SAT Writing...Help!!

<p>I took the SAT in March and got Math: 800, Reading: 750, Writing: 710...which is pretty decent for me but the essay score was an 8 out of 12!!!
So then I decided to take the very next one confident that my essay score would improve but.... Writing: 670 with a 7??? and my reading score dropped 20pts.
I think I don't know how to write a good SAT essay...</p>

<p>how much does the essay score matter anyway?</p>

<p>IIRC, it's 30% of your raw score.</p>

<p>I meant...do colleges look at just the essay part? cause I think an 8 sucks pretty bad</p>