SAT Writing Blue Book

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I realized that some of the essay examples in the SAT blue book do not have topic sentences but were scored 5 out of 6, and even 6 out of 6.</p>

<p>Take a look at this example:</p>

<p>The statement "There is always a 'however'" is extremely accurate, for most things in life come with conditions. Most of the time it is not always as easy as saying that you want to do something and then doing it, or saying that you want something and then getting it. There is always some sort of condition or stipulation set by someone else that you must follow. This word 'however' is especially relevant to teenagers, whose parents and teachers take advantage of it to spoil whatever plans or ideas they may have had.</p>

<p>Take for example a typical teenage boy who has just been assigned a project to do in his history class. …………………………………</p>

<p>Another example would be a teenage girl getting ready for a night out with her friends.</p>

<p>This essay was given 5 out of 6. The second and third paragraphs do not have a topic sentence at all. So how did this essay get a 5 out of 6? Another essay which was awarded 5 out of 6, started the third paragraph with the sentence, "During the same period of the time, as Americans yearned for imperialism, The Fillipino Insurection occurred." How can this essay possible get a score of 5 out of 6? There are two spelling errors in the sentence (Fillipino and Insurection), and the sentence isn't even a topic sentence. It isn't a topic sentence, right? So why are essays which have no topic sentences, awarded 6 out of 6 or 5 out of 6? </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I’m not exactly sure what you mean by a ‘topic sentence’, but the beginning of the paragraph you pointed out seems pretty good imo… why would it be wrong?
The errors you pointed are also minor and mostly regarding spelling - a kind that isn’t weighted heavily, so much that it is not even covered on the MC section of the test. Keep in mind that to get a 6 your essay doesn’t have to be perfect; after all, you are only given 25 min and even CB states that essays are intended as ‘first drafts’: they should not be teeming with errors, but some minor mistakes are unlikely to kill you…</p>

3

<p>The BB essay examples are not good models.</p>

4

<p>How are those not topic sentences? It introduces an idea that they are going to talk about. And directly answering the prompt ( i.e “The statement “There is always a ‘however’” is extremely accurate”) is a good way to start off an essay for the SAT. It shows that you’re answering the prompt and not digressing.</p>