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The SAT Writing Section (Essay): Here’s What You Need to Know

how to prepare for the sat essay section

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The SAT recently revamped itself to more accurately test what students learn in school. The new version is less deliberately tricky and confusing, but it’s still a challenging, exhausting test. Let’s say you’ve taken both the ACT and the SAT and you perform better on the SAT. Now that you’ve chosen it as your go-to test, how do you get through the essay portion, especially if you hate writing?

Fun fact: the SAT has plenty of new practice tests , which include essays. For the purposes of this post, I’ll be working from this practice essay , so it might be useful to have it open as you read. We’ll go through what’s expected, what scoring looks like, and how to go about writing the best essay you can.

Understand What You’re Being Asked to Do

The new SAT no longer asks you to make up ideas and references from scratch (which, honestly, is probably for the best). Instead, it provides you with an essay and asks you to analyze it, much in the same vein as an in-class analytical or an AP English Language essay.

The Assignment

The assignment reads as follows. At the top you’ll see a generic introduction for what to look for as you read:

As you read the passage below, consider how (the author of the passage) uses:

evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims.
reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.
stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed.

Then, at the bottom, the instructions get specific. For this essay, they read like this:

Write an essay in which you explain how Bobby Braun builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to invest in NASA. In your essay, analyze how Braun uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Braun’s claims, but rather explain how Braun builds an argument to persuade his audience.

What does this mean? Essentially, as you read, pick out the techniques the author uses to make his or her point, then write a detailed essay that covers a couple of the main ones. Brush up on your knowledge of literary terms and devices well in advance of writing the SAT essay. You don’t have to know them all, but know the most commonly used ones really well (tone, diction, imagery, simile/metaphor, allusion, rhetorical question, anecdote, and symbolism, to name a few) so you can rely on those. In an argumentative essay, like this one, an author will always use tone, diction (choice of words), and some kind of persuasion technique (Logos? Pathos? Ethos? Anecdote? etc.).

How is the essay scored? Two testers will read your essay and will provide a score of 1-4 on three different benchmarks: reading, analysis, and writing.

Did the writer understand the content? Did they quickly summarize the argument/point and then move quickly into their interpretation of it? Did they paraphrase and directly quote?

Did the writer not only identify the right literary terms/devices but assess their uses effectively? In other words, did the writer understand why the author used those devices and say so? Did the analysis integrate into the rest of the essay?

Is there a strong thesis, body paragraphs for each device, and a quick conclusion? (More on organization below.) Is the writing “strong,” i.e., sentence variety, no unnecessary words or repetition, strong words, and sophisticated reasoning?

The testers’ scores are then added together for an aggregate final score. So, a top score would be 8/8/8.

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Final Thoughts

Unless you’re being given extra time, you have exactly 50 minutes to complete the essay. This sounds like a lot (and it’s more than it used to be), but don’t be fooled. You’ll use the time.

Students with special accommodations might be able to take the test on a computer, but otherwise it’s a written test. Your test booklet will be scanned into a computer. If you make a mistake, don’t erase your work, because it causes smudges and can make it hard for the tester to read. Simply cross out and rewrite. The testers are trained not to read crossed-out material. If you’ve been told your handwriting is impossible to read, write a little more slowly than you might otherwise. Choose the style that’s more legible for you: print or cursive. When you write practice tests, give it to someone and ask if they can read it.

You’ll take the SAT essay last, after every other section has been completed. So you’ll be exhausted. There’s no way around that, unfortunately, beyond bringing snacks and water on test day and walking around during breaks to take the focus off your brain for a couple minutes. Practice is key; you’ll want to be able to read an essay quickly, pull out devices, and write a straightforward essay with a minimum of confusion and anxiety. Only practice and memorization of the right information will get you there.

As you prepare to take the SAT, take a look at some example essays that scored highly. It won’t be the same subject matter, but the structure and language will be aspects you can emulate.

Read with the Assignment in Mind

Imagine that your proctor has told you to turn to the essay section. You already know the basic assignment, so you can actually skip the top introduction and dive right in to the essay. Don’t get bogged down with unfamiliar words or the most complex sentences. You don’t need to absorb every single word of the essay. Read to find devices you can use. Circle them and ID them as you go. Don’t be picky right away—just observe and note what you see.

