SAT Essay Clarification

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

Hey y’all,
This is my first post here on CC, though I’ve been reading y’all’s discussions for awhile…very helpful!
I did have something to say regarding the SAT essay. Y’all have heard alot how space matters a lot in getting the coveted 12, and for the most part that is true. However, I got a 12 twelve on my essay as a Junior two months ago, and I have to say I violated that rule- I wrote barely 1 1/3 pages on the topic. Though, I was careful to diagram out my thoughts regarding the essay flow. The most important thing is, then, to make sure that you are clear and flowing in your writing style, practice being deductive and rational in your writing. For example, in my first attempt at the SAT, I got a 10, wrote a full two pages, and filled it with good examples. However, the key difference between my two essays, the 10 and the 12, is that the second was conceived more effectively.

So,

(1)- Don’t pick your pencil up right away and tear off on the writing! Think about what you are arguing for. Remember, this essay is not about verbosity, it is instead about how you can show those graders why what you are saying is correct. You are not trying to stuff their faces with words. Pick a clear progression in your defense of your position, and hone/craft examples and rational to prove why what you are saying is right. If it takes one page to do so, that is fine. However, do not stop writing until you feel that the grader will leave with the feeling that you have MADE and PROVED your case. If they feel that you are saying a lot but not proving anything to them about your possession, you are going to fall short.

(2)- Don’t use big words or complex sentence structures. Be plain, CLEAR and CONVINCING. I’ll leave you all with a brilliant quote from a brilliant writer on writing.

“Don’t use words too big for the context. Don’t use infinitely when you mean very. Else you will not have any words left to use when you talk about something really infinite.”- C.S. Lewis.

Great stuff, huh? That’s right; save those magnificent words for that amazing gripping conclusion, don’t use 'em up all up in the first paragraph.

I hope this clarifies some, let me know if there any questions y’all might have!

2

what do you mean by big words? give me some examples?
What is the key ingredient for a good conclusion?

3

@Dawn001 readers don’t spend more than 2 minutes “reading” your essay. They skim over, check for examples, look for your point, and boom. They score you. I’ve found success on essays without using big words, but if I do use a “big word” then it’s usually drawn from the words I have learned for vocab. Let me tell you something about the conclusion: readers don’t care much for it. Chances are, it was the last two minutes of essay time, and you scribbled something out because you needed it. Regardless, most conclusions are a wrap up of what you have said, including a restatement of your thesis. No new ideas, no more questions. Just a simple wrap up.

Examples of “big words”/exaggeration I have seen others use:
His rise to the pinnacle of his knowledge was meteoric. Although he now obtained everything that man ever yearned to know, this rise was merely parabolic. His knowledge soon dwindled; it was ephemeral, just like a fire starved of oxygen.

Something simpler but just as good: The man soon reached the height of his knowledge. He understood everything that had been taught, and everything that will be. But much to his dismay, his knowledge started fading away, and he realized that his existence as the smartest man in the world was short-lived.

4

Wow, thanks so much for this! The first time I took the SAT I wrote ~2 pages and received a 10 on the essay. How long should the Introduction be? I usually get caught up in that. Do you get points taken off if you don’t finish the essay?

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@Run4Life31 Everybody that has ever taught me said that intros should be no longer than 4 sentences, but 3 sentences is usually recommended.

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Even those who get 12 and 11, write an unimpressive conclusion ?

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You do realize that there is a correlation between length and grade? An MIT guy proved that years ago. Yes, it’s not set in stone that the longer your essay, the higher your grade. And it is better to be clear than to be vague and wordy.

But I’ll leave you with this question:

If you’re a teacher and have 2 mins to grade an essay, who would you give the benefit of the doubt : a student who wrote 1 pg or another student who wrote 2 pgs?

8

@mmk2015: Good point! That is definitely something to remember. I always thought longer=better-looking. Thank you!!

9

While OP is right about using your words wisely, unless you are a GOOD writer, and you can consistently write well on SAT prompts, I would advise filling two pages if at all possible. As mmk said, there is a strong correlation between essay length and score, and you are probably best filling as much as possible - unless you know you’re good.