<p>I'm a big fan of using a combination of real and false information for my examples on the SAT essay. Usually I can come up with one or two literary examples and a historical example, and then I'll fabricate a scientific study (or alter a preexisting one to fit the prompt). Sometimes I might have to make up an obscure historical figure or novel to use. </p>
<p>But will the graders knock points off my score for that, if they know I've made stuff up? Are they allowed to do that, or are they solely grading your writing?</p>
<p>Solar, I wouldn’t incorporate four examples; I would only incorporate three. If I had two excellent literary examples and couldn’t think of a historical example, I would use the two literary examples instead.</p>
<p>If your false information is obscure, then it will be fine. Just don’t say stuff like “Jackson was a huge supporter of the US Bank and Native American rights.”</p>
<p>Unless the lie is extremely obvious, you should be fine. I would say that the “Jackson was a huge supporter of the US Bank and Native American rights” statement is fine, because you would have to know history to know that it’s a lie.</p>
<p>Actually, even very obvious lies won’t be marked down. There is an SAT tutor who took the SAT and made very blatant factual errors to see if he would get marked down. Turns out, nope. If you would like to read the whole thing, just google “In praise of folly:writing the SAT essay”</p>
<p>Though honestly I think it’s better not to make stuff up.</p>