Why are they so hard? You’re givenso much time because teachers
expect that it will take you longerthan the time available in class to
finish. You may have to go well beyond your text(s) and notes even
to get a handle on some of the questions, leading to some long nights.
Take any easyeight-hour tests lately? The longer you’re given, the
easier it is to procrastinate (“Heck, I’ve got another two nights!”),
and we know where thatleads.
There are only two good aspects to balance the scales. You’ve
certainly been given the chance to “be all that you can be.” No excuse
for not doing a terrific job on a test with virtually no time limit. If you
tend to freeze during a normal exam, you should have far less
anxiety at home in comfortable surroundings.
Writing Prize-Winning Essays
You need to budget your time for an essay test just as you should for
any test—the mathematical calculations are just easier. Five questions
in 50 minutes? Doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out 10 minutes
per essay.
Or does it? In this example, allow seven or eight minutes per
essay, which will give you anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes to review,
proofread, and make corrections and additions to all your answers.
And if any of the questions are “weighted” more than the others,
adjust the time you spend on them accordingly.
When the time you’ve budgeted for the first question is up, immedi-
ately move on to the next, no matter how far you’ve gotten on the
first. You’ll have time at the end—if you follow my suggestion—to go
back and add more.
Most teachers will give you a better overall grade for five incomplete
but decent essays than for three excellent ones and two left blank.
202 How to Study