Timed Essay Plans for Long-Answer Questions

For essay subjects such as English, history and religious studies, writing a full essay every night is too slow. Instead, take past questions and give yourself five to ten minutes to plan each one: a clear line of argument, three or four points in order, and the evidence or quotations you would use for each. In an evening you can plan five or six questions and cover far more of the course than one finished essay would. It also trains the decision that costs most marks under pressure, which is choosing an argument quickly. Write one full essay from a plan every week or so under timed conditions, so the plans stay realistic about what you can write in the time.