"The SAT’s optional essay section provides test-takers with 50 minutes to compose a response to a given passage.
At first glance, 50 minutes may seem like ample time to complete this task, but the SAT requires high school students to use several skills, such as reading comprehension, analysis and synthesis, to name just three. Any one of the steps necessary to write the essay may set you back precious minutes, especially if you do not have a plan in place.
It is important to note that the SAT essay is optional, and an increasing number of schools no longer require it as part of the application process. But if you intend to sit for the SAT essay, here are guidelines on how much time to allot to each writing task on test day to help you excel." …