<p>So i remember my teachers telling me that for state tests, if you can't think of a good example to support your argument, just make up a random book or personal experience. I thought this tip was genius. I could mold any story or made up experience into fitting my argument. But since I havent actually taken my official SATs, im not sure if it would be wise to "make something up"? In no way am i trying to avoid practicing for the essay and researching examples by making stuff up, but what if I'm absolutely stumped. What if i cant think of a good example, or cant remember it ( because of the time pressure)? </p>
<p>Is it safe to make something up as a last resort. And if i do make something up, and the grader reading my essay is absolutely certain i made a book or personal experience up, will my essay receive lower score?</p>
<p>It is more than safe, the graders are told to ignore factual inaccuracies. Many people have gotten 11’s an 12’s using this strategy. Just don’t make the examples clearly made up and I also suggest coming up with a couple of names and stuff before hand to make the process during the exam easier as I find making up good examples sometimes hard enough, names should be the easy part. Look at this thread</p>
<p><a href=“Defeating the SAT essay in 2 days - SAT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/1525053-defeating-the-sat-essay-in-2-days-p1.html</a></p>
<p>@thebossofbosses thanks!</p>
<p>@jpmac13 Agree with @thebossofbosses If you are going to do research anyway, you can use that research to create backgrounds for your story. For example, an ingenious small time investor who took his money out before the market crash. Real background, fake story. </p>
<p>EDIT: just looked at that link. I was inspired by the OP’s comment on another thread to use fake examples, so yeah, look at that.</p>
<p>@Woandering Ooo that’s a good idea. Thanks so much</p>
<p>As long as it is something that is obviously false (e.g. Lebron used to be president) it won’t affect your essay score at all. </p>
<p>However, one thing to be careful about is that college admission committees have access to your SAT essays. Although it is extremely rare for them to take a look at your SAT essay, it is possible, so make sure you write nothing that could raise a potential red flag. </p>
<p>@puzzled123 Ooo that’s a good point. Yeah I definitely won’t use any inappropriate examples that might hurt my chances in getting in a school, nor would I say something clearly false like a story about how President Obama is in jail.</p>