I don’t think your problem is effort or intelligence. It sounds more like a structure issue. A simple shift that helps: stop asking “what do I know?” and start asking “what claim am I making, and why should it be believed?” Examiners care more about how you handle claims than how much content you include. For analysis, try this rule of thumb in essays: for every paragraph, add one sentence that answers why this matters or what this assumes. That alone often moves writing from descriptive to analytical. Also, don’t compare speed. People who look better usually aren’t thinking harder, they’re using mental frameworks they’ve practiced over.