<p>Hey guys I was hoping that those of you who got top essay scores could reveal some of your secrets to the rest of us who didnt do so well (i got a 9). </p>
<p>Futhermore, do you think I could read some of your 12 essays????
I really want to see what a 12 looked like on the SAT. </p>
<p>I am absolutely fed up with essays in books and online essay scorers since I always got 12s on those and when it really counted I got a 9.</p>
<p>Fill the two pages.</p>
<p>i got a 9 too and on the pratcie online tests i got a 12...boo hoo</p>
<p>I filled the two pages and they gave me a 9. It's more complicated that filling the pages.</p>
<p>i did close to 2 pages, (1 3/4) and got a 8. i never worry about the essay</p>
<p>I filled the pages and got a 12. It was complete BS.</p>
<p>filled the two pages
used three good examples
have nice handwriting that is legible</p>
<p>1.5 pages. Really really neat handwriting. 3 examples, 2 okay, 1 crappy (ethan frome).</p>
<p>I thought I got a 10... that's what my online practice one said. I was (pleasantly?) surprised.</p>
<p>So your essay looked like this?</p>
<p>Introduction
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Conclusion</p>
<p>Am I correct?</p>
<p>I got an 11...close enough.</p>
<p>My essay looked like:
Intro WITH THESIS
Example 1
Example 2
Conclusion</p>
<p>Tips on getting a really high score...</p>
<ol>
<li>Make the thesis statement clear, and easy to find.</li>
<li>Use 2 good or 1 REALLY GOOD examples. 3 is realistically not feasible given the amount of time you get.</li>
<li>Make the handwriting neat and legible.</li>
<li>If at all possible, try to use LITERARY or HISTORICAL examples.</li>
<li>Include a few big words here and there.</li>
<li>I would say fill as much of the space as possible. I left two lines (yes count it, TWO) blank.</li>
<li>Write, write, write, write and WRITE. If you get stuck, include a bunch of facts.</li>
<li>In your conclusion, add in a nice summary.</li>
<li>Your essay is graded in 3 minutes (1.5x2 graders). IMPRESS THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Make conspicuous use of big words, complex sentence structures, and elaborate literary devices as much as possible.</li>
</ol>
<p>If anyone wants a copy of my essay, PM me and tell me your email. I'll send it as an attachment.</p>
<p>i agree with ihateCA. Use up most of the space, vary up sentence structure a bit, some good vocab but most importantly have a GOOD THESIS (it doesnt have to be complex but it is essential). Also, since the essays are graded so quickly i think ending on a nice touchy feely summaryish note really helps the readers want to give you a five. Finally, I don't know how important good handwriting really is... i got a 12 and if you want to see my essay (just pm and give me an email to attach it to) you'll notice that handwriting sucks. </p>
<p>Best of Luck!</p>
<p>i got 12 on the essay and mine was only like one and half pages</p>
<p>basically if you write some thing intellgiently and insightfully, you will be fine</p>
<p>I used up all the space available and still got a 9! In fact, I had to erase and write a bit smaller at the end to make it all fit!!! ARGHHH!!!
I cant take this bs, my essay was so good!!! What did I do wrong?????</p>
<p>I got a 12 on the essay.</p>
<p>Really, I think it just depends on how good a writer you are. However, there are some things that I think you can do to help maximize your score:</p>
<p>1) Spend as little time brainstorming as possible. Set a limit and when that time is up, no matter what you have in mind, start writing. I even like to think as I'm writing my introduction.
2) Pick good examples. Try to vary them. I did one literature and one history.
3) Make your introduction and conclusion the strongest paragraphs. Readers don't spend considerable time on each essay, so begin and end on a strong note.
4) Use good vocabulary, but DO NOT go out of your way to use fancy words. This is just immature.
5) Fill up the two pages. It's not that difficult, I filled up every line and still had 6 minutes left at the end to revise and edit.
6) Stick to a formulaic approach. In school, I try to add some color and stylistic devices to my essays, but for the SAT, keep it simple. Intro, Body 1, Body 2, Conclusion.
7) In terms of your thesis, don't make it too fancy and rambling. A short, STRONG statement is best. For example: Indeed, it is necessary to change our ideas, opinions, and behaviors in order to better adapt to the situation at hand.</p>
<p>I got a 12 and I suck at writing. (I'm the math/science nerd who sleeps in English class.) You do NOT have to be a good writer in my opinion to get a 12. Just follow these basic techniques:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Review one VERY specific subject VERY thoroughly. (You can adapt pretty much any subject to the prompt.) The readers like concrete facts, dates, and quotes. (I did mine on Dr. Norman Borlaug, a plant pathologist.)</p></li>
<li><p>Use large words; show off your vocabulary.</p></li>
<li><p>Use LOTS of transition words.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>When I made my essay, I had 3 paragraphs: an introduction, a body with only 1 main, but vivid, example, and a conclusion (always end the essay by "looking into the future"). My essay was around 1.5 pages.</p>
<p>Yeah PM me if you want to read my essay by the way.</p>
<p>Yeah mine was classic 5 paragraph format. I'm a decent writer (thus my syntax diction etc was pretty good) but I completely blanked out as far as examples went.</p>
<p>I think you just have to impress them. They'll let content slide a little if you have a good writing style, and probably vice versa.</p>
<p>I was thrilled with my 12 essay since I got a disappointing 9 the first time I took the SAT....</p>
<p>Things I did in my essay:
1. Opened with an introductory paragraph instead of simply a one sentence thesis (I did have a thesis, but I also included a small introduction before I wrote the thesis).
2. I used only two examples (one literary and one historical)
3. I memorized a few great vocabulary words that I could throw into my essay when appropriate
4. I made my conclusion short and sweet; it was 1-2 sentences long. I didn't stretch it out at all (not that I could have, I was running out of room on the second page).</p>
<p>To prepare for the essay BEFORE I had to write it, I compiled a list of great literary works to refer to in case I could use one or two in my essay.... For example, The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, Animal Farm by George Orwell...You know, the classics...</p>
<p>I got a 12 on the essay, which made me very happy. I also filled up ALL the space to the very bottom. In fact, I wish the Writing section counted the essay more, since my writing section was still only a 700 overall.</p>
<p>My essay (12):</p>
<ul>
<li>Introductory Paragraph with clearly ordered thesis at the end (you must take a stand! Like, if it asks if you think you need to devote your life to one thing to be successful, say you either agree/disagree and have your controls support this)</li>
<li>One control from an example in history</li>
<li>One control from an example in personal experience</li>
<li>One for an example in your personal life</li>
</ul>
<p>I had no conclusion.</p>
<p>Write legibly, and use good vocabulary and advanced sentence structure. Make sure you explain how each of your examples from your life, history, or literature (well known literature!) reflects the stance you took in your thesis. </p>
<p>YOU CAN MAKE THINGS UP. I made up both my personal experience and a historical event. Ok, so I don't really recommend making up a historical event. You might get a history teacher reading your essay. But if you are writing about the Babylonians or something and you need to twist the event a little to fit your thesis, I think it's ok ;). </p>
<p>The whole point is to convince them your stance on the issue is the right one. Accuracy is irrelevant. Haha.</p>