ABSTRACT
Essay examinations encourage written organizational talents. Licensure candidates need to know specific facts and be able to present cogent summarizations. The essay examination requires the ability to think clearly, to organize pertinent points, and to write in a clear fashion. Essay examination affords the opportunity for the board of examiners to see each candidate’s individual command of the subject matter, and it affords the opportunity for candidates to reveal their individual strengths and weaknesses. To ensure against inconsequential study efforts, candidates should consider designing a portion of their study program to the essay examination. Whereas multiple-choice tests are designed so that candidates should conceivably recognize and select the best and most logical answer, essay examinations offer considerably more latitude. Needless to say, essay examinations are particularly vulnerable to alternative interpretations and solutions. Essay examinations offer candidates the opportunity to reveal individual excellencies and to reflect reasoning and organizational abilities.
