The SAT Essay: Preparation Tips

When taking the SAT test, you will find three different sections. These sections are critical reading, writing, and mathematics. Many test questions are multiple choices, but on the writing section, you will find a required essay. Although many students claim the essay is the easiest and less nerve-wracking part of the test, you may have other thoughts. If you are nervous about your SAT essay and want to prepare, you have many options.

Most importantly, you need to know the proper components of an essay. Since most students are still in English class during their junior and senior years, this should not be too difficult. In fact, you may be writing an essay for a homework assignment right now. By knowing the main components of an essay, you are on the right track. So, what are the main components of an essay? They are the introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion paragraph.

The introductory paragraph states the stance taken on the essay question. For example, the College Board lists “Do memories hider or help people in their efforts to learn from the past and proceed in the future?” as a sample essay question on their Official SAT website. A good way to start your essay would be to say “There is great debate on the subject of memories. Some experts believe they do hinder one’s ability to proceed in the future. Are they right? Yes.”

For the body paragraphs, you should have at least three. A well-written and well-composed essay is composed of five paragraphs. You have one introduction and one conclusion, leaving three. Above you stated that you believe that memories do hinder one’s ability to proceed in the future. The SAT essay question instructions you to support your answer with real-life experiences, studies, observations, and any relevant readings. Since you need three paragraphs, choose three points to back up your claim. In each paragraph, describe in detail.

For the concluding paragraph, you are essentially summarizing your entire essay in two to three sentences. Restate your position on the impact of prior memories. End your essay with a catchy phrase. Don’t overdue it, but you want to leave your readers convinced your position on the subject is right.

Now that you know the basic components of an essay, what else can you do to prepare for the SAT essay? For starters, avoid using slang in the weeks leading up to your test. We all do it, especially high school students like yourself. In fact, many of us have grown so accustomed to using slang verbally and in print that it takes us a minute to think of the real words or phrases. Don’t let this happen to you. Whether you are having conversation with a friend, writing an email, or doing a homework assignment, use good grammar and vocabulary. Avoid slang, even internet slang.

By knowing the proper structure of an essay, you are poised to get points. That is one scoring factor taken into consideration. Another is sentence structure. This is where avoiding slang will come in handy. Speak and write in full sentences in the weeks leading up to your SAT. In fact, write a few practice essays. Ask your school English teacher, a classmate, or a parent to review your essay. Is it easy to comprehend? Are there many grammar mistakes? Is your stance on the question supported well enough?

Finally, keep it simple. Many students mistakenly see the SAT essay as their chance to shine and showcase what they know. Yes, it is, but use good judgment. It is best to be short and to the point. Rambling will not get you extra points. In fact, it may lead to a deduction in points. Do not use large vocabulary words that you are unfamiliar with. The best thing to do is just look at the SAT essay as just another English homework assignment. Yes, it is more important, but it is essentially the same.