Go ahead and skim the bottom instructions, but even then the first sentence is the only really important one. In this case, the gist is: how does Braun persuade his audience to invest in NASA? Then, go back to the devices you found, and pick out the three strongest and/or most used devices to structure your essay. Can’t find three? Remember, an author always uses tone (point of view) and diction (word choice) so those are two easy ones if you’re stuck.

The process of reading and pulling out devices should take no more than eight minutes.

Make a Quick Outline

I know this one sound counterintuitive, given what I said about time limits, but bear with me. Just starting to write without a clear path is hugely problematic for timed essays. Even the best writers make a mental note of their general direction. Without planning, you might change directions mid-essay, forget your thesis and end up arguing something else, or wander off completely without realizing it.

The outline can be short and sweet. For example, with this practice essay, it could look like this:

Intro: Braun argues that continuing to invest in space tech and research keeps us competitive in the world economy. Devices: logos, imagery, allusion

Body 1: Logos (logic): paragraph 3, 5, 7

Body 2: Imagery: paragraph 4, 6

Body 3: Allusion: paragraph 8

Don’t even bother to include your conclusion in your outline. It’s pretty much the same content as your intro. Also, remember that you don’t need to tackle every aspect or device in the essay. Highlight where your devices are, then focus your analysis to those sections. In the outline above, I’ve structured the devices so that you’re going through the essay in almost chronological fashion. You don’t have to do this, but it makes the essay-writing a bit easier.

The process of outlining should take no more than two minutes.

Write Quickly but Methodically

Don’t waste a lot of breath with a big, drawn out introduction. State the argument of the author in one sentence, then your thesis, which should be a list of the three devices you plan to use. Keep it simple and easy, then move on.

For each body paragraph, make a quick topic sentence explaining which device you’re analyzing. Spend one sentence (ONLY one) summarizing how the author is using the device. Begin to use quotes or paraphrase; after each example, analyze why the author uses the device and the effect it has. About three quotes or examples are usually standard. Then, at the end of the paragraph, use one sentence to sum up the effect the device has on the whole essay. Use sample essays for examples of this structure.

See the numbers at the side of each paragraph? When you quote directly or summarize directly, put the number of the paragraph in parenthesis afterwards to cite where you’re getting the information from.

For your conclusion, simply restate what you’ve said before. If you’re feeling extra-confident, feel free to add a key takeaway from the analysis, but it’s not necessary. So, your conclusion can be two sentences just like your intro.

What if your writing style isn’t advanced or similar to the example essays? Work with a teacher or tutor who can help you develop your skills if you have the time. If not, just write simply and clearly. Don’t use overly technical words. Don’t make really long sentences just for the sake of doing so. Even simple, forceful language can be effective so long as your argument is good. So focus your attention on ensuring that you know what good analysis is and how to replicate it.

You’ll have 35 minutes to write. Keep an eye on the clock, but mostly just focus on writing quickly and clearly.

Leave a Few Minutes for Proofreading

Again, I know you’ll be flying through this essay at lightning speed to get everything done effectively. But this one’s important too. When you write quickly, grammar and spelling can fall by the wayside. That’s totally normal, so don’t freak out. But you will be graded on such aspects in your final score, so leave 5 minutes max at the end to skim through your essay, pinpoint where you made mistakes, cross out the word or phrase, and write the correct word or phrase above it. Try to make corrections clearly so that the tester knows which version to read.

And that’s it! Easy, right? (Totally kidding.) As with everything else, practice will help. If you’re not already doing this kind of essay in class, do a few practice essays at home. Make sure you do the EXACT process start to finish: time yourself, write an outline, and so on. Part of success is building the muscle memory to go into the essay with a solid base of experience and confidence that you’ll succeed.

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Thinking about tackling the SAT Essay? Here's what you need to know: you'll be asked to read a text (typically a speech or editorial of some sort) and discuss how the author effectively builds an argument. This might be a familiar task if you’ve done it in school, but if not, don’t worry. The format is straightforward, and with some practice, you can learn how to write a great SAT essay.

