BEAT THE CLOCK: TECHNIQUES FOR ESSAY TESTS Anyone who’s ever taken a timed test remembers the tension and uneasiness that fills a room full of nervous students. Your child may experience some of this pre-test anxiety at school, especially when an essay test looms. Timed tests are stressful, but essay tests can add extra worries. Not only does the student have to complete an essay—but he or she has to create a full argument, provide research or examples, write clearly and make sense—all while the clock is ticking. Help your child by using the tips below and encourage him to incorporate these techniques into his next essay test. Review topics covered and notes taken from class lessons or discussions. Note any themes that are repeated. A week or two before test time, have your child read notes and chapter headings from assigned readings. For each major topic, create a summary sheet of all of the relevant factual data that relates to the topic. Determine logical relationships among topics. For example, in a history class, two political movements are noticeably similar. Teachers often ask students to compare and contrast two movements in an essay question. Help your child generate a list of possible essay questions. If time permits, answer some of these questions. This list makes good review material the day before the exam. Advise your child to read all essay questions before beginning to write, and underline key words while reading the questions. Tell him to make sure that he understands what is being asked, and jot down ideas and examples as they come. Your child should budget time according to the point values of different questions, especially if there is more than one question. She should allow time for proofreading and try not to take longer than the time allotted for each question. You child should answer the question (or part of the question) that seems easiest. This procedure will reduce anxiety and facilitate clear thinking. After your child has created a plan of attack, approaching the essay test should seem less intimidating. As students become more comfortable with the form and process, they can create their own essay-test techniques and relax the next time the teacher says, “Time’s up!” By Jessie Wellnitz