<p>I'm going to be taking the ACT for the 3rd time this Saturday, but it'll be my first time taking it with the essay. </p>
<p>I'd love some tips on writing an essay that'll score at least a 9! Thanks!</p>
<p>One thing that a lot of people miss is that the ACT wants you to provide counter arguments in the essay. I had a 2 point increase in my essay when I added it in.
In reality, dont try to make the essay anything special with weird structure etc. A standard 5-6 paragraph essay with an intro, thesis, counter, body, and conclusion will get you at least a 9 or ten. Make sure you make well thought out ideas and address the complexity of the issue. I also believe that bring in examples, including personal accounts, helps.</p>
<p>Ooh, okay. Thanks.
So my counter-argument should come first? </p>
<p>What I’m thinking is trying to write it like this:
Intro paragraph with thesis.
Counter-argument with examples that go against it.
My side of the argument with examples that support it.
Conclusion. </p>
<p>So basically, I’ll have an intro, then a paragraph to point out disadvantages or whatever, then a paragraph to back my stance up, and then finally wrap it up.
Would that be okay?</p>
<p>I would extend the part about backing your stance up another paragraph or so, but yes, that format is fine.</p>
<p>Ah, okay.
Thank you!</p>
<p>As kai427 said, 2 supporting paragraphs would be sufficient. Anything less might be putting a 9/10 on the line.</p>
<p>About how many pages will suffice for a 11+? I’ve heard that the ACT almost always requires at least three pages to get into the top tier of scores, as opposed to the SAT. Can people who got 11s or 12s discuss how many pages they wrote to get those scores? Thanks.</p>
<p>When I got a 11, I wrote 3.5 pages
When I got a 12, I wrote 3 (ish) pages
When I got a 10, I wrote 3.5 pages</p>
<p>^ Thanks. Any more input from people who scored 11+?</p>
<p>Is it acceptable if one makes up facts like on the SAT?</p>
<p>Wow.
3 pages?
I’m not sure if I’ll even get through 2 pages.
I guess I’ll just write big, cross a lot of things out, and…
I dunno what else. Hah.</p>