Here is a quick check list of do’s and don'ts:

• When you receive the exam, read all of the exam slowly and carefully. Don't rush this step.
• If there are two or three questions, leave enough time to answer the second and third ones. Budget your time accordingly, and keep track of the time remaining during the exam.
• Once you are certain you understand the question, outline your answer in the exam margin or in your test book. Do this before you begin to write your answer.
• Be sure that you answer the question asked. Don't let your answer wander from the focus of the question. If the question asks you to "describe" or "trace" or "compare" or "explain," be sure that that is what you do.
• Don't repeat yourself. Each sentence should add new material or advance the point you are making. Still, your answer cannot be a simple collection of facts. Your answer must organize those facts in a way that responds to the question.
• If there is time, proofread your essay, and correct any errors.
• Write legibly. If your instructor has difficulty reading your exam, he or she may not be able to tell if you understood the question.

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