how to write a good essay in 30 minutes

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How to Write an Essay in Under 30 Minutes

Last Updated: September 30, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Arash Fayz . Arash Fayz is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LA Tutors 123, an academic consulting and private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. Arash has over 10 years of educational consulting experience, managing the tutoring of students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to score higher on standardized tests and gain admission to their target schools. He has a BA in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 608,953 times.

If you’re taking your SATs this year, you may be preparing to write a solid essay within the 30 minute time limit. Or you might be trying to improve your writing speed to complete essay exams faster and more efficiently. Writing a five paragraph essay in under 30 minutes can seem daunting, but with the right planning and time management, it is certainly achievable.

Sample Essays

Planning the Essay

• For example, you may get a prompt in the form of quotation: “Time has a doomsday book, on whose pages he is continually recording illustrious names. But as often as a new name is written there, an old one disappears. Only a few stand in illuminated characters never to be effaced.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [3] X Research source
• You may then receive a question attached to the prompt: “Are there some heroes who will be remembered forever? Or are all heroes doomed to be forgotten one day?" Plan your response, and then write an essay to explain your views on this issue. Be sure to support your position with specific points and examples. You may use personal examples or examples from your reading, observations, or, knowledge of subjects such as history, literature, science. [4] X Research source

• For example, you may brainstorm the Longfellow quote/question by thinking of personal examples of heroes who are remembered or forgotten, such as family members, friends, teachers, or peers who have acted as heroes to you or to others. Or you may focus on a historical figure who seems to be a forgotten hero or a decorated hero.
• This essay question is asking for two sides of the discussion, the forgotten hero and the remembered hero. Your thesis should discuss both sides and choose one side to argue for or against.
• You may choose to spotlight a historical figure who encountered opposition and challenges in her life, such as the suffragette Susan B. Anthony. Anthony worked tirelessly for decades to get the government to recognize women’s right to vote, and was often derided by the government and by individuals within her own organization. She is a good example of a hero who was not recognized as a trailblazer until late in her life, though she is now remembered as a heroine in history. Try to refer back to the quotation in the essay prompt in your thesis, if possible, to show you have read the entire question.
• A possible thesis statement could be: “Though Longfellow argues that names, or heroes, may be forgotten over time, one historical figure, Susan B. Anthony, was derided in her lifetime for her beliefs but is now remembered as a heroine of her time.”

• Introduction: Your beginning paragraph should contain an engaging first sentence and your thesis statement. Some writers find it easier to write create a temporary introduction and revise it once they are finished with the essay. This will ensure the introduction is cohesive with the rest of the essay.
• Conclusion: This paragraph should summarize your main argument and restate your thesis. You may also want to include last thoughts around the essay question.

Writing the Essay

• An interesting or surprising example: This could be a personal experience or a key moment in the life of the historical figure you are discussing in your essay. For example, you may discuss Anthony’s childhood as a Quaker and her later adoption of more casual dress and growing interest in social reform at the age of 26. [9] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
• A provocative quotation: This could be from a source you used for your essay or one that feels relevant to your topic. For example, you may use a well known quote from Anthony, such as: “Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.” [10] X Research source
• A vivid anecdote: An anecdote is a very short story that carries moral or symbolic weight. Think of an anecdote that might be a poetic or powerful way to start your essay.
• A thought provoking question: create a question that will get your reader thinking and engaged in your topic. For example: “Did you ever wonder how women received the right to vote in the United States?”

• Body paragraph 1: You may start by discussing Anthony’s early successes. Look at the establishment of the Women’s Loyal National League in 1863 by Anthony and Stanton. As the first national women’s political organization in the United States, it had a membership of 5000 and provided a platform for women to speak out on issues like slavery and women’s right to vote. [11] X Research source
• Body paragraph 2: You may discuss Anthony’s mid career struggles. Look at the split in the women’s movement in May 1869, with the establishment of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association (NWSA) by Anthony and Stanton, and the rival American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA). Note how after the Civil War, Anthony devoted her time and life to the suffrage movement, assuming leadership of the NWSA in 1890 and continuing to advocate for women’s rights. Anthony also remained unmarried, which gave her an advantage under the law, as married women at the time were not permitted to sign official documents and had to defer to their husbands. [12] X Research source
• Body paragraph 3: You may discuss Anthony’s later life, including her many speaking engagements throughout the United States on the need for women’s suffrage and equal rights. Though Anthony died in 1906, and did not live to see the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution, affording women the right to vote in the United States in 1920, her forty years of tireless work paved the way for the legal precedent and gave women a strong sense of empowerment and equality. [13] X Research source

• For example, you may restate your thesis: “Throughout her life, Susan B. Anthony’s sacrificed her time, energy, and personal livelihood to advocate for women’s rights, proving that though many heroes may be forgotten, their actions will live on in history.”

