How do I complete an essay-style question on time if I'm not a quick writer?

This is something I'm sure everyone's been worried about in the past (myself included!) so you're definitely not alone. When we take a methodical approach and spend a few moments planning our response, it all becomes much easier.Whether it's a short answer or 30-minute response, it's always important to put the pen down and really read the question. Underline the key bits if it helps you. For the shorter-answer questions, always check how many marks can be awarded as this is an invaluable way to structure your response. Having read the question, can you bullet point anything to say? If you've prepared key quotes, you may be able to link them to your bullet points. If you're just practising, then it's a great time to think about what moments or quotes would fit in well and would be handy to know. Make sure to add them to a list or similar.As I'm sure you've heard before, the most valuable method is to practise with past papers. Try timing yourself in exam conditions - make a note where you get stuck and observe how your planning assists in speeding up your writing. Finally, remember: it's not an exercise in filling up the space. There is no set criteria (within limits) for length when awarding marks. If you can answer clearly and concisely and skip out the padding, even better!