What is the SAT essay?

The SAT essay is optional and costs an additional fee of $17.00. Currently, only 25 colleges and universities require the SAT essay. You can find a searchable list of school requirements for the essay here . If there is any chance that you might apply to one of those schools, you should sign up for the essay. If you are not sure where you will apply, you should strongly consider signing up for the essay. Your essay score will appear on every score report you send to colleges, regardless of whether or not the school requires an essay.

Here are 5 tips for writing a killer SAT essay, should you decide to add on that section:

1. Stay Objective

The thing to remember here is that ETS (the company that writes the test) is not asking you for your opinion on a topic or a text. So be sure to maintain formal style and an objective tone. Tip: Avoid “I” and “you.

2. Keep It Tidy

Handwriting is becoming a lost art. Unfortunately, this is one occasion where your skill with a pencil matters. Graders read tons of essays each day. If they cannot decipher your script, they will lower your score. Do yourself a favor and write legibly.

3. (Indented) Paragraphs Are Your Friend

Remember the basic essay structure you learned in school: introductory paragraph, body paragraphs and a conclusion? The SAT essay graders love it! Your introduction should describe the text and paraphrase the argument being made, as well as introduce the specific elements of the passage and argument that you will discuss in the essay. Your conclusion should restate the goal of the passage/argument and sum up the points you made.

4. For Example…

Use your body paragraphs to back up your thesis statement by citing specific examples. Use short, relevant quotes from the text to support your points.

5. Don't Worry About the Exact Terms for Things

Blanking on terminology? When describing how the author builds his or her argument, “appeal to the emotions” is fine instead of specifically referencing “pathos.” And “comparison of two things” can be used instead of referring to a metaphor. If you do know the official terms, though, feel free to use them!

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10 Easy SAT Writing Tips to Get a Perfect Score in 2024

Bonus Material: Download free grammar practice developed by Ivy-League educators

Scoring well on the SAT is an important part of the college admissions process. Even with the new test-optional policies , a strong SAT score will still help students get into college .

What’s more, strong test scores can be used to win scholarships or be admitted to honors programs and other special opportunities.

On the new Digital SAT, the Reading and Writing section combines questions on reading comprehension with questions that test your knowledge of key grammar concepts. The two Reading and Writing modules make up half of your potential score.

Fortunately, effective study and exercises can help students to improve their SAT Reading and Writing scores. Grammar is a set of rules that can be learned and practiced. I should know, because back when I took the SAT I earned a perfect 800 on the Writing section on my first try!

Through following these tips, we’ve helped students to improve their SAT scores by as much as 380 points!

Although the SAT itself is changing in 2024, we’ve got good news: English grammar is staying the same. That means that all of the rules covered in this post apply equally to the new and old versions of the SAT!

For our breakdown of the new, Digital SAT, check out our comprehensive post here.

For more tips and exercises, download our Essential Grammar Workbook!

Download the free SAT Essential Grammar Workbook

Jump to section:

Tip #1: Don’t avoid the “no change” answers Tip #2: Pace yourself Tip #3: The semicolon trick Tip #4: Understand dependent vs independent clauses Tip #5: Shorter is (almost always) better Tip #6: Read it out loud Tip #7: Don’t change verb tenses Tip #8: Know your transition words Tip #9: Eliminate duplicate answers Tip #10: Practice! What is the SAT? What is the SAT Reading and Writing section? How is the Reading and Writing section on the SAT scored? How can students improve on the SAT Reading and Writing section?

Tip #1: Don’t avoid the “No change” answer

One of the easiest ways to improve your performance on the SAT Writing section is to treat the “No change” multiple-choice answer just like any other option.

That’s because there is no difference between “no change” and the other answers . They are all equal contenders. For example, in this example, “no change” is definitely the correct choice!

Students often avoid picking “no change” because they feel like they have to do something to fix the sentence. But the “no change” option is just one of four possible ways of fixing it, all equal. It’s purely a formatting decision that the SAT has made — and it’s changing on the new digital SAT , perhaps because the College Board has realized that it tends to confuse students.

