<p>I took the SAT a few months ago and will retake it. I missed one question on the writing section (1!) but got an 8/12 on the essay. This dropped my writing score to 740. Those of you who got great essay scores, why? If anyone has attended test-prep, what about the essay was emphasized?</p>
<p>Provide specific examples, use higher-level vocabulary, write more than a paragraph. There were other concepts covered, but these were the most emphasized.</p>
<p>How many examples are ideal? 2? 3?</p>
<p>You got a 740, go party.</p>
<p>I used 2 examples and i got a 10.</p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure, but I think that the essay score depends largely upon the quality of your writing, and not on any numeric example quota. I only had 1 example (a very weak one at that, with virtually no elaboration) and managed to score an 11.</p>
<p>I took a prep class and used their "method" on my first time taking the SATs. It was basically intro, two examples, close with specific target phrases that were "guaranteed to give you a 12". Got a 9. Didn't really care the second time around and wrote a slightly inflammatory response to the question using a classic lit book that I loved, didn't really care about mechanics and transitions and all that, got a 11. Just write in your own comfortable style and make it coherent. Sound passionate and you'll get that high score.</p>
<p>3 different examples. 5 paragraphs. higher level vocab. good strong CLEAR thesis.
I got a 12 on my essay and that what i did in a nutshell.</p>
<p>Oh well i used 3 historical examples and I think they carry more weight in a sence than personal experiences and whatnot.
My topic was if conformity was good for helping society progress. I used Thoreau and civil disobedience, how utopian societies all eventually failed, and the enlightenment movement and John Locke</p>
<p>oh wow you got a good prompt... I also didn't do well on the essay an 8 the first time (710 writing score) and then a 7.... I think I might give it a better shot... I think it was because of the vocab I used</p>