<p>Many colleges say, because the new SAT is only in its first year of progress, that they will place less emphasis on the Writing section and focus on the verbal and math components...</p>
<p>Now, for a student like myself who has taken the old SAT and the old Writing SAT II subject test, will colleges go by the similar principle and not place much emphasis on my SAT II subject Writing test. I got a 640 on the writing test but my verbal and math are 700 plus and my SAT II subject tests (4, excluding writing) are also 720 plus. So I hope that the 640 will be looked upon less even though it is not the new SAT. Dont you guys think this is fair?</p>
<p>Colleges that require SAT IIs will continue to take seriously the old SAT II Writing. That's because they have had plenty of experience with that test and know what the scores mean.</p>
<p>The reason that colleges are not emphasizing the writing section of the new SAT is that it is not yet normed and it hasn't been around long enough for colleges to know what the score means.</p>
<p>yeah, but what is the vague meaning of "what does that score mean" Obviously, if you get an 800, you better be ready to contribute to the university's school newspaper! If so that they do not know what it means, I would just simply argue that they should also not consider SAT II writing Subject Test because in my case, it hurts me as I am being compared to those SAT kids who got a 580 in Writing or a 500. I am must making a valid point.</p>
<p>"yeah, but what is the vague meaning of "what does that score mean" Obviously, if you get an 800, you better be ready to contribute to the university's school newspaper!"</p>
<p>Sorry, you're missing the point. An 800 SAT II writing score no more means what you suggest than getting an 800 SAT Math IIC score means that a student must major in engineering.</p>
<p>Interesting post----Do NOT, for one minute, believe that colleges are going to look at writing less seriously because of the new SAT structure. Ivy's and elite LAC's are always going to put a strong emphasis on good writers in their admissions procedures. That was always one of the most important SAT II's and will remain as important with it as a component of the new SAT I. Good writers mean good readers and thinkers. Critical thinking is the component that those colleges look for; someone who can and will contribute to society after graduating from their institution. Don't fall for the malarky!</p>
<p>I can't remember all of the differences. One major difference is that colleges get to see the essays that students write. The essays are written in 20 minutes to a generic prompt. It's not clear how such essays demonstrate students' abilities to write the kind of papers and exams that colleges require.</p>
<p>You can find detailed info about the SAT I writing section on the collegeboard.com site. The College Board has said that the cr and math sections on the new SAT I can be compared directly with the scores on the earlier edition of the SAT I. According to the CB, however, the new writing section differs greatly from the SAT II writing and can't be directly compared to it.</p>
<p>the only difference i can tell is in terms of time. In SAT II, you have an hour solely on Writing. In SAT I, you have 4 hours in addition to the other CR and maths section.</p>
<p>and also, probably not important, SAT II Writing gives you 30 mintues to write while new SAT gives you only 25. :)</p>
<p>But still, when colleges...i.e. Colgate, Notre Dame- top institutions, say that they will place less emphasis, I just think that pretty much Writing should not be looked upon in general just so that it can be fair for everyone. Its like saying, ok, you guys can go ahead and get a C on your paper and we wont count it, but if you get a C, we will use it against you.</p>
<p>I hope that my argument is clear coming from a student's perspective.</p>
<p>No, I don't think it's like saying "go ahead and get a C on your paper and we wont count it, but if you get a C, we will use it against you", I think what they are saying--and we're all guessing--is that they are not expecting a 4.0uw applicant with four years of honors/AP English classes to apply with a 420 on the Writing section and that any score close to an expected range will do for now. I also think they are saying that an 800 on the Writing test will not make up for four years of C's in regular English and a 500 on CR and three terrible application essays. I think "less emphasis" is just that. Less.</p>
<p>My rule of thumb. If a college requires essays (believe it or not, some don't!)
they'll look at all your writing scores and compare it to the essays you wrote. If there's a mismatch, all kinds of red flags go up ... they may think
somebody else wrote your essay for you if your essays read so much better
than your writing scores. If your writing scores are so much better than
the essays you wrote, they'll throw out the whole package, scores
essays and all.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My rule of thumb. If a college requires essays (believe it or not, some don't!)
they'll look at all your writing scores and compare it to the essays you wrote. If there's a mismatch, all kinds of red flags go up ... they may think
somebody else wrote your essay for you if your essays read so much better
than your writing scores. If your writing scores are so much better than
the essays you wrote, they'll throw out the whole package, scores
essays and all.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I really hope this isn't true. I got a 7 on the SAT I Writing essay, but I feel my application essays better reflect my writing ability. I did not have anyone else write them for me, but will a 7 essay may colleges think otherwise? Overall, I got a 670 on the writing section, and an 800 on CR, and I've always had high grades in English classes. I'm also submitting two articles I've written for my school newspaper, both of which are about the same quality as my application essays. How will this look to top LACs and some Ivies?</p>
<p>This is my two cents.
I think a mid quarter A grade in your AP English literature class can
help offset your SAT1 writing score ... assume you have an A in Honors
English or AP English language or whatever your school calls it.
Your mileage will vary school to school.</p>
<p>I really don't see how anyone can compare 25-minutes worth of expository writing to something that a student had months to craft, particularly considering how "personality" can easily be left out of the SAT writing sample but most definitely needs to shine through in the application essay. </p>
<p>My daughter's "10" SAT essay did its job and was dull as dirt. Her first draft of her first college app essay did the job too and was also dull as dirt. Then she spent a month bringing it to life. The first draft was really just her getting everything down on paper in some sort of order. It took work to find her "voice" and get it in there. </p>
<p>If you compared the SAT "10" writing sample to the finished product of her application essay, you might wonder if the same kid wrote both. But if you were scoring the finished product of the college app essay, it would probably get a 10. Both are adequate, reasonably well written, no obvious mistakes, and different as night and day.</p>
<p>I got an 8 on my essay, but I really don't think I'm a bad writer, I've got AP scores and grades to back me up, too. I also think while my application essays won't be brilliant, they'll indicate something higher than an 8. So I hope that isn't a "red flag" or anything. :-</p>
<p>yea... i definitely hope colleges wont throw out my app essays bc my writing score is low. i can get a 5 on the AP Lang, but I cant write an SAT essay =/</p>
<p>I think you'll be fine ... so long as you have more evidence of your writing
skills than simply the essays. 5's in AP tests, A's in English classes,
stuff you got published could all work for you. So could SAT scores,
esp for USC and UC's (read California).</p>
<p>the way they grade the SAT writing essay is so random, i would hope colleges realize this. Even the greatest writers may not be able to score a 12 on an essay they wrote according to a prompt the College board churned out in 25 minutes.
I think a better way to see if the application essays were not authentic would be their english grades and teacher recs. The SAT essay is just rubbish.</p>
<p>a good essay, A in english APs (or equivalent) will help to offset a low Writing score. schools know that in 25 minutes there's not much you can do to churn out a masterpiece.</p>