Tip #2: Pace yourself

Pacing is a challenging aspect of every part of the SAT. On the Reading and Writing section, students have two take two “modules,” each of which gives you 32 minutes to answer 27 multiple-choice questions . The questions are not ordered by difficulty on the Reading and Writing section, but the difficulty of the questions in the second module depend on your performance on the first module.

If you spend too much time on a hard question, you’ll potentially run out of time and miss out on the chance to answer several easier questions.

If you find yourself spending more than a minute on a given question, make your best guess and move on. You can mark the question to come back to at the end of the section if you have enough time.

(This is why it’s a great idea to bring a watch with a second hand on test day.)

Tip #3: The semicolon trick

My favorite grammar hack is super short and sweet.

There are a lot of grammar questions about semicolons on the SAT. The semicolon is the punctuation mark that looks like this:

In your own writing, you may rarely use semicolons. However, our theory is that the SAT likes to focus on the semicolon because they’re a great way to check if students understand independent clauses (more on that in the next tip). On the SAT, you’ll see lots of questions like this one:

There’s a great hack to tell if a semicolon is being used appropriately or not. Just replace the semicolon with a period.

Does it work? Do you have two complete sentences, each one with a subject and a main verb? Then great, that semicolon is being used correctly.

Does it leave you with a sentence fragment? Is one of the sentences lacking a subject or a main verb? Then nope, you can’t use a semicolon there.

Check it out in action:

Last summer, my family adopted a dog from the shelter; a black lab mix. → Last summer, my family adopted a dog from the shelter. A black lab mix. (This doesn’t work — the second sentence is a fragment!) The shelter said the dog was about four years old; however, we’ll never know for sure. → The shelter said the dog was about four years old. However, we’ll never know for sure. (This works — both sentences are complete!) We named the dog Apollo; after the ancient Greek god. → We named the dog Apollo. After the ancient Greek god. I had underestimated how much work it was going to be making sure that Apollo got enough exercise every day; but it was worth it knowing that he was happy. → I had underestimated how much work it was going to be making sure that Apollo got enough exercise every day. But it was worth it knowing that he was happy. My parents were also happy that Apollo was too tired from running and playing with me to make a mess at the house; that had been the one concern that my dad expressed before we got our dog. → My parents were also happy that Apollo was too tired from running and playing with me to make a mess at the house. The one concern that my dad expressed before we got our dog. I’m looking forward to introducing Apollo to my friends; everyone has been asking to meet him, but we’re taking it slowly so he’s not too overwhelmed. → I’m looking forward to introducing Apollo to my friends. Everyone has been asking to meet him, but we’re taking it slowly so he’s not too overwhelmed.

Using this one trick will help you answer several questions on the SAT correctly!

Tip #4: Understand dependent vs independent clauses

Half of the questions on the SAT Writing section are about grammar, and if we had to pick one single grammar concept to know, it would be understanding how to identify dependent clauses versus independent clauses .

Why? Because so many of the grammar questions are fundamentally about this concept. Once you know how to identify if a clause is independent or dependent , you can memorize a few short rules about how to connect two independent clauses .

In a nutshell, a clause is independent if it can stand on its own as a sentence. With some rare exceptions, it will always have a subject + a main verb.

Here’s some examples, with independent clauses highlighted in green and dependent clauses highlighted in yellow :

Last spring, I took the SAT for the first time . Some of my friends thought it was easy , but most of my friends thought it was hard . I’m not sure how I did on the test ; I’ll have to wait a few weeks to get my scores back . Fortunately, when we finished the test we all went out for ice cream together at the little shop that’s near the school . After I had spent three hours concentrating hard on the test , I felt like I deserved to get an extra scoop of ice cream .

If you have two independent clauses in one sentence , they can be connected with:

A semicolon (or sometimes a colon)
A period (just make them two sentences)
A FANBOYS conjunction: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so

On the other hand, if you’re connecting a dependent phrase or clause to the rest of the sentence , you don’t want to use any of the things on this list! Depending on the sentence, you’ll either want no punctuation or just a comma. (We often work on the tougher nuances of this with our tutoring students .)

For more exercises and examples of independent clauses vs dependent clauses, check out our free Essential Grammar Workbook . Thousands of SAT students have used it to improve their Writing scores on the SAT!

