<p>My essay has been 9 in December and this January..</p>
<p>so I want to ask how you distribute time
and how you think up of examples for the prompt.</p>
<p>Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>i got a 12. Improving the essay is extremely easy. Here's what you do:</p>
<p>1)Fill up both pages completely
2)Incorporate SAT words into your essay, preferably your intro
3)Use examples from history and literature
4)Make your essay five paragraphs</p>
<p>When the score report comes out, I'll show you my essay if you want. Like PM me or i'll post it up if theres a thread.</p>
<p>I got a 10 in October and a 12 in January.</p>
<p>I really do think that length is the key factor when they score your essays. Both essays filled up almost every line I think.</p>
<p>In Oct I recieved a 9 with a line over 1 page. In Jan I recieved an 11 with just under 2 pages. I wrote about the same both times, both had 5 paragraphs with similar vocab/structure. The only real difference was that I wrote bigger and not in all capital letters in Jan. Personally I find it retarded that it is judged so heavily on length.</p>
<p>I think it may be better to write four paragraphs that are well developed if you don't feel like you have time to do that with five. Just practicing a lot with a timer helps. I got 8's on both my ACT and last SAT essays(which made me kinda mad b/c I am a decent writer in school) but somehow got 12 on Jan SAT (w/ 4 para). I think the only really noticeable difference was length- I completely filled up all the space this time, but I don't think the content was very good.</p>
<p>Btw, I used two historical examples and one personal, and spent about 2-3 minutes thinking over the prompt and which examples to use.</p>
<p>I took my first SAT in January and got a 12. Writing is my best talent by far and I was actually expecting a 12... Not out of arrogance but I felt that the prompt was EXTREMELY easy. Easier than the AP essays (though I get 8s on those and one 9 before).</p>
<p>I think I had a 4 or 5 paragraph. I finished with about a minute and thirty seconds left. I took less than a minute to plan it. I read what the question was... ignored the prompt until much later just to look at it.</p>
<p>I almost used up both pages. It was about a page and three-quarters.</p>
<p>I didn't use any big words, just effective ones. I made sure each example linked back to the thesis so it connected and actually supported what I was saying rather than listing dribble. I wrote non-stop. Again, made sure my point was clear in every single paragraph.</p>
<p>Conclusion was pretty much the thesis but summed up what the rest of my essay proved. I honestly did not prep for the essay. I did one prep for essay... Just for the heck of it. And I assumed that I got a 10 for my essays in preps. </p>
<p>Just know HOW to do it.</p>
<p>First time SAt, 800 Writing...like Karab, I was expecting a 12 essay b/c writing is one of my strong points. I used 3 well-developed examples. I ended up using all of my time, and all of the two pages. I didn't use any historical examples. Use good SAT vocab, but not so much that it seems like you are struggling to include "big words." Good luck!</p>
<p>By the way, I used two examples and both were historical.</p>
<p>My 13 year old daughter got a 12.
Ryan</p>
<p>so I want to ask how you distribute time
and how you think up of examples for the prompt. </p>
<hr>
<p>You can make up examples for the essay. You can say that Shakespeare is still alive. Just remember that...</p>
<p>I got a 12. I filled up every last line but only used one, well developed example. I will PM my essay to you if you wish when it comes up online.</p>
<p>I got a 12, filled up every line, had an intro, 3 examples (one from history, one from literature, one from personal experience) and a conclusion. i can PM u the essay once i get it</p>
<p>So from what you guys say, it seems like the SAT board doesn't even read the essays and just looks through each one for use of 'big words' and 'filled up spaces'... Does my inference have any validity to it? I mean... I have to say that writing is one of my greatest talents. It's kind of a let down to see the system grade your efforts so robotically if they do. Do they really?</p>
<p>Cool, can anyone PM me their essay tomorrow? I got a 10 and I was just wondering how I could improve... Thanks.</p>
<p>Sib -- your inference has a lot of validty to it. In fact, an MIT professor performed a study and found an almost direct correlation in length and scores. It is sad that they place so much importance on the length of your essay.</p>
<p>thanks for all the tips everyone.. </p>
<p>yeah, i only had time to use one example, but i tried my best to lengthen it as much as i could.
thinking and writing five paragraphs for 25 minutes seem so tight..</p>
<p>i will definitely pm tomorrow :) thanks</p>
<p>I wonder when they post the essays. They're not up yet.</p>
<p>i got a 12 in the essay, honestly, i beleive the luck is up to the graders u get</p>
<p>oh the essay is posted and I realize why I got a 10 (the conclusion was pretty weak)<br>
Neb154, callthecops2- would either of you mind PMing me your essay? I would love to read what a 12 looks like. Thanks guys!</p>
<p>thrills4ever,</p>
<p>I also got a 12. However, the structure and content of my essay completely deviated from your "ideal" description:</p>
<p>Topic: cells ( science)
Sat words: toward the body</p>
<h1>of Paragraphs: 3</h1>
<p>The two pages were thoroughly filled though. After carefully studying sat essays that received 12 , i observed that however you state your point--whether with an anecdote, prose,etc-- if your essay contains concrete examples, even if it is only one, that apply directly to the prompt, it is enough. Of course, one must also be able to articulate the examples smoothly and coherently.</p>