Because you’re writing under a strict time restraint, essay scorers don’t expect your essay to be perfect. However, they don’t expect a sloppy first draft that needs plenty of revising, either. Think instead of creating a “polished rough draft,”writing that’s more refined than a typical rough draft, well organized, and with as few errors in grammar and mechanics as possible.

General Guidelines
■ Use your outline as a guide. Don’t go off on tangents, but adhere to your plan. If you come up with another strong major point, use it, but don’t freewrite or ramble.
■ Separate your major points into paragraphs; this organization will help your readers follow the logic of your argument.
■ Avoid unnecessary words, phrases, and sentences. Don’t repeat yourself or try to fill space with meaningless sentences such as “This is a very interesting question” or “Different people have different opinions on this subject.”
■ Keep your reader in mind. This person will give you a score based on how well you write and how well you addressed the topic. Don’t risk alienating or offending this person by using a tone or words that are too formal or too casual.
■ Write neatly. Your readers can’t score what they can’t read or understand. In fact, some exam readers may be unconsciously influenced by your penmanship. If two essays are of equal quality, and one is written neatly while the other is in a sloppy, rushed hand, the neater essay will probably receive a slightly higher score. Neat handwriting is more reader friendly, and it suggests that the writer has more control over the writing process.