Tip #5: Shorter is (almost always) better

Half of the questions on the Reading and Writing section are about grammar and punctuation, but the other half of the questions are about what the SAT calls “Effective Use of Language.”

In other words, the SAT will ask you to judge which version of a sentence or a paragraph is the best one, even if all of them are grammatically correct.

These questions often feel challenging to students because all of the sentences sound okay, and it feels subjective.

However, it’s less subjective than you might think! The trick is to think like a test creator , and know what the SAT considers to be “good writing.”

One of the biggest hacks on the Reading and Writing section is to choose the shortest answer , if all of the answers seem correct grammatically.

That’s because the SAT values concision , which is saying something in the shortest amount of time necessary and not using extra words.

Eliminate words or phrases that are repetitive, and avoid sentences that seem more convoluted than they need to be.

The shortcut here is to simply choose the shortest answer.

Check out this example:

Now, once in a while there will be something wrong with the shortest answer, and the correct answer will be the second-shortest answer. So ideally you should double-check your answer after using this shortcut.

But the vast majority of the time, yes, the shortest answer will be the right one.

Using this hack will make sure that you answer up to 18% of the questions on the Reading and Writing section correctly!

Get more examples in our free SAT Essential Grammar Workbook

Tip #6: Read it out loud

One great way to tell if a sentence has correct grammar is to read it out loud .

When we read silently, our brains tend to “fix” the sentence for us. When we read it out loud, we can more easily “hear” any grammatical mistakes.

Of course, in the real test room on testing day you can’t make sound while you’re taking the SAT. However, it’s still a powerful tool to physically move your mouth as if you’re silently whispering to yourself !

Don’t worry about feeling silly doing this. It’s part of how I scored a perfect 800 on the first try!

This hack is especially useful for determining whether you should have a comma or no comma. If reading the sentence without a pause sounds fine, then you don’t need a comma there!

(Use this to decide if you need punctuation or no punctuation — not what type of punctuation to use. It’s probably impossible to “hear” the difference between a comma and a semicolon, since they’re both a pause, but hearing the difference between a pause and no pause is definitely possible.)

Tip #7: Don’t change verb tenses (without a good reason)

On the Reading and Writing section of the SAT you’ll see lots of questions about verbs.

One easy tip is that you shouldn’t change the tense of the verb unless you have a specific good reason to do so.

Most of the time, just take a look at the other verbs nearby and match their tense.

Here’s an example of how this will look on the real SAT:

We explain grammar questions involving verbs in a lot more detail in our free Grammar Guide , developed by Princeton graduates.

Tip #8: Know your transition words

Too often, SAT students spend hours trying to memorize vocabulary words with flashcards.

We don’t recommend this, because it’s not a very effective way of studying and improving your score! It’s hard to memorize words out of context, and the chances that you’ll encounter the exact word you learned on the test is very, very small.

The one exception to this is transition words . These are words that signal how sentences relate logically to one another. Transition words are really important in clear writing!

Usually about 18% of the questions on the SAT Writing section are about transition words. That’s a lot!

Because of that, we do recommend making sure that you know the meaning of all of these transition words:

The SAT will ask you to choose the type of transition that makes sense, like this:

For more practice, check out our free guide to SAT Reading and Writing:

Tip #9: Eliminate duplicate answers

This is a sneaky hack that can be applied to many types of questions on the Reading and Writing section.

If you see two answers in the multiple choice that are essentially the same, you can eliminate both of them.

That’s because the SAT is never going to make you choose between two answers that are equally correct.

As much as the Writing section might feel subjective at times, it’s really not. There’s always only one right answer , and if you know the rules, the right answer is usually very clear .

That’s how I got a perfect 800 score on the Writing section — I knew the grammar rules and how to pick the most concise or clear version, so it was always clear which answer to choose. I’ve also used the same grammar and writing rules to help professors at Harvard and Yale edit their books for publication!

For example, if you see two choices on a transition-word question that mean the same thing, you can eliminate them both.

In this example, “in addition” and “also” mean the same thing, so neither of them is correct, because the SAT will never make us choose between them!

