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my essay score was like 9
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<p>I'd be more impressed with an essay score of 10 or above. Scoring 9 on your essay means that one reader rated you a "5" while the other rated you a "4". 5 is ok but 4 is not.</p>
<p>"SCORE OF 5
An essay in this category demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery, although it will have occasional errors or lapses in quality.</p>
<p>SCORE OF 4
An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery, although it will have lapses in quality."</p>
<p>An essay score of 10 or above indicates that the student can write at the college level; whereas a score of 7 or below implies that the student probably has to take ESL. Scoring perfect 800's in SAT II won't change the fact that he can't write. </p>
<p>If an applicant has a low writing score and yet turns in an exceptional essay, the adcoms will have reasons to suspect that his essay has been heavily edited by others. The adcoms can ask to see his SAT essay to verify the style.</p>
<p>Like I said...I've seen many oversea students with SAT scores above 1450 or even 1500. The same students also had SAT II scores in the 750's or above, and a laundry list of awards and EC's. You are competing with them for the few seats at the Ivies.</p>