can be, the better.

Step 2: Practice

Second, you'll need to practice writing out possible answers to exam questions. Your teacher may give you some practice questions; but in any case, try writing a few yourself as well-it will help you understand the material better.