<p>So I thought I wrote a pretty good essay on the January SAT and I ended up with a 10/12.</p>
<p>Does anybody have a good method of scoring a 12 or any ideas on how to write a 12?</p>
<p>Also, can anyone who scored a 12 on the essay post his or her essay in this thread?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Throw big words, fill up two pages, use grand style.
Content and logic are the last to be concerned.</p>
<p>Remember, they read the essays in intervals of 30 seconds. </p>
<p>Do things to make your essay stand out: organized paragraphs, SAT word use here and there, and a strong conclusion. Find a good NYT article and first skim through it, then really read it. See what stood out to you and what didn’t; use this knowledge to improve your essay.</p>
<p>90% of essays longer than 400 words get 12/12. Also as in any essay, a witty or well organised “hook” at the beginning and at the end.</p>
<p>Everything that everyone previously mentioned will help! Also, you should introduce a counter argument and then undermine it if possible. Length, strong vocabulary, varied sentence structure and plenty of support and examples-that’s pretty much it!</p>
<p>You know, there is a thread entitled “How to score a 12 essay in just 10 days” that would help. Try the search.</p>
<p>And by the way, using lots of big words is counterproductive. If it flows, fine. If it doesn’t (which it usually doesn’t) then it usually comes off pretentious and unnecessary.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this is necessary, but the essays that I’ve gotten 12s on as opposed to the 10 I got had 3 examples (1 psychological research, 1 literary, 1 historical) as opposed to 2.</p>
<p>Does anyone have advice coming up with ideas effectively?</p>
<p>@dorky</p>
<p>Make them up. Works well.</p>
<p>Make your essay long and have two VERY strong examples. Go up to the last line, and don’t waste space on your conclusion (only have 1 sentence, 2 tops). Have a 3 - 4 sentence intro, where you generally address the broad issue and transition into your specific examples (and don’t be so cliche about it e.g. “This can be seen in… .” Try and come up with your own phrase e.g. “The turbulent European revolutions of 1848 are a testament to the power of will and force among discontent citizens.”). Know unique individuals, and know topics in depth. This especially works if you’re knowledgeable about history, as it’s easy to come across as impressive about a topic if you know a lot about it. You don’t have to go to two unique examples, and a literary example, in my opinion, isn’t the best idea simply because five - six sentences isn’t enough to connect it back to a broad idea. I said this before, but I’ll say it again: be unique. Have distinct, thoughtful examples.</p>
<p>There’s no need to come up with these on the spot. Just think about issues or fields you know a lot about and be prepared to connect it to a variety of topics. If you like science, think about what science consists of on a philosophical basis. If you like debate, try and go through some examples of the modern world. </p>
<p>Avoid politics by the way. Try and have modern world connections about every day events. Think about how people interact, how systems work, how we ebb in and out of each other’s lives. Be broad. This is an essay to see if you can tackle the general idea; you can get into the itty bitty details later. It’s easier, however, to talk about a topic if you know a lot about it, so be knowledgeable and thoughtful at the same time.</p>
<p>I got a 12/12 on the October essay. My topic was how disciple was important in maintaining freedom, and I discussed the Constitution and the law and how our freedoms are only maintained when there is a structure (whether it be a document or a police force) to enforce and regulate our limitations. It was a bit broad, but I made an effort to connect it to modern society. My other topic was science, where I talked about how scientific freedom (the idea of using science to pursue your scientific interests, however diverse they may be) requires discipline, particularly in experimenting. I talked about how an experiment must have a procedure and must be replicable (is that a word?), and discipline is the only way that scientists are allowed to pursue their interests and passions.</p>
<p>Probably one of the best threads around here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/645763-how-write-12-essay-just-10-days.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/645763-how-write-12-essay-just-10-days.html</a></p>
<p>Went from a 4 to an 11, just by using this method! I bet if I would have practiced a tad more and improved my voc, I could have easily gotten a 12</p>
<p>Best of lucks! :D</p>
<p>Use Roosevelt, Truman - it’s full-proof 11/12.</p>
<p>*fail proof. sorry loll</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Neither.</p>
<p>The correct expression is “foolproof.”</p>
<p>[foolproof</a> - definition of foolproof by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.](<a href=“Foolproof]foolproof - definition of foolproof]foolproof by The Free Dictionary”>Foolproof - definition of foolproof by The Free Dictionary)</p>
<p>[Foolproof</a> - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary](<a href=“http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foolproof]Foolproof”>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foolproof)</p>
<p>so this IS foolproof?</p>
<p>Hey, I was wondering if anyone could grade by SAT essay. I am practicing for the SAT in May and I want to see what kind of score I am hitting right now. I am willing to do anything back to get a reply or score. </p>
<p><em>Prompt: Sometimes it is necessary to challenge what people in authority claim to be true. Although some respect for authority is, no doubt, necessary in order for any group or organization to function, questioning the people in charge - even if they are experts or leaders in their fields - makes us better thinkers. It forces all concerned the defend old ideas and decisions and to consider new ones. Sometimes it can even correct old errors in thought and put an end to wrong actions.
Assignment: Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in authority?</em></p>
<p>Essay:</p>
<p>Freedom! How often art thou taken for granted! How often art thy shackles shattered in vain!