Same thing with many grammar questions. If you see both a period and a semicolon in the multiple-choice, neither is correct, because they are grammatically pretty much the same! (see tip #3 )

This is an example of how thinking like test creators can help us to answer questions more accurately.

Tip #10: Practice!

In the end, the best way to improve on the Reading and Writing section is to practice.

Drill specific concepts with targeted practice that focuses on that one grammar or writing skill. A great SAT tutor can help you find good exercises for this kind of drill, or even create custom practice sentences to help you truly understand.

Then put everything together by taking full timed practice sections from real SAT tests. Track your progress over time!

With hard work, our test prep students have improved their SAT scores by as much as 200–400 points. The trick is to make sure that you’re practicing effectively and not wasting your time with the wrong practice.

What is the SAT?

The SAT is one of two main tests (along with the ACT) used by colleges and universities in the US and sometimes internationally for admissions purposes.

The SAT covers basic high school material and is used to measure college readiness.

Since the spring of 2020 and challenges to testing caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, many schools have adopted temporary test-optional policies.

However, test scores are still an important way to show colleges your abilities. (These days, if you can take the test and don’t submit your scores, colleges are likely to assume that your scores were low.)

If you are able to take the SAT or ACT, you should still take the test. To the best of your abilities, you should still prepare for the test and take it seriously.

What is the SAT Reading and Writing section?

The Reading and Writing section on the SAT tests students’ abilities in reading comprehension, grammar, and “effective writing,” which is writing in a way that is concise, clear, and logical.

Students have to take two modules, each of which gives them 32 minutes to answer 27 multiple-choice questions . Why have two sections with the same exact format? Because the new adaptive SAT will tailor the second “module” based on your performance on the first.

Roughly half of the questions in this section are about grammar and punctuation. Unfortunately, we’ve found in our work helping students that many schools no longer teach students grammar rules !

That’s where our free Essential Grammar Guide can step in and help.

The other half of the questions in the Reading and Writing section present different versions of a sentence or a paragraph and ask students to choose the one that makes the most sense.

Students working with our one-on-one tutors receive a free companion guide that covers these questions about Effective Use of Language .

There is no longer an Essay component for the SAT. All of the Reading and Writing questions are multiple-choice , and students will not have to write their own answers.

How is the Reading and Writing section on the SAT Scored?

Students are scored based on the number of questions they answer correctly. Every question is worth the same amount of points, and there are no penalties for wrong answers.

The Reading and Writing part of the SAT makes up exactly half of your total Digital SAT score. The Reading & Writing section is scored out of 800. The average score for this section in the US is 533.

Students also earn a score out of 800 for the Math section, and their total SAT score is out of 1600. Anything above 1060 is above-average, and students should aim for a score in the 1500s to be competitive applicants at the most selective colleges and universities.

For a decade (between 2005 and 2016), Writing was a separate score out of 800 on the SAT. Students earned up to 800 points for Reading, Writing, and Math, with total SAT scores out of 2400. In spring 2016, the SAT went back to a 1600-point scale with combined Reading & Writing scores.

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How can students improve on the SAT Reading and Writing section?

If you’re planning years in advance, there are some general activities that students can do that will lead to higher scores on the SAT Reading & Writing section.

Reading extensively, with whatever books or other media students enjoy the most, is incredibly powerful.

Studying another language besides English is also helpful for understanding grammar better. Languages that share a significant etymological history with English like Spanish, French, Latin, and Ancient Greek are especially useful.

However, there are lots of things that students can do to improve their scores on the SAT Reading and Writing section with only a few months or even weeks of effort! In fact, grammar questions on the Writing section are some of the most common question types where students tend to see the most improvement.

It’s important for students to familiarize themselves with the general structure of the test.

Students should also learn the main grammar rules tested on the SAT. These rules are absolutely predictable — because I knew the rules of English grammar, I earned a perfect score on the SAT Writing on my first try.

Unfortunately, most schools these days don’t teach the rules of grammar. Many of the students we work with don’t know grammar rules, and that’s not their fault — they never learned grammar at school .

A great SAT tutor can help students to learn the rules and feel confident on the SAT. Our tutors are from the Ivy League and many have impressive backgrounds in professional writing, publishing, and teaching.

