Manage your time. Do not spend over half of your time trying to perfect a paragraph or on one question. Time tends to fly fast during tests, so be mindful of the clock. Take practice essay tests to evaluate your time management skills and improve your level of writing.
Understand the format and the question being asked. Do not veer off topic. Focus on providing significant points related to the subject at hand. Remember to give solid examples and avoid generalized statements.
Pay attention to grammar. How a person writes should read differently from the way they speak. Write an essay that is presentable, knowledgeable and accurate in its overall purpose. Revise and edit your work so that when someone reads it, they will completely comprehend what was written.
Try not to stress. Take a deep breath before and during the test. Close your eyes for a moment and keep yourself calm. Test anxiety can cause people to do less than what they are capable of. Do not let the test intimidate you.