Best Examples of Approach Essay Questions on Exams (and How to Tackle Them)

Real examples of approach essay questions on exams

Instead of starting with theory, let’s look at real examples of approach essay questions on exams you might actually see. As you read, notice the verbs in each prompt: they quietly tell you how to approach your answer.

History example of an approach essay question
“Evaluate the extent to which industrialization between 1850 and 1914 changed working-class life in the United States. In your answer, consider economic, social, and political factors.”

Here, evaluate the extent means you’re expected to make a judgment, not just list facts. A strong approach essay answer would:

• Take a clear position on how much change occurred (a lot, a little, mixed).
• Organize body paragraphs by economic, social, and political factors.
• Use specific evidence (e.g., factory conditions, unionization, child labor laws).

Psychology example of an approach essay question
“Compare and contrast classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Discuss at least two real-life applications of each.”

The verbs compare and contrast plus discuss applications signal a structure: similarities, differences, then applied examples (like phobias, reward systems in classrooms, or app notification design).

Business / management example of an approach essay question
“Recommend a strategy for a mid-sized retail company facing declining in-store sales but growing online traffic. In your response, analyze at least three strategic options and justify your final recommendation.”

Here, you’re being asked to analyze options and argue for one. That calls for a decision-focused structure: define the problem, outline options, compare pros/cons, then defend one choice.

These are just three examples of approach essay questions on exams, but the pattern is the same: the verbs tell you what the grader wants, and your job is to build a focused, organized response.

How to read examples of approach essay questions on exams like a grader

When you look at examples of approach essay questions on exams, try reading them the way an instructor or examiner would. They’re not trying to trick you; they’re trying to see if you can do specific thinking tasks.

Most essay prompts quietly test a short list of skills:

• Can you take a position or make a claim?
• Can you organize information logically?
• Can you use evidence or examples to support your ideas?
• Can you apply concepts to new situations?

Look again at this example of a political science exam question:

“Assess whether social media has strengthened or weakened democratic participation in the United States since 2010. Support your argument with specific examples and relevant research.”

A grader reading this is expecting:

• A clear answer: strengthened, weakened, or mixed, with a nuanced claim.
• Evidence: turnout data, protest movements, misinformation cases, youth engagement.
• Organization: maybe benefits first, harms second, then a balanced conclusion.

If you train yourself to spot what the examples of approach essay questions on exams are really asking you to do, your writing becomes more targeted and easier to grade highly.

A helpful habit: underline or rewrite the task in your own words before you start. For the social media example, you might rewrite it as: “Decide if social media is mostly good or bad for democracy in the US since 2010, and prove it with specific evidence.” That simple rephrasing keeps you from wandering off topic.

Common command words you’ll see in examples of approach essay questions on exams

If you scan enough examples of approach essay questions on exams, you’ll notice the same command words over and over. These words are like traffic signs for your brain.

Some of the most common:

• Analyze – break the topic into parts and explain how they relate.
• Evaluate – judge the value, impact, or effectiveness, with reasons.
• Compare and contrast – show similarities and differences.
• Discuss – explore different sides or aspects, then explain your view.
• Explain – make something clear, often step by step.
• Justify – defend a position with reasons and evidence.
• Assess the extent – decide how much something is true and under what conditions.

Here’s a science-focused example of an exam prompt:

“Analyze the impact of rising global temperatures on public health. In your answer, explain at least three major health risks and evaluate potential policy responses.”

You’re being asked to:

• Analyze (break down the impact into categories).
• Explain (make each risk clear: heat illness, vector-borne disease, air quality, etc.).
• Evaluate (decide which policies are more effective and why).

If you want more practice with these command words, many universities publish guidance. For instance, the University of Leicester has a helpful guide to essay terms explained that breaks down what instructors mean when they use words like analyze or evaluate.

A simple step-by-step approach you can use on any exam essay question

Now let’s turn the examples of approach essay questions on exams into a repeatable method you can use in 2024–2025, whether you’re taking APUSH, an online MBA final, or a nursing school exam.

Think of it as four quick moves:

First, decode the prompt.
Circle the command words (analyze, compare, evaluate). Underline the scope (time period, region, chapter). This takes 20–30 seconds and prevents the classic “I wrote a good essay to the wrong question” mistake.

Second, brainstorm before you write.
On scratch paper or in the margin, jot:

• 3–4 key points or arguments
• 2–3 specific examples or pieces of evidence
• A one-sentence answer (your thesis)

Students often think they don’t have time to plan, but exam research from places like Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning consistently emphasizes that even a short plan leads to clearer, more focused writing.

Third, build a simple structure.
Most strong answers on approach essay questions follow a version of:

• Opening: restate the question and give your answer.
• Body: 2–4 paragraphs, each with a clear point and evidence.
• Ending: a short conclusion that ties it together and, if appropriate, adds a nuance or implication.

Fourth, leave 2–3 minutes to tidy.
In the last minutes, scan for:

• Sentences that don’t answer the question.
• Missing transitions (add words like “however,” “in contrast,” “for example”).
• Key terms from the prompt you can echo to show you stayed on task.

This is the “approach” part of approach essay questions: a repeatable way of thinking, not a magical formula.

More subject-specific examples of approach essay questions on exams

To make this really practical, here are more examples include prompts from different fields, along with a quick note on how to approach each.

Literature exam example
“Discuss how two authors from different time periods use setting to explore themes of isolation. Use specific quotations to support your analysis.”

