How to write a good essay: 10 tips to ace your college entrance exams.

Writing a good essay is a fundamental skill for anyone taking college entrance exams or participating in exams like the ENEM.

However, many students feel insecure about how to structure their ideas and deliver a coherent and well-argued text. 

The good news is that, with a few practical tips and plenty of practice, you can develop this skill and guarantee an excellent grade.

In this article, we'll show you a detailed step-by-step guide to help you write a good essay, from introduction to conclusion. Check it out!

1. Make reading a habit.

Reading is the foundation for improving your writing skills. The more you read, the larger your vocabulary and the more ideas you will have to argue your points in your essays.

Furthermore, reading different genres — such as news articles, books, and essays — helps you understand different writing styles and shape your own.

Read news articles about current topics, such as global warming or globalization. This will give you concrete examples to use in your essays, as well as prepare you to discuss relevant issues in college entrance exams.

2. Learn the structure of the essay.

In college entrance exams and competitive exams, it is very common for the argumentative essay (also known as...) to be a persuasive essay. argumentative essay) be charged. 

The basic structure of this essay consists of 3 parts: introduction, development e conclusion, which should normally be written in up to 30 lines.

Understanding how each part works is necessary to guarantee a good grade. Check it out below!

- Introduction

You should present the topic and the thesis (your point of view on the subject). Try to be clear and direct. In an essay about the environment, for example, you could start by explaining the importance of the topic and highlighting that, despite technological advances, environmental problems are still serious.

- Development

Here, you defend your point of view with arguments and examples. Each paragraph should address one central idea.

Use concrete data, such as the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, to support your argument about the need for stricter environmental policies.

Quotes from theorists or thinkers, as well as studies and other texts, can also be presented in the body of the text. 

- Conclusion

Revisit your main points and present a solution or reflection on what was discussed. In the example we followed, you could conclude by suggesting environmental education in schools as a way to raise awareness among new generations.

Read more > What types of essays are required in university entrance exams?

 

3. Write clearly and simply.

Using a complex vocabulary doesn't guarantee good writing—the most important thing is to be clear and objective. Short, direct sentences are easier to understand and avoid errors in agreement or punctuation.

Instead of writing, for example, "due to the magnitude of the environmental circumstances that undoubtedly touch upon the complexity of contemporary society…", prefer something like: "Environmental problems directly affect society." Check out some more tips:

• Be objective. Focus on the topic and avoid rambling or repeating ideas.;
• Use clear language. Write in a way that anyone can understand.;
• Beware of jargon. — avoid technical terms that may confuse the reader;
• Review the text — read again to cut out unnecessary words or phrases;
• Prefer direct sentence order. Subject, verb, and object, in that order, facilitate comprehension.

Read more > Text interpretation for college entrance exams: learn how to practice.

4. Train regularly

The saying "practice makes perfect" also applies to essays. Take practice tests with essay topics from previous years and ask your teachers for feedback.

A good suggestion for a study schedule is to write one essay per week on a variety of topics. It could be about human rights, the environment, or even technological issues. Each topic will help you think in a different way.

Also remember that legibility is a relevant criterion for evaluating your writing. Therefore, pay attention to how you write and respect the page indentations. In exams, only text placed within the appropriate space is analyzed, so do not exceed the number of lines or the margins.

5. Stay up to date with the news.

The most common essay topics are related to current social and political issues. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of current events and contemporary debates. Read newspapers, online portals, and magazines, and pay attention to the most discussed topics of the year. Use this knowledge to enrich your arguments.

6. Write down ideas and arguments.

Keep a notebook or digital notepad to record interesting ideas and arguments that can be used in your essays. This will help you build a richer argument when taking the exam. 

One example is using your reading time to note down examples of successful public policies that can be applied to your essays on social issues.

7. Expand your cultural repertoire.

Don't limit yourself to a single topic or reading style. Expanding your knowledge across different areas, such as culture, politics, science, and the arts, helps you build more diverse arguments.

Assuming the essay topic is about the importance of culture in society, you could cite examples of historical cultural movements, such as the Renaissance, to reinforce your point of view.

8. Use discourse connectors.

Connectors such as "therefore," "furthermore," and "on the other hand" are fundamental for giving fluidity to the text and uniting ideas cohesively. If in one paragraph you talked about the impacts of deforestation, in the next you can use "furthermore" to add information about the loss of biodiversity. 

Just be careful not to overuse or repeat these terms excessively—in that case, instead of conveying a connection between concepts, your text may become tedious.

9. Maintain cohesion and coherence.

A good essay needs to be coherent, meaning all parts must be connected and make sense together. This includes maintaining a clear line of reasoning from beginning to end. If your introduction discusses the importance of education, don't abruptly change the topic to health in development. Stay focused.

10. Read and reread

Always proofread your essay before submitting or writing the final version. This helps you correct potential errors and improve the clarity of your arguments. 

One tip is to read the essay aloud to identify points that don't sound right or sections that need to be rewritten. Just be careful to do this during your practice sessions and not on the day of the exam.

Extra tips for exam day

We know that practicing writing is not the same as writing it on the day of the exam. Factors such as nervousness and fatigue can impact your performance. Therefore, be sure to also consider some extra tips:

• Take a deep breath and stay calm — Nervousness can impair your performance, so take a deep breath and relax before you begin;
• Organize your ideas before writing — Make a draft outlining the main points you want to address. This helps to clarify your line of thinking.;
• Manage your time — Allocate a few minutes for each part of the essay. Don't spend too much time on the introduction and body so you have time to revise;
• Be confident — Trust in your preparation and the knowledge you have acquired!

Now that you know the main rules for writing a good essay, it's time to put them into practice! With this step-by-step guide, you'll be better prepared to guarantee an excellent grade. 

Want more study tips? Read our article "How to study for the college entrance exam" and be better prepared for the test..

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