essay question

noun

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of essay question

: an examination question that requires an answer in a sentence, paragraph, or short composition

Recent Examples of essay question from the Web

Taylor said the application process included four essay questions and interviews with potential participants and their parents.

— ted slowik, Daily Southtown, "Slowik: Teens discover benefits of working summers in forest preserves," 27 June 2018
So read an essay question in this year’s gaokao, China’s university-entrance exam which was held in early June (anxious parents are pictured outside a test centre in the city of Shenyang; results have been announced in the past few days).

— The Economist, "Some Western universities see merit in China’s flawed exam," 28 June 2018
Earlier this year, the Columbus schools raised questions about computer scoring of third grade essays after noticing a large increase in the number of zero scores on essay questions.

— patrick o'donnell, cleveland.com, "Computers mis-grade 5,300 state tests after programming error by American Institutes for Research," 6 Apr. 2018
The three-part test will consist of a multiple choice section, three essay questions and a practical lab portion.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "Tinley Park High School student is a champion for chemistry," 5 Apr. 2018
The application form, teacher recommendations and essay question must be submitted to Jeri Penn, jeripenn@gmail.com, by Feb. 12.

— 'sam' boyer/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Tri-C offers visitation day in Brunswick: Whit & Whimsey," 2 Feb. 2018
Family finances and essay questions about the role music plays in the student's life comprise 70 percent of the overall score.

— staff report, Houston Chronicle, "Music Doing Good scholarships are available now for students," 18 Jan. 2018
Eassy web: For studying essay questions, teach your child to create a web with the question in the middle and ideas in additional circles around the main idea.

— staff, cleveland.com, "Comment here on cleveland.com court and crime stories for Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017," 29 Oct. 2017
They are selected based on their grades, an application that includes essay questions, and interviews.

— yvonne wenger, Washington Post, "University of Baltimore recruits top talent from historically black colleges," 21 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'essay question.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.