the writing section - essay

the writing is fairly similar to the math in the sense it is very coachable, and there is a very systematic approach because after all, there are only a certain amount of grammar rules covered in the multiple choice just as there are only a limited amount of math knowledge brought into the math. i’m first going to talk about something that quite possibly worries people more: the essay.

my personal opinion is even though it is very subjective what your reader thinks, with a couple of criteria met, anyone can at least get a 9-10. in fact, according to my last test results, i could have gotten an 80/9, and still got an 800.

criteria 1: fill the space. if you can get a solid 2 pages off in the short amount of time you are given that isn’t complete garbage, it will almost always be beneficial. this is because on average, people aren’t able to fill all the space due to the lack of time. if you can do it, it will help you.

criteria 2: atq. answer. the. question. if you have ever had a half decent ap class teacher, you have heard this countless times. let your thesis answer the question, and let your supporting paragraphs support the thesis. simple.

criteria 3: cite supporting facts/body paragraphs with stuff that isn’t completely stupid.
　　
that’s it. here are my personal tips that have helped me consistently get 12s on the essay (this 10 was because the topic was slightly difficult for me and made me run out of time, both act and first SAT i got 12s).

1. if you aren’t a great essay writer use the 5 paragraph build. intro, 3 bodies, conclusion. leave your thesis as the last sentence of your intro, have each first sentence in each body support the thesis, and repeat your thesis again in your conclusion. i have consistently used this build and it has always worked. you learned it in middle school, now put it to use.

2. the fastest way to think of facts: take 2 from anything you like that is legitimate fact (history, science, real examples people can look up on the internet). 1 can be an anecdote. you can make the anecdote up if you really can’t think of a topic. if you are morally opposed then so be it. i seriously don’t think the test people care. (i don’t advocate you do this on a college essay though, that stuff is legit).

3. leave the flowery prose. seriously. if you are somehow a speed writer who can think of awesome prose while filling up both pages, go for it, but i don’t think most people can do it. go into what i like to call “ap mode”. get the facts out, cut the rest. honestly, diction probably helps a little bit but i really don’t think 25 min’s is enough time for you to worry about anything like that. i don’t use big words and i get 12s, or at least 10s.

4. cite the quote. you know that quote they always give you? embed it into your conclusion or intro, or wherever you like. personally i use it as a way to write the conclusion because i can’t think of a good conclusion fast enough. i just say something like just as so and so said “whatever”, i believe . i don’t have empirical evidence but i think it makes you seem legit, and i’m pretty sure test prep teachers have advocated this.

5. use 3rd person. “one” is a good word, unless you are doing the anecdote paragraph.

here’s what i personally do. i think of myself as a fairly fast essay writer, but SAT essay is one of those few things i just can’t easily outspeed. what i do is i start out with the very boring “throughout dawn of time/history of man blah blah blah.” and then i narrow into my thesis. i have mastered this ability so well that i can do it without much thought, meaning while i am writing my intro, i am at the same time thinking of the 3 topics i am going to use. by the time i reach my thesis, i usually have all 3, and if i don’t i just do the ones i have, leave a blank for the 3rd, and start my body paragraphs. while i am writing my bodies, just about every time i can get my 3rd support to come to me. all in all, don’t stop writing.