Editing the Essay

• For example, an essay on Susan B. Anthony could have the title: “An Unsung Heroine” or “Susan B. Anthony: An Advocate for Change”.

Community Q&A

Reader Videos

• If you're writing an essay in 15 minutes, try to spend two to three minutes on each body paragraph. Then, take three minutes on your conclusion paragraph and go back to your introduction. Spend the last three minutes revising your introduction so it matches the tone and perspective of the rest of your essay. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• If you need to write the essay in one day, focus on writing a paragraph at a time and taking small breaks in between by relaxing and browsing the internet. A 10-minute break should be enough time to relax before it's back to crunch time.
• Writing the body paragraphs first can sometimes make it easier to write the introduction and conclusion later on.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Arash Fayz. Test Prep Tutor. Expert Interview. 1 November 2019.
• ↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/essay_planning/essay-planning
• ↑ https://resources.warburg.sas.ac.uk/pdf/emh823b2778298.pdf
• ↑ https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc/handouts/the-writing-process-1/invention/Writing-a-Response-or-Reaction-Paper
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/test-terror.html
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/introductions/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/should-i-use-i/
• ↑ https://www.rochester.edu/sba/
• ↑ https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553350/laCossJoanHarkin.pdf
• ↑ https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/susan-b-anthony
• ↑ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Susan-B-Anthony

About This Article

In order to successfully write an essay in under 30 minutes, you need to plan it out and work efficiently. Take a good 10 minutes to plan out the essay and come up with a thesis statement that will convey your argument and help guide your essay. It may seem like a large chunk of your time, but it will save you from having to rewrite or restructure your essay later on. Then, take 15 minutes to write your introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Use the last 5 minutes to proofread your essay and look for spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. Don’t worry about coming up with a title until you’re finished. It will be much easier then. For tips about how to edit an essay you write in under 30 minutes, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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English Basics

How to Write an Essay in 30 Minutes?

If you’re looking for tips on how to write an essay in 30 minutes, you’ve come to the right place. The best way to make this process easier is by following some of the most important steps: outline your essay. Make sure to spend a particular amount of time on each paragraph. If you find that you are going over your time, you’ll know where to make a few adjustments. This will help you avoid spending too much time looking up information.

Create an outline

The first step in writing an essay is to create an outline. Outlines are a great way to stay organized and focus on the topic at hand. They also help you develop a strong thesis statement and begin research. An outline always begins with a thesis statement or summarizing sentence that conveys the central idea of the paper. You can brainstorm ideas and revise them later. Generally, you should begin by writing a summary sentence and then write your entire essay from this outline.

Once you have your outline, begin dividing the ideas into categories. For example, a literary essay might group the ideas under themes, while a history essay might have three main themes. Once you have a general outline, you can break it up into body paragraphs, longer sections, and different parts that each cover one of the themes. You should also check your outline for repetition or relevancy to your thesis statement.

Your essay outline should provide boundaries and structure. Once you have an outline, it is easy to write an essay. Your outline does not need to be long. You can write in full sentences or use shorthand. What matters is that you understand your topic well enough to construct an outline that will be both clear and coherent. When writing your outline, save the introduction and concluding paragraphs for the end, and you will be on your way to completing the assignment in less time.

When planning your essay, you must come up with a thesis statement that conveys your argument and guides your essay. Creating an outline will save you a lot of time later. You will need about 15 minutes to write the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. You should also leave 5 minutes for proofreading. Don’t worry about the title, as you can fix that later. It’s best to have a title after you’ve completed writing the essay.

Avoid writing too many cross-outs

When you have 30 minutes to write an essay, you have to divide your time into various tasks. Allot five to ten minutes to plan your essay, 15 to 20 minutes for writing, and five to ten minutes for quick editing and revisions. Do not underestimate the power of planning. Create a good outline, and review your essay at least once before the deadline. This way, you can save valuable time by focusing on important areas of your essay.

Avoid writing too many paragraphs

Most SAT essays require students to write five paragraphs in 30 minutes, and while this may seem impossible, it’s not too far off. With a little planning and time management, a five-paragraph essay should be easily achievable. First, you must know how to answer the question, which will probably be directed by a question. The question could be a prompt or a quote that includes a question.