Our authorities may be the people we put in charge and the very citizens we delegate tasks to, but these figures of authority are solely figureheads that we, as people of the democratic United States of America, put in control. Thus, it is not only suggested but compulsory to question the ideas and decisions of people in authoritarian positions so that not only are our best interests represented through the process, but over-reaching government procedures can be curbed and rectified through the process as well.
Time and time again, the maxim “Don’t tread on me” has exemplified its virtue by the annals of history. During the planning of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, President John F. Kennedy vehemently supported his gung-ho plan of invading Cuba to stop a communist missile threat imposed by the Soviet Union. It was a day that was to go into infamy; the day the Bay of Pigs invasion failed. Later, members of Kennedy’s chief of staff and administration went on the record saying that they vehemently believed that the Bay of Pigs invasion was a bad idea. Even Robert Kennedy, the President’s brother and then-senator of Massachusetts, stated that he detested the “failure of a mission” ever since its conceptual origins. Yet, in 1961 the aides of the President showed consensus and validated the President’s soon-to-be botched plan.
It is evident from the aforementioned case that the Kennedy administration fell prey to the error of groupthink [sic], a psychological phenomenon which exemplifies a group following an authority figure simply to obey and not prolong a process, even if the cause were to cause cognitive dissonance. If at least one man, a single man, had stood up and raised his doubts about the poorly-planned invasion, other people would have been more likely to step into the conversation and possible expose some of the other flaws in the President’s planning. Instead, authority was not questioned, causing a reaction of two-fold consequences. In this case, the administration’s best interests were not represented in a democratic setting and an improper decision was made among the authorities. In such a situation, the only logical result would be a trickle-down of negative consequences with dire implications, much like the tense Cold War aftermath of the Bay of Pigs invasion itself.
As Americas, we live in a democracy that puts an emphatic focus on the primacy of the people. By questioning authority and taking on an active political stance, we can not only ensure that our best interests are represented but also that we fulfill our responsibility of ensuring the progress of our democratic country.</p>
<p>What score do you think it will get? This is my essay, as is.</p>
<p>the irony in “full-proof”</p>
<p>I think you’re going a bit too far. If you already got a 10, the colleges know you can write. Keep in mind that each reader gave you a 5/6, indicating that you’re up there, but not quite among the best. Who really cares? A few years from now, no institution will reject or accept you based on a few points in the writing section of the SAT.</p>
<p>hi all, </p>
<p>Just took the March SAT, and I received an 800 in Writing, with a 12 essay. The first time I took SAT (without studying), I only got a 620 in Writing, so that shows that you really can study for the writing section, and improve much. I recommend going through all the blue book writing sections, and seeing what errors you made and realizing why you made them (there’s only a limited amount of ways they can make a writing question, so the more you do, the more accustomed you are to them). With grammar, I started off going on sparknotes, and reading through the most common grammar rule and questions.
For the essay, the first time, I got a 10, but that was without having a certain plan, and just writing what I thought of right then. For the second time, I made a plan. I had an opening ready, so all I had to do was insert a hook, and the examples I would be using. And for my main points, I did what most people who get 12s do- come up with them before hand! If you do that, you won’t even have to think before writing the essay. I also pretty much made up all of my examples.
For example, I took a real life topic (like the battle of Penghu), researched it enough to get the basic background info. - like when it occurred, with who, etc. (and be sure that it is really detailed, it makes it sound like you really know what you’re talking about, and therefore makes it more believable). From the background info. though, I diverged into a specific topic that could be molded into anything. In this case, it was a war general. For pretty much any topic you get on the SAT, you can mold a war general into a very persuasive argument. My topic was “do details play a role in decision making”. I said that it did- the war general payed very close decision to the details in his camp, and from those details, realized there was a traitor, caught him, found out where the enemy was, attacked, and won the battle. (This was all completely made up and has no historical accuracy)
All you have to do is make a couple of those good examples, and whala… you have a 12!
Also, the introduction is more important than the conclusion. Make sure you have a strong introduction, especially the thesis. In my essay, my conclusion was only 2 sentences.
And reminder, on the SAT, longer is better. If you can, try to write until the absolute last line. I even had to start writing super small to fit mine in.</p>
<p>P.S. Use some good SAT words in the mix. But not too many. If you use too many, it seems like you are trying too hard. In mine, I think I might have only used like 3 or 4 nice words, but I used them in a way that showed I really knew what they meant, and that really added oomph to the essay.</p>
<p>Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>If you need anymore help, try checking out this website:[[GUARANTEED</a> 12] How to write a 12 essay with Fake Examples [GUARANTEED 12]](<a href=“http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic68493.html][GUARANTEED”>http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic68493.html)<br>
This is where I got my basic format, but I made sure to take out the “my opinion” parts, and parts that used “I”. In an SAT essay, try to stay away from personal pronouns, for they take away from the persuasiveness of the essay. I also took out the part that rephrased the question. That’s bad, bad ,BAD!</p>
<p>And finally, try to get 3 good examples for the essay. I know 25 minutes is short, but having 3 good examples improves your chances of getting a 12 immensely.</p>