Study. Allow yourself enough time in advance to review the information you will need to know to successfully pass your exam. Use your class notes, materials and study guides. While the types of questions on the exam will vary depending on the subject, in general, they focus on terms, concepts, people, events and reactions. Your instructor may even allow you to view past exams to get an idea of what she expects in an essay answer.
Read through your exam before you begin. Note that one essay question may consist of several sub-questions. Pay attention to how your instructor wants you to answer the questions. In particular, be on the look out for words such as "interpret," "compare," or "describe."
Organize your information by making an outline or a chart. This will help ensure that you include all the necessary points in your answer. While your test-taking time will be limited, outlining your information can reduce the chances of finding yourself stuck and at a loss mid-sentence. An outline or a chart can also help you keep your answer focused.
Write your answer, following the outline or chart you have just created. While it is important to be thorough, it's equally important to be concise. Cater your answer specifically to the question. Answer the question to the best of your ability, but do not add any unnecessary information.
Look over your answers if you have any time left at the end of the exam. Be on the lookout for both grammatical and factual errors. Tie up any loose ends to your answers if necessary.