SAT Essay Review; International

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hey CC :)</p>

<p>I am a non - native English speaking student and I am currently studying for the SATs. Particularly, I have recently been busy preparing myself for the infamous essay.
I did, in fact, grab two of the sample prompts provided by the CollegeBoard, set my timer and started writing two essays and I´d be really happy if some of you could have a quick look at them and maybe also rate them, maybe in a similar, rapid and superficial manner as it is done by the actual SAT readers.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for the effort! </p>

<p>Essay 1: </p>

<p>Is it possible for a society to be fair to everyone? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>

<p>Equalitity for all people. The last time a government attempted to push a society into this narrow and naive imagination, the resulting instable system collapsed in 1989 after only approximately half a century of existence. The collapse of the communist system of the Soviet Union is only one demostration among many examples that show how inevitably trying to provide full equality for everyone leads to failure.</p>

<p>Bluntly stated, trying to create thorough equality is against human nature. While some might be fond of selling people long - term insurance contracts for a living, others may prefer catching footballs all day. The natural differences between people considering their talents, qualitites and preferences simply does not fit into a society, where everything is meant to be equal. People are different and their political environment must accept this.</p>

<p>A specific illustration of where inequalities are not only existent but, in fact, welcomed is sports. For instance, every year around easter, there is an American Football tournament taking place, which my team and I have attended ever since. Despite being held only once a year, the tournament´s significance for my team is massive: every ball caught, every yard run and every tackle made in every individual practice only serve the purpose of exceeding the other teams participating in the tournament. If the competition factor was discarted, that is, if complete equality existed, all the limitless motivation and enthusiasm would disappear. Nobody likes to compete, if, in the end, everyone´s a winner. </p>

<p>If the goal is to fight the nature of people and make moves against a population´s natural desires, then a government should attempt to create full equality. Otherwise, it should let the people be people. </p>

<p>Essay 2:</p>

<p>Can the study of popular culture be as valuable as the study of traditional literary and historical subjects? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>

<p>Within approximately one century humans have accomplished to advance from riding horses to driving fuel efficient, fast cars, they have succeeded at ascending into the air and travelling wherever they prefer to go and they have developed the ability to communicate globally in only a fraction of a second. All this has been done, because humans naturally look at what there is and attempt to make it better, instead of becoming stuck with what is past. What is true for technological advancements is entirely reflected by literature as well: who is able to acquire meaningful contemporary knowledge when looking solely at ancient works of prose and poetry, not considering present pieces?
Simply put, nobody.</p>

<p>One example perfectly illustrating this, is a documentary TV show I can recall seeing on a German news channel. While its initial goal was to provide the spectateurs with insights of lives and acitivites of selected high school students, it made clear, what aspects have the ability to create an acadamically successful pupil: the students who mainly focused on studying old literature in order to earn good grades, which was what their teacher had suggested, only did fairly well on tests. At the same time, students that, in their leisure time, followed their natural interests and read modern books and comics for entertainment tended to be way more proficient in discussing contemporary issues and human interaction, consequently making them the better students.
In addition to that, ancient works of literature proved to be more difficult to understand for most students, which required them to learn certain skills in order to entirely comprehend the given texts. Hearing this, some might say, “isn´t that what students should do in school?”. Bluntly stated - no. Education should mainly have the aim to teach young people the skills and knowledge that might turn out to be essential in their future. When only relying on outdated technics, this goal is not reached. </p>

<p>Schools must focus on what education´s inital purpose was. While people and societies develop, so should their education and consequently, what is taught in school. So don´t get stuck in the past, teach contemporary literature and culture!</p>

2

<p>I would give you a 6 on the first and a five on the second, your English is incredibly good for a foreign speaker. I admire you as I was born in a household where I learned Russian and Turkish growing up however they both slowly diminished as I grew up and learned English. Recently, I’ve spent my Summers in Russia and Turkey taking classes and socializing with the people however I would never be able to write like you in a separate language. Both my Russian and Turkish are C2 as well. </p>

<p>I may be biased in my grades however, as I know how difficult it is. Some advice that I can give you is actually try to mention you are German and that English is your second tongue. It might get you some extra points if the examiners are nice :)</p>

3

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<p>No offense, Esat, but the OP shouldn’t do this. It would not only not make a difference but also put the OP at risk for getting a 0.</p>

4

<p>Esat, thank you for the compliments on my English and the quick evaluation of the essays. While I do not know if the SAT will be graded centralized in the US, even when written in Europe, I don´t expect my nationality to be particularly beneficial as regards to the grade I will receive. Unfortunately. :stuck_out_tongue: I might attempt to create an allusion to my origin in a clause or so. </p>

<p>I´d be happy if someone else tried to quickly look over one of the essays and give me some feedback, especially considering if it still sounds natural and “flowing” to natives.</p>

<p>Thank you, CC!</p>