Approach: Choose two works (say, Frankenstein and The Catcher in the Rye), define isolation in each, and organize by author. For each, explain how the setting (Arctic wasteland, crowded New York City) reflects inner isolation. Use short, relevant quotes.

Nursing or medical exam example
“Explain the role of patient education in managing type 2 diabetes. In your answer, discuss at least three educational strategies and evaluate their impact on patient outcomes.”

Approach: Organize by strategies (diet counseling, glucose monitoring training, digital tools). For each, explain what it looks like in practice and how it affects outcomes like A1C levels or hospital readmissions. You might refer to patient education guidance from sources like NIH or CDC to ground your thinking.

Economics exam example
“Evaluate the effectiveness of minimum wage increases as a tool for reducing income inequality. Consider both short-term and long-term effects in your response.”

Approach: Start with a clear stance (effective but limited, or mixed). Then separate short-term (wage boosts, employment effects) and long-term (automation, education incentives, inequality trends). Use examples from recent policy debates or research.

Computer science / technology example
“Assess the ethical implications of using AI-powered facial recognition in public spaces. Discuss at least three ethical concerns and propose guidelines for responsible use.”

Approach: Organize by concern (privacy, bias, surveillance). For each, explain the issue and give a real or hypothetical scenario. Then suggest guidelines such as transparency, bias testing, or clear legal limits.

These are the kinds of best examples of approach essay questions on exams that show up in modern classrooms and online courses. Notice how each one quietly asks you to do the same core tasks: define, organize, support, and evaluate.

How to practice using examples of approach essay questions on exams

Reading examples of approach essay questions on exams is helpful, but the real progress comes from practicing under conditions that feel at least a little like test day.

You can:

• Pull sample prompts from released exams. For instance, the College Board publishes free-response questions for AP subjects, which are basically ready-made examples of approach essay questions on exams.
• Set a timer for 15–20 minutes and write a full response to one prompt. Don’t aim for perfection; aim for complete: intro, body, conclusion.
• Afterward, compare your structure to scoring guidelines or sample high-scoring responses when available. Look specifically at how they:
  • Answer the question directly in the first paragraph.
  • Use specific evidence instead of vague generalities.
  • Stay focused on the command words.

If you’re preparing for professional or graduate exams (like nursing, law, or business), your program’s department or testing body often posts sample questions. Universities like MIT and others provide general exam strategies that pair nicely with practicing on real prompts.

A good rhythm is to:

• Practice decoding 2–3 questions in a row without writing full essays (just write thesis statements and bullet-point outlines).
• Then, once or twice a week, choose one prompt and write it out fully under timed conditions.

Over time, you’ll start recognizing patterns so quickly that when you see a new prompt on test day, it feels like a variation on something you’ve already done.

Updated 2024–2025 trends in exam essay questions

Exams in 2024–2025 often look a bit different from what students saw a decade ago, but the same approach still works. Here are a few trends you’ll notice if you scan current examples of approach essay questions on exams:

• More real-world scenarios. Instead of abstract questions, you’ll see case studies about social media, climate, public health, or AI. You’re expected to apply theories to realistic situations.
• Interdisciplinary prompts. A single question might blend economics and politics, or ethics and technology, and ask you to draw on multiple angles.
• Emphasis on critical thinking, not memorization. Instructors know students can look up facts easily outside class, so they write prompts that force you to interpret, evaluate, and argue.
• Online proctored exams and open-book formats. You may be allowed notes or textbooks, which actually raises the bar: graders expect deeper analysis, not copied definitions.

This is why practicing with modern, real examples of approach essay questions on exams matters. Older questions can still help, but newer ones better reflect the kind of analytical, applied thinking current exams demand.

FAQ: examples of approach essay questions on exams

Q: Can you give a short example of an approach essay question I might see in a college class?
Yes. Here’s a compact example you might see in a first-year writing course:
“Discuss how one major life experience has shaped your views on education. In your answer, explain the experience, analyze how it changed your thinking, and reflect on how it affects your goals today.”
This asks you to narrate (tell the story), analyze (how it changed you), and reflect (connect to current goals).

Q: How many paragraphs should I write for these kinds of questions?
There’s no magic number, but most strong answers to examples of approach essay questions on exams end up being three to five paragraphs: an opening, two or three body paragraphs, and a short conclusion. The priority is clarity and focus, not hitting a specific paragraph count.

Q: What are some common mistakes students make when answering examples of approach essay questions on exams?
Common mistakes include ignoring the command words, writing everything they know about the topic instead of what the question asks, and failing to take a clear position. Another frequent issue is skipping planning and then running out of time mid-argument.

Q: How can I quickly improve my approach to exam essay questions if my test is soon?
Take 3–5 examples of approach essay questions on exams (from your teacher, textbook, or released exams) and practice only the first five minutes of the process: decoding the prompt and drafting a thesis plus a brief outline. This builds the mental habit you need on test day without requiring you to write full essays every time.

Q: Are there good places online to find more examples of approach essay questions on exams?
Yes. Released AP free-response questions on the College Board site, past paper archives from universities, and study skills pages from institutions like Harvard, MIT, and the University of Leicester are all strong sources. Look for sections labeled “past exams,” “sample questions,” or “free response.”

If you treat every new prompt as a variation on the examples of approach essay questions on exams you’ve already practiced, the mystery disappears. You’re not guessing anymore; you’re following a repeatable approach: read carefully, plan briefly, write clearly, and support your ideas with specific, concrete examples.