To estimate the number of paragraphs needed, think about the main points of the body text. Each of these should have at least one paragraph, though important points may require more. Ideally, a paragraph should contain at most three ideas, with a maximum of five paragraphs. However, if you have a long essay, you may need to break it up into a schematic view to determine how many sentences are necessary.

Avoid procrastinating

Good habits make life easier, and they also help you become more successful. Developing good habits is crucial for a healthy lifestyle and education. Here are some tips to help you avoid procrastinating when writing an essay in 30 minutes. Procrastinating is an unhealthy habit that can lead to frustration, poor quality work, and caffeine dependence. Therefore, you should be proactive in avoiding procrastination.

Set realistic goals. Setting too high goals may lead to procrastination. Make your deadline realistic and set yourself a timer. Having a deadline that is too close to a particular date or time will motivate you to put in the effort necessary to meet it. Aim for a deadline so that you know exactly how long it will take. You can always reschedule it if you feel you’ll be able to complete it in time.

Another way to avoid procrastinating when writing an exam essay is to make a time schedule. Make a note of how much time you have to write the essay. It will be easier to schedule your day accordingly. During the last few days before the deadline, you will be aware of how much time you have left for completing the task. Also, write down the dates of when you will submit the essay.

Self-discipline is essential for overcoming procrastination. Self-discipline is an essential skill that will allow you to overcome any problem that arises. Regular exercise and healthy food habits will also improve your discipline. This type of discipline can be beneficial in many other areas of your life. If you can stick to these habits, your life will be a happier, healthier place to be.

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How To Write an Essay Fast (Without Losing Quality)

• DESCRIPTION Laptop icon with how to write an essay 7 steps
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Essays on their own can be challenging, but timed essays add a whole other layer of difficulty. Whether you’re a high school student or a seasoned scholar, it’s easy to panic under pressure and forget all the basics of forming a thesis sentence. Relax! Whether you have a whole month or 30 minutes, you can write an engaging essay worthy of a great grade.

1. Read the Prompt and Write Down Your Immediate Reaction

This seems obvious, but the most important step in how to write an essay fast is to make sure you do actually read the prompt. Then read it again. Make sure you fully understand what it is asking of you. You don’t want to get 15 minutes into a draft and then realize that you’re not even addressing the themes in Romeo & Juliet or how the concepts of alienation and loneliness affect the characters in Of Mice and Men .

To truly make sure you get it, underline or highlight the main question(s) in the prompt. Take notes about what the question is actually asking you, and write down your immediate reaction to that question.

2. Plan Your Time Minute by Minute

Keep a very basic schedule or agenda in mind for how much time you invest in each part and process of your essay. 

For example, if you have 60 minutes total for your essay, you might follow this schedule:

Will you spend exactly 10 minutes on each section? Probably not, but keeping a basic plan in mind keeps you moving and prevents you from, say, spending 30 minutes on one paragraph.

Ideally, you won’t need all that time for each section, but try to stick to that schedule. If you have a shorter time limit, simply shorten each section a little, starting with the intro and conclusion paragraphs (where you don’t really need as much time). That might unfortunately mean having to omit certain examples or sentences you had in mind, but don’t let yourself linger. Sometimes you do have to kill your darlings.

3. Create a Very Basic Outline To Keep You Focused

There’s always time for an outline of your essay . However, unlike your typical essay outline, this doesn’t have to be particularly in-depth.

Writing down your thesis sentence , the key sentences for the body paragraphs, and a conclusion sentence ensures that your essay is well-organized upfront.

I. Thesis: This is my main opinion about the given prompt. II. Body Paragraph 1: First supporting argument      a. Idea illustrating that argument      b. Idea illustrating that argument III. Body Paragraph 2: Second supporting argument      a. Idea illustrating that argument      b. Idea illustrating that argument IV. Body Paragraph 3: Third supporting argument      a. Idea illustrating that argument      b. Idea illustrating that argument V. Conclusion: This is a concluding sentence that reiterates my thesis and hints at a larger idea related to the prompt.

4. Write Clearly but Don’t Get Caught Up on Grammar Rules

As you get into the actual crux of writing an essay, you should continue practicing good grammar, spelling, and punctuation to the best of your ability. At the same time, try not to get too bogged down in all the rules of a typical essay. 

If each paragraph doesn’t have three to five sentences, it’s totally fine. If the transitions between paragraphs are weak or nonexistent, don’t worry about it.

