I 100% support memorised essays.
Without some kind of idea what your going to write before you go in there's no way you'll score really well. There's not enough time, especially if your competing against a heap of other people with memorised stuff.
Hmm.. i think by the time i got to year twelve i was sick of school. It was like this huge effort to get there early morning for maths ext. Probly shoulda tried a bit harder. O well its over now:D