<p>So, my hand writing is terrible. I mean it's chicken scratch. So, I right in cursive now (been doing it for months, I actually been complemented that my hand writing was beautiful or something). My issue is that I am not consistently fast at writing in cursive. So I estimate it takes me 115% the time it takes for me to write in regular handwriting per word. I never had trouble finishing my essay on time, I usually have 10-5 minutes left over. Now, I also heard that cursive is a no-no when it comes to the essay. </p>
<p>So, cursive: go or no go?</p>
<p>Why don’t you try a practice SAT essay session with both, and see which one works best for you. Neatness won’t give or take points from your score, but if it’s illegible you won’t get a score. If it is much an improvement over your print legibility, then I’d use cursive. </p>
<p>p.s. 5 - 10 extra minutes? try slowing down if speed is putting your handwriting in the chicken coop.</p>
<p>82% of people who received 6/6 had cursive handwriting. However, if it will slow you down to write in cursive, then just write in print. If you have a solid opening paragraph, the readers will give you a good score. I have awful handwriting and managed to pull of a decent score relative to my writing ability. I probably could have gotten 1-2 points higher if I had written in cursive, but then I wouldn’t have finished, so my score would have been lower instead.</p>
<p>^ I doubt writing in cursive influences your essay score, although I did write in cursive and got a 10 on an essay that was unfinished. Hmmm…</p>
<p><.<</p>
<p>cursive is the way to perfection?
Woah, now I know what i’m doing.</p>
<p>2CHiLLaXiN: Could you please tell me where did you find these statistics? I’ve heard a lot of things about the SAT essay, but I’ve never seen anything like that…</p>
<p>Well, that’s what the teacher of my SAT prep class said…so I don’t have a confirmed source, sorry -_- So don’t take that exact statistic too seriously. But cursive handwriting really does help.</p>
<p>Legibility is more important than anything. If your essay can’t be easily read, then even the most brilliantly worded one won’t garner a point. Use whatever is easiest on the reader’s eyes.</p>