The key is presenting your thesis, supporting it as best you can, and ending the essay cohesively in the given amount of time. Anything else, while great to have, is extra.

5. Use Your Natural Voice

Even given the above, you can still write with a voice and style that is decidedly your own. Teachers, instructors, and exam evaluators are reading dozens, maybe even hundreds of these essays. Writing with a unique voice can help to break up the monotony for your teacher, and it can help you stand out from the crowd.

6. Edit and Revise With the Time That You Have

The schedule presented earlier included five minutes to edit and revise. You may have more; you may have less. Either way, you’ll never have enough time to do a full revision, so focus on small, quick changes over larger changes. Are all the commas and colons in the right places? Did you accidentally misspell a word ? Did you forget to capitalize ?

7. Hand in Your Essay and Adjust Your Expectations for Grading

Once you’ve handed in your bluebook or paper to your instructor, shake off those timed essay jitters. Keep in mind that teachers read and grade these timed essays with the understanding that they’ll be different from a normal essay.

Most of these essays are graded on actual content and word choice. If you did your best to form a coherent argument with solid ideas and examples, you can typically expect a good grade.

What Is a Timed Essay?

You’ll encounter timed essays or timed writing in numerous forms throughout your education. 

• High school teachers may have timed essays as a component of bigger exams. 
• In college, timed essays are common in midterms and finals. 
• While essays are no longer a part of the SAT, the ACT includes a 40-minute essay section. 
• AP exams also have essay or free response sections that vary in time based on the subject. For example, the AP English exam involves writing three essays in 2 hours 15 minutes.

For instructors, timed essays are an effective way to test your knowledge while forcing you to exercise your critical thinking and general writing skills. Timed essays are also more comprehensive than multiple choice and short-answer questions.

How Much Time Do You Have for Timed Writing?

Most timed essays will give you 30 minutes to one hour, though harsher teachers might give you just 20 minutes. Regardless of time, the writing process is still generally the same. A longer time limit gives you more time to prepare and edit.

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Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025: Kids tickets sold out for the weekend

Mr stevie: unboxing the ghost: part two, ‘bone voyage:’ reviewing episode 4 of disney plus’ ‘skeleton crew’, mr stevie: unboxing the ghost: part one, comic review: star wars ewoks (2024) 3, simon pegg and his love of star wars: “it was seismic, it’ll never happen again, ever”, harrison ford on conan o’brien, ravi cabot-conyers on skeleton crew season one: “you’re going to love it”, harrison ford on filming indiana jones: “it’s a dangerous work environment”, skeleton crew: jude law talks han, luke and leia: “i was certainly inspired by those characters”, comic review: star wars: battle of jakku – republic under siege #4, film and tv review: skeleton crew: ‘can’t say i remember no at attin’, comic review: star wars ewoks (2024) 2, comic review: star wars ewoks (2024) 1, best way to write an essay in under 30 minutes.

Sometimes, we have no choice but to do our best and write an essay in under 30 minutes. It sounds like a real hassle, and at times, it can be. There are many steps to write an essay, but even if you know them, the real thing you need to nail is how to write your essays faster. If you’re wondering how to write an essay quickly, or how to finish an essay in under 30 minutes flat, you’re in luck because we have compiled an excellent list of tricks to help you.

Tips to Write an Essay in Under 30 Minutes

To know how to write essays faster, read on:

Read the Essay Question

The most important thing you need to do before starting your essay is finding out precisely what topic you’ll be writing on. Read the question and then re-read it. This will help you understand better. Taking a pencil and underlining the keywords also helps. Keywords include actions words, like “describe” or “inform” that tell us the writing style we need to adopt, and other essential words or phrases like the subject under discussion, which is essentially the topic of the essay.

Research Your Essay

If you’re not cooped up in an exam hall and have internet access, you may find yourself researching the topic at hand. If you choose to do this, make sure you stick to the exact amount of time you have allowed yourself for it, be it 3, 5, or 10 minutes. The best way to do this is by searching up the underlined keywords from your question. For example, the question may be “describe the effects of climate change on polar bears,” in which case your online search keywords might be “climate change polar bears.”

Using only the keywords and cutting out extra words can help you type faster, and get better, accurate results. Don’t worry about perfect grammar during research-none of it really matters when you’re performing an online search!

Some students simply don’t have the time to do a research-based essay. While some essays are doable, others are more demanding, and finishing them before the due date can prove to be a real challenge. In such cases, many students go over well-known essay writing service ratings and choose a third-party academic writer to pen their essay for them. Before selecting a writer, though, it is important to go over their essay writing services reviews and see which writer best fits your criteria. Also, don’t forget to ask for prices beforehand!

Make a Plan Before You Start Writing

First, you need to know exactly how much time you have and divide it according to what you need to get done. When working within a 30-minute time-frame, consider dividing up your time like this: allot 5-10 minutes for planning and outlining 15 to 20 minutes for writing, and the remaining 5 minutes for quick revisions and editing.

Do not underestimate the power of planning and editing. If you start writing with a decent essay outline in place, your work will finish faster because you’ll have a clear idea of exactly what needs to be done. Finish off by taking the time out to review your essay-it can do wonders for your final product.

Set a Timer and Dissect Your Essay

If you’re still wondering how to write an essay fast , follow this advice: set a timer, especially if you have multiple things to do, like research, planning, and editing, apart from writing the essay itself. As highlighted in step 2, decide how long you want to spend on each task, and then set timers accordingly, so you don’t bleed into another time slot. Time management can make or break your essay, so be sure to do your best to keep those minutes under check!

How To Make Your Essay Stand Out

These are the tips that will help you complete your essay within 30 minutes. However, there is more to essay writing that just managing your time efficiently. Here are some professional tips on how to write an essay:

Brainstorm Your Thesis

Deciding on a solid thesis statement is vital because it sets the tone for your essay. The thesis statement contains the essence of the rest of your essay, so choose it wisely. A good thesis statement takes the question or topic at hand head-on without beating around the bush.

Write an Interesting Introduction

The thesis is generally a part of the introduction, namely the first line after your essay’s “hook,” which is a sentence used to grasp the reader’s attention. But there is more to an introduction than just the hook and thesis statement. Use the introduction to tell your reader the basics of the topic you’ll be covering so that when they read the body paragraphs, they’ll know what to expect from the rest of the essay.

Write Your Body

The body paragraphs tell the tale of your essay. They contain all the essential substance and context, and really help flesh out your writing. Your first body paragraph should discuss your strongest point alongside some examples to make it clearer to the reader. Try ending the paragraph with a one-liner conclusion that ties your paragraph back to your thesis statement. You can have as many body paragraphs as you need, but the typical amount is three, especially if you’re working within a tight time frame.

Conclusion Time

A good conclusion summarizes the essay and reinforces the statement. If your topic demanded you to “describe” and not “argue,” you may want to avoid giving a biased opinion in your conclusion.

Use these steps to write an essay to help you finish your work in 30 minutes. The additional writing tips will help you have the best essay of them all!

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How to Write a Timed Essay

Last Updated: August 10, 2021

This article was co-authored by Arash Fayz . Arash Fayz is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LA Tutors 123, an academic consulting and private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. Arash has over 10 years of educational consulting experience, managing the tutoring of students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to score higher on standardized tests and gain admission to their target schools. He has a BA in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. This article has been viewed 22,289 times.

Whether it be in a class or for a standardized test, students are often required to write a timed essay. Writing a timed essay is as much about organization and time management as it is about the quality of writing. Visit Step 1 to get started.

Divide Up Your Time

• Make sure the prompts wants you to write an essay and not just a simple short answer that could consist of a few sentences to one full paragraph.
• Pick a position/argument to organize your essay. Think in terms of the pros and cons of the arguments and what supporting details lead you to the facts you'd like to present in the essay.
• Jot down an outline on some scrap paper
• Write the essay based on the outline! Don't ever write without some notes and knowledge of the subject at hand.
• Proofread your essay. No reader ever wants grammatical and spelling errors to be present.
• Submit on time.

• Read and understand the prompt = 1.5 minutes
• Pick a position = 1.5 minutes
• Jot down an outline = 2 minutes
• Write = 21 minutes
• Revise = 3 minutes
• Submit = 1 minute

• Introduction: 3 minutes
• Paragraph 1: 6 minutes
• Paragraph 2: 5 minutes
• Paragraph 3: 5 minutes
• Conclusion: 2 minutes

During the Essay

Proofreading the Essay

Submitting the Essay

Expert Q&A

• Wear a wristwatch during your timed essay. Not every testing room will have a clock on the wall or a proctor who announces the time remaining at regular intervals. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't panic if you go over time on a particular section. You can make it up by going a little faster on the next section. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Pay special attention to the outlining at the beginning. If you have a solid structure and direction, the argument will seem focused and organized even if it has been written faster than you would do without a time limit. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Arash Fayz. Test Prep Tutor. Expert Interview. 1 November 2019.

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Michael McArdle

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