800 SAT Writing Tips

<p>Ok there is alreday a thread about Cr but i really need help with the writing section, not even so much the essay more so the Multiple choice question, please if anyone is consistently scoring above a 750 give your tips about the MCQ's in the writing section.</p>

<p>DON"T HOLD BACK IT DOESN"T HURT YOU BUT CAN HELP ANOTHER</p>

<p>we can have an open discussion on tips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>use barrons 2400 and barrons writing workbook...works pretty good...gets you to about 2-5 wrong on the MC</p>

<p>Practice, practice, practice...seriously!</p>

<p>I utilized Barron's 2400. You just get good after a while. You notice all the small things.</p>

<p>^ I totally agree. Practice will make you perfect. You just simply notice the errors...but be careful...don't notice errors that aren't there (my problem).</p>

<p>(Copying from my post on another thread)</p>

<p>Essay: most important is a STRONG STRUCTURE. Start with an intro (reiterating the prompt), two examples (make them up if need be, I always do that: My uncle always used to spend his money on his passion for painting or some stupid made-up-on-the spot example that's relevant), and strong concluding paragraph that once again restates your thesis AND ties it in to some other, broader topic. Structure, structure, structure, and of course strong writing (but it doesn't have to be exemplery) and grammar.</p>

<p>MC: Ok, here's the way I helped my friend study. Most of these MC questions, especially the type where you find the one word that's wrong in the sentence, follow the same type of formula. Many of them try to trick you by making subject-verb disagreement, then filling in the space between the subject and the verb with a really long prepositional clause that confuses you.</p>

<p>Example: Every pet belonging to doctors of the neurological branch of medicine are spotted.</p>

<p>This is a VERY simplistic version, but the main point is that 'pet' and 'are' do not go together. However, someone could easily be tricked because that prepositional phrase 'to doctors of...' makes them think that 'doctors' and 'are' agree, so the sentence is correct. Many MC problems follow this sort of setup. (Like instead of subject-verb disagreement, it might incorrectly compare 'Jane Austen's BOOKS' with 'Charles Dickens', but again insert that long, distracting phrase in the middle to throw you off.)</p>

<p>So try to block out all that pointless stuff in the middle of a sentence and concentrate on the main particles that matter. I've helped my friend raise her SAT Writing by about 60 points this way.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, I have an 800 on writing, so if you want to know if I'm trustworthy.</p>

<p>EDIT: And here's an actual question that follows that same tricky format: After hours of futile debate, the committee
has decided to postpone further discussion
of the resolution until their next meeting.</p>

<p>Practice WILL make you prefect (or atleast really really good). The questions only test a handful of concepts so when you grasp those concepts, you can easily ace the MCQ portion.</p>

<p>anyone else please don't hold back on the advice pour it out please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>Other than memorizing grammar rules</p>

<p>PAY ATTENTION AND CHECK YOUR WORK. A lot of us get easily bored and tired of checking our work especially on boring writing sections...but I got my 800 by checking my answers. In the writing section, answers jump out at you (identify sentence error, etc.)
The SAT writing sections are extremely predictable and formulaic. If you practice using the blue book, you WILL BE FINE. No need to go out and buy random practice books.</p>

<p>MC: Just study up on grammar rules with Barron's or Kaplan's. They really don't test all that many rules. Practice till you get about 0-2 wrong on each section. The real test seemed a lot easier than the practices imho.</p>

<p>Essay: really not as important as everyone says. if you get a perfect MC you only need a 9 on the essay for an 800. just fill up every single line with whatever you want and you will get a 10 at least. </p>

<p>i got 780 btw</p>

<p>Keep those coming! I managed good scores in Verbal and Math but my Writing had been stuck at 690 (-5 MC, 10 essay). I'm really hoping to raise it to 750+ this time.</p>

<p>is the highest essay score 12?</p>

<p>kennyk616: Yes, the highest possible score is a 12. Two people read your essay, grade it on a scale from 1-6, and then the two scores are combined.</p>

<p>ACTUALLY, the new SAT I writing questions are getting more "fickle," so to say. The questions, obstensibly, are more difficult than those from previous tests. I suggest studying from previous SAT tests and the blue book. I trust no other "outsider," despite claims that Barron's is pretty good.</p>

<p>bump anyone keep responding and please give specific techniques not just what books to use but how you individually did it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>I just took a blue book practice test. I got 2 wrong. I got a 560 on W with a 9E. If you can write decently (and get a 10 or so), all you have to do is practice practice and practice. Eventually, you'll get the hang of it.</p>

<p>please keep it comming in details !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>What I did was buy Princeton Review's SAT book. I took all the practice tests inside, and for every Writing question, I read the explanation in the back of the book. This helped me out immensely with the grammar rules.</p>

<p>Also, I wouldn't waste time practicing your essay. I didn't, and I don't know how you would really have anyone to grade it out of 12 for you. As long as you're a moderately good writer and you can back up your opinion with evidence, you should do well on the essay. I only got a 9, but since I aced the multiple-choice, which is more heavily weighted, I scored an 800.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also, I wouldn't waste time practicing your essay. I didn't, and I don't know how you would really have anyone to grade it out of 12 for you. As long as you're a moderately good writer and you can back up your opinion with evidence, you should do well on the essay. I only got a 9, but since I aced the multiple-choice, which is more heavily weighted, I scored an 800.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That's an interesting piece of advice. Thanks.</p>

<p>For the MC bit, I memorized all the grammar rules. That pretty much is the key i guess :S And I know the princeton review says not to "read aloud" the answers in ur head, but it worked for me. i got 780.</p>

<p>how did u memorize them like how do u memorize the idioms and etc???????????????????????????</p>