Finally, the best way for students to improve on the SAT Writing section is to practice effectively, using the right materials. There is some limited SAT writing practice available for free via Khan Academy . Our experienced tutors can also guide students through the best practice exercises tailored to their specific needs .

Request a short test-prep consultation today!

Bonus Material: Download our free Essential Grammar Guide, developed by Ivy-League educators

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The SAT Writing Test

Written by tutor ellen s..

The writing section on the SAT is relatively new, and that can create problems since there are topics on it that are not generally taught in high school. The biggest problem area, by far, is the essay. So let’s start with that.

The essay on the SAT is a timed 25-minute writing assignment where you are given a single prompt and you must answer it in a clear, well-organized manner. High school classes don’t generally discuss timed essay assignments, unless you’re in a specialized course like the International Baccalaureate where timed essays are an integral part of the certification exams. This can create problems for students when they attempt to approach the SAT essay the same way they’d approach an at-home essay . The truth is, writing a timed essay is a completely different skill than writing an essay at home and must be practiced in a completely different way. This is just an overview, but I’m going to take you quickly through the main differences and give you some tips on how to prepare for them.

#1: You only have 25 minutes

This is by far the most readily-apparent difference, and it requires you to adjust your process in order to tackle it. Try it a few times, and you’ll quickly realize that 25 minutes is not enough time to change your mind mid-stream. It’s also not enough time to develop a really nuanced and complex opinion and get the paper written out completely. Depending on how quickly you write, it may even be a close call just getting a whole essay’s worth of words out on the paper in the first place. But more on that in #3.

What this means is that you really, really need to pre-write. I know a lot of students skip prewriting; they figure they’ll just work it out while they’re writing the draft. But on a timed essay, you don’t get a draft – by the time your body paragraphs are down, time is almost up – so prewriting is absolutely essential. Start by jotting down your main opinion in one sentence – that’ll become your thesis later on – and make yourself an outline of main points with examples for each one. Be brief, but be thorough, and make sure you’re organized before you start writing. Remember, the essay graders are looking for organization and clear expression of opinions. What your opinion is is not nearly as important as how well you communicate it – so get organized!

#2: You have no choice of prompt, and no warning about what the topic will be

In your average English class, you know a bit about the essay you’ll be writing long before you get the prompt. You know which book you’ve been reading; you know what sorts of topics your teacher has been discussing. Your teacher probably even gives you a selection of prompts, so that you can choose the one that interests you most – or in my case, avoid like the plague the ubiquitous prompt about gender roles in society. On the SAT, no such luck. You get one prompt, and that’s it. Fortunately, there are some consistencies you can look for.

The SAT essay prompts generally take the form of the statement of an opinion, and then asking whether you agree or disagree with that opinion. Sometimes they cloud the question, but it almost always comes down to a “Do you agree or disagree?” format. Knowing that, the first step is to decide if you agree or disagree, and then write that at the top of your pre-writing paper so you keep it in the front of your mind as you write. Always return to that central idea of “agree or disagree?” whenever you feel lost.

#3: You’re writing everything out longhand

Don’t discount the time sink that writing out an essay longhand can cause. Particularly now that computers are used for almost every writing assignment, students tend to forget how long it takes them to actually write. With only 25 minutes to work with, I like to set a schedule. Take 5 minutes for pre-writing – you want that part to go fast – 15 minutes for writing the body paragraphs, and the last 5 minutes to write your intro and conclusion and to proofread and edit. Most of your editing should be done while you’re writing – say each sentence to yourself and work it around before you write it out. And yes, I always leave the introduction for the end – just skip the first five or six lines on your test booklet and start right into the body paragraphs. It’s far, far easier to write an introduction when you know what you’re introducing.

For more help, check out our in-depth lesson on the SAT essay !

But of course, the essay isn’t the only part of the Writing section – there are multiple choice questions to be considered. The most important thing to remember during the writing section is that it’s a writing section, not a reading section. Keep that distinction clear in your mind, and remember that the test creators are trying to trip you up with writing errors, not reading comprehension. That’s a different section entirely. There are three types of multiple choice questions, but they all follow the same basic concept as far as testing goes: they want