The SAT Essay is optional, hence, you might choose not to read further. However, the essay is an important part for most international students. The new SAT essay tests your Reading, Writing, and Analysis skills. Let’s look at a few strategies to score high on the essay.
Strategy 1:
Understand the scoring on the SAT essay
The essay is scored separately by two readers on three skills: Reading, Writing, and Analysis. They assign a score of 1 to 4 for each section and then the scores are added.
Each of these SAT essay scores reflects different aspects. Your reading score reflects how well you have understood the passage. Your writing score reflects the cohesiveness of the essay and the command of language. And, your Analysis score reflects how well you analyzed the author’s approach to persuading the audience.
Strategy 2:
Review sample essays on the Collegeboard website
Reviewing the passages on the official website will help you understand what is required of you on essays for SAT. Reading through the analysis of each essay and the scoring, you will develop your own strategies for the SAT essay. Consider how the students show the analysis of the passage and also the command of language.
Strategy 3:
Use precise language
Clarity of thoughts is one of the most important skills in any essay. Clarity of thoughts needs precise language. For example: “Pat made an argument that convinced a lot of people and referenced a lot of research.” can be written in a precise manner as follows: “Pat made a well-researched, compelling argument.”
Strategy 4:
Read your test day passage thoroughly
Control the urge to get started with writing your essay. Instead, make sure that you understand the author’s argument thoroughly before putting pen to paper. You must have enough time to write but do not underestimate the importance of reading the passage in detail. Once you understand the passage well, take some time to create an outline for the essay that you plan to write. The outline helps you understand the analysis well and also helps you fill any gaps on the transitions that you need to make from one point to the other.
Strategy 5:
Read your test day passage thoroughly
Control the urge to get started with writing your essay. Instead, make sure that you understand the author’s argument thoroughly before beginning. You must have enough time to write but do not underestimate the importance of reading the passage in detail. Once you understand the passage well, take some time to create an outline for the essay that you plan to write. The outline helps you understand the analysis well and also helps you fill any gaps on the transitions that you need to make from one point to the other.