How can I best prepare for a politics essay-based exam?

Firstly, review your notes and the textbooks on a major topic from the course. Once you feel that you may be familiar with the main themes and examples from the topic, test the knowledge and thought processes that you’ve developed. The best way to do this is by writing an essay under timed, exam conditions. You’ll know after this exercise whether there are areas you’re still unsure of and need to go back over. Very importantly, you’ll also know if you’ve structured your time efficiently so you don’t miss out any crucial points from the essay. Picking the essential knowledge relating to the exam question from the wealth of information you’ve revised is a skill that gets better with practise.