1. Relax: You know what an essay is. You know that it has an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Thus you know what kind of organizational structure is required. You have done essays before, and you know what you're doing now.

2. Read the Question Thoroughly: Underline important words to ensure that you are answering all parts of the question being asked. For example: Give three reasons for. . .; Compare and contrast two heroes. . .; Analyze the structure of the hero's journey. Make sure you understand what the question asks. If not, ask your instructor to clarify this for you.

3. Thesis / Main Point: Develop a thesis or main idea before you begin writing. You need to have some idea where you are heading with your essay. It is important to have a clear main idea if the essay is to be productive.

4. Develop a Quick Outline: Take a few minutes to organize your thoughts. You will want to have three or four ideas (paragraphs) that support your main idea. Also, choose an example or two to clarify each of your supporting ideas. Taking a few minutes to develop an outline can save you a lot of frustration. You won't be bumbling along with your writing trying to figure out what to say, you will already have done this. The outline will also help keep you on topic and allow you to monitor your time usage.

5. Brief Introduction: You don't have time to develop the perfect introduction. Develop a brief introduction that clearly states your thesis, then move on to the essay itself. You don't have enough time to worry about that perfect first sentence. Let that go!

6. Follow Your Outline. You have taken the time to develop your plan, so follow it. Be sure that each paragraph has clear, descriptive, specific examples to illustrate the point. Be sure that each paragraph has a topic sentence and a smooth transition into the next idea.

7. Conclusion: Write a brief conclusion that summarizes your main points and/or provides some insight on your topic. Don't introduce any new ideas. If you find yourself running short on time at the end, be sure you have a conclusion of some kind, even if this means you have to drop one of your paragraphs. The essay that just stops and doesn't have a conclusion will rarely earn a passing grade.

8. Edit: Try to allot 5-10 minutes at the end to edit your essay. Check your punctuation, spelling (take a dictionary), and word choice, and make any necessary changes. This should be the last thing you do. Don't try to edit while you are getting your ideas out. That will just slow you down.

9. Time Management: Pay attention to the time. Don't spend all of your time on your introduction and first paragraph and then skimp on the rest. Do your best to give equal time to each paragraph. 

10. Tell Yourself "Good Job.": If you can honestly say you did the best you could under pressure, then pat yourself on the back and let it go!

Keep in mind that the more you do writing until time pressure, the better you will get at it. It is important to develop proficiency and comfort with this because most universities have a timed writing exam that is part of the graduation requirement. If you don't pass the writing proficiency, you can't graduate. Timed writings are going to continue to be a part of your academic reality, so learning to deal with them comfortably is important.