How to do well in exams
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exams
exams are miserable
two ways to make your
examiners less miserable
write a really
bad exam essay
write an essay that is:
• short
• shows what you know
keep it short
two empirical observations
• most students will spend too much time
writing
• good students don’t write longer essays;
often they write shorter essays
keep it short
1.
2.
3.
4.
Spend more time thinking
We know when you don’t know what you are on about
Padding never helps
Brevity will make you concentrate on what is
important, on the argument and its structure, and
avoid irrelevancies
5. Make every sentence count—what does it add to your
argument?
6. If in doubt leave it out
keep it clear
keep it simple
keep it to the point
• we want to know how well you can think
 a sign of clear thinking is you ability to
distinguish what is important/relevant and what
is unimportant/irrelevant
• philosophy is primarily about arguments; unlike
empirical arguments, philosophical arguments are
rarely improved by more data.
make it very well structured
• just as in an ordinary essay structure is
crucial
• in fact more important, because time
pressure may tempt you to rush into writing
• use headings/sections
• have opening and concluding paragraphs
explaining the structure and aim of your essay
focus on the arguments
• philosophy is about arguments
• focus you essay around an argument
• use the argument(s) to structure your essay
write a really good essay plan
• spend lots of time thinking
• use that thinking to construct a comprehensive
essay plan
• you should not have to add much new
philosophical thinking while writing
• your thinking while writing should be about
trying to express the ideas (arguments) in your plan
as clearly as possible
revision
• writing essay plans is a good way to revise
• don’t just read your essays and notes—
rework them—boil them down to the
essentials (they should end up like generic
essay plans)
• don’t try to learn new material close to the
exams
• learn what you have already covered really
well
• good understanding of a moderate
amount is better than a poor understanding
of a lot
• concentrate on the arguments
good luck