Before you write: plan
Spend the first 3–5 minutes of a timed essay planning. Identify your thesis in one sentence, then list three points that support it. An essay without a plan tends to drift by the third paragraph.
Structure
- Introduction — hook, context, thesis statement
- Body paragraphs — one idea per paragraph, each opening with a topic sentence
- Conclusion — restate thesis in new words, close with a wider implication
The PEEL method for body paragraphs
- Point — state the idea
- Evidence — quote or example
- Explain — how the evidence supports your point
- Link — connect back to the thesis or forward to the next paragraph
Common weaknesses examiners flag
- Thesis that only appears in the conclusion, not the introduction
- Evidence without explanation ("quote-dropping")
- Repetition of the same point across paragraphs
- Conclusions that simply repeat the introduction word-for-word
Revision tip
In the last five minutes, reread your introduction and conclusion together. If they don't clearly agree on what you argued, revise one of them before time runs out.