• Memorise important information: Focus on crucial dates, terminologies, and concepts that form the core of your study material.
• Learn actively: Employ active study strategies like explaining concepts aloud or using concept mapping to organise and relate different ideas. 
• Review regularly: Continuously revisit your notes to keep the information fresh and identify recurring themes and concepts.
• Create study notes: Summarise lectures, readings, and seminar discussions, focusing on crafting concise notes around potential exam questions.
• Study as a group: Collaborate with peers to discuss potential questions and key concepts, enriching your understanding and preparation. You could even try using the Feynman Technique.

For more information, check out the section on 'Study strategies'.

Understanding the questions you are being asked is crucial in writing a well-structured essay under exam conditions. Make sure to do the following:

• Understand question terms: Distinguish between 'discuss,' 'compare,' and others to tailor your response. (See Understanding exam questions)
• Important terms: Ensure you fully understand any key terminology mentioned in the question. When writing, you will want to define and explore the essay question’s main terms, considering various perspectives.

How to optimise your exam time effectively:

• Divide your time: Divide your available time proportionately to the number of marks for each question. Commit to these time boundaries to ensure you complete every part of the exam.
• Prioritise: You don't have to do an exam in order. You may want to choose the order of questions based on a combination of your strengths and how many marks they are worth.
• Essay planning: Dedicate the first few minutes to planning. Brainstorm and sketch a brief outline for each essay to guide your writing process. Planning can significantly improve the structure and coherence of your answers.
• Timekeeping: Wear a watch or keep the clock in view to manage your time efficiently.
• Final review: Set aside time at the end of the exam to check your answers.

Planning your argument from the beginning is crucial for writing a good essay in an exam. Here are steps to keep in mind during that initial planning stage:

• Outline plan: Before writing, draft a brief plan or outline to guide your writing:
  • Consider creating a mind map for idea generation;
  • Aim for a rough draft — perfection in planning isn't necessary.
• Thesis statement: Begin by crafting a thesis statement that precisely answers the question posed by the exam. This statement will serve as the foundation of your argument.
• Logical structure: Plan your argument structure, ensuring a logical flow of ideas.
• Plan the conclusion: Before writing, decide what your concluding remarks will be. Your essay should be directed towards this endpoint, tying all arguments together cohesively.

• Keep it simple: Use straightforward language for clear communication.
• Structure: Use paragraphs to systematically present your ideas.
• Effective signposting: Use transitional words ("first", "however", "lastly") to guide the reader through your argument.
• Mastering vocabulary: Practice and learn spellings of key technical and subject-specific words.
• Acronym awareness: If you use acronyms, ensure the reader knows that you know what they mean by spelling them out the first time you use them. For example, National Health Service (NHS). Then, each time you use it afterwards, you can use the acronym.
• Stay on topic: Constantly relate your writing back to the essay question, ensuring relevance.

After completing your essay, allocate time for a comprehensive review to ensure the highest quality of your work. This step is crucial for refining your essay and addressing any overlooked aspects, such as:

• Spelling and grammar: Correct any spelling or grammatical errors.
• Bad handwriting: Rewrite any illegible words to enhance the readability of your essay.
• Ensure relevance: Carefully review your essay to ensure every section and example directly contributes to addressing the essay question.
• Check answers: Go through your answers to ensure you've addressed all required questions and correctly numbered your responses. 
• Address omissions: If you identify any missed points, clearly integrate this additional information where relevant. Use indicators like arrows in the margin or a note like "see additional paragraph" to guide the examiner to these late additions.