Planning Under Pressure

With only 40 minutes for Section B, the temptation is to start writing immediately. This is a mistake. Spending 5 minutes planning before you write will produce a substantially better essay than diving straight in. A plan gives your essay direction, prevents you from running out of things to say, and ensures your argument has a logical structure.

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Why Planning Matters

Candidates who skip planning typically encounter one or more of these problems:

• Meandering arguments — Without a roadmap, the essay drifts from point to point without clear direction
• Repetition — The same idea is stated in slightly different ways because the candidate has not thought ahead
• Missing counterarguments — The candidate forgets to address the other side because they are focused on generating content in the moment
• Weak conclusions — The essay ends abruptly because the candidate runs out of time or ideas
• Structural imbalance — One point receives three paragraphs while another important point gets one sentence

The Paradox of Planning: Spending 5 minutes planning saves you more than 5 minutes of writing time, because you write faster and more confidently when you know where you are going.

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The 5-Minute Planning Technique

Here is a structured approach to planning that fits within a 5-minute window. Practise this technique until it becomes automatic.

Minute 1: Formulate Your Thesis

Your thesis is your answer to the question in one clear sentence. It should:

• State your position unambiguously
• Be specific enough to argue for, but broad enough to sustain a full essay
• Avoid hedging language like "it depends" or "there are pros and cons"

Example question: "Should the voting age be lowered to 16?"

Weak Thesis	Strong Thesis
"There are arguments on both sides of this debate."	"The voting age should be lowered to 16, because young people are directly affected by political decisions and have demonstrated the capacity for informed political engagement."
"It depends on the circumstances."	"Lowering the voting age to 16 would strengthen democracy by increasing civic participation and ensuring that policies affecting young people reflect their interests."

Tip: Your thesis does not need to be the position you personally hold. Choose the position you can argue most effectively.

Minutes 2–3: Generate Supporting Points

Identify two or three supporting arguments for your thesis. For each one, note:

• The point itself (one phrase)
• One piece of evidence or example you can use

You are not writing full sentences — just quick notes.

Example plan notes:

Point	Evidence/Example
Young people are affected by policy (education, climate, employment)	Climate protests led by young activists; education policy directly impacts under-18s
16-year-olds already have significant responsibilities	Can work, pay tax, join armed forces, consent to medical treatment
Early voting creates habitual civic engagement	Scottish independence referendum allowed 16-year-olds to vote; turnout was high

Minute 4: Identify Your Counterargument

Think of the strongest objection to your thesis and note how you will respond to it.

Example:

• Counterargument: 16-year-olds lack the maturity and knowledge to make informed political decisions
• Rebuttal: Maturity is not guaranteed at any age; many adult voters are poorly informed, yet we do not remove their right to vote. The solution to political ignorance is better civic education, not disenfranchisement.

Minute 5: Outline Your Structure

Sketch a brief outline showing the order of your paragraphs: