How to Take the Essay Test


For this portion of the tutorial, review the 5 steps below.

1. Think about the topic (2 minutes)
Remember that the worst score you can get (0) comes if you write an essay that has nothing to do with the prompt. In other words, even a poorly written essay is likely to receive at least a 1 so long as it is on-topic. The writing prompt you will be given will not require any specialized training or instruction in order to be answered. Whether you agree or disagree with the statement does not affect your score; there is no right answer.
  • Study the question and underline the key words.
  • Try to think of ideas you might want to include in your essay, and jot them down quickly on scratch paper.
  • Think of a few examples that you may want to use in your essay.
You will not be given a choice about the topic of your essay. If, for some reason, you do not understand some words within your prompt, you will want to try to figure out the meaning by looking at context clues. If you are unable to understand one or more key words in the prompt, you will not be able to choose another prompt. You should make an educated guess about what the prompt is asking, and write as best you can. This chances of this sort of thing happening are highly unlikely, as the prompts deal with general knowledge that everyone should know.

2. Compose a thesis statement (5 minutes)

Think of the main point or idea you want to get across; then try to imagine some of the things you will need to say to support this idea. If you can think of some, then you’ve probably got a good thesis. Write it down or type it on your computer screen. Otherwise, try to come up with a different thesis.
  • Readers expect you to have one clear main point of view about the topic. Think of the main point or idea you want to get across; make sure it addresses the topic, and try to stick to it.
  • Once you have your main idea or thesis written down somewhere, try to come up with two to four topic sentences or main points for each paragraph.
  • Make a key-word list for supporting details you will use for each topic sentence.
Once you have your thesis, make sure you have expressed it in the form of a complete sentence—not a phrase, a fragment, or a question.

3. Write a brief outline that includes your topic sentences and supporting details (5 minutes)

Don’t just start writing your essay. Look at the ideas you’ve come up with so far and create an outline in any form that works for you – a jot list, outline, concept map, or whatever. Even if you choose to write your essay on the computer, you will still be given scratch paper for your notes and outline.
  • With your thesis statement at the top (to keep your mind focused), write three or four topic sentences that will serve as key supports for each paragraph.
  • Jot down some key words for each topic sentence that will help you develop the paragraphs—examples, facts, references to current or historical events, personal illustrations, and so on.
  • Try to think of how you will begin your essay. Your opening paragraph should get to the point (thesis) quickly, so keep it brief. It should not be more than one paragraph.
4. Write the essay (18 minutes)

According to information provided by ETS, essays rated in the upper third typically have three or four paragraphs totaling about 200 words. This is a little less than one typewritten, double-spaced page. However, if you need to write more than this in order to fully develop your points, then do so.
  • Begin with your introduction and proceed to the end.
  • Don’t worry about writing a full introduction and conclusion. Two or three sentences for each will suffice.
  • Use the rules of grammar and spelling as you write. You should check for punctuation and minor errors when you are finished composing.
Writing an essay this long does not guarantee a passing score, of course, and there is no minimum or maximum length. Nonetheless, an answer that is only one or two paragraphs may seem too short to the raters and receive a low score for that reason, while a very long essay runs the risk of straying from the topic and containing many errors. Use your time wisely to ensure that you have conveyed the points you set out to write about. If you have time, compose a short conclusion.

5. Proofread and edit (4 minutes)

Leave several minutes to re-read your essay and correct errors.
  • Sentence-level errors (fragments, run-ons, and omitted words) are the ones to correct first.
  • Then look at usage, obvious spelling errors, and punctuation.
  • If you have time, check for common mistakes like these:
    • they’re / there / their
    • your / you’re
    • its / it’s
  • If you are handwriting your paper, the raters will expect to see corrections. Make corrections neatly by drawing a single line through anything you want to delete, like tis this. Use a carat (^) when you have to ^insert a word or phrase. If you are typing your essay on a computer, be aware of the fact that you will not have access to a spelling or grammar checker, so you must still proofread your paper.
Here are some sample writing prompts similar to ones you might find on the PRAXIS:

  1. "Our society is overly materialistic. We center our lives on acquiring material things at the expense of such traditional values as family and education."
  2. “Censorship of song lyrics, television shows, and offensive speech is necessary in order to protect the rights of all members of society.”
  3. “Young people who attend college immediately after high school often lack a clear sense of direction and seriousness about learning. Before hurrying into college, it’s better to get a taste of the real world by working or serving in the military for a few years.”
  4. “Although routines may seem to put us in a rut and stifle creativity, in fact routines make us more efficient and allow creativity to blossom.”
  5. “Schools should be open for classes all year long.”
  6. “Schools should focus more on preparing students for specific careers and vocations, and less on teaching subjects such as literature, art, and history.”
  7. “Although the marvels of technology surround us every day, there are moments when we all would give anything to be freed from that technology.”
  8. “In order to prepare students to live in a culturally diverse society, schools should formally require all students to study other cultures and societies in depth.”
  9. “Because the traditional grading scale of A through F fosters needless competition and pressure, colleges and universities should use a simple pass/fail system.”
  10. “To address the problem of chronic truancy, schools should fine the parents of students who are frequently absent from school.”
  11. “Studying a foreign language should be a college requirement for anyone planning to be a teacher.”
  12. “We are constantly bombarded by advertisements—on television and radio, in newspapers and magazines, on highway signs and the sides of buses. They have become too pervasive. It’s time to put limits on advertising.”
  13. “In order to understand other societies, all college students should be required to spend at least one of their undergraduate years studying or working in a foreign country.”
  14. “Every member of society should be required before the age of twenty-one to perform at least one year of community or government service, such as in the Peace Corps, the military, a hospital, the environmental Conservancy Corps, a rural or inner-city school, or some equivalent organization.”
Each of these topics is an opinion statement. In your essay you will be asked to agree or disagree with the opinion. Be sure to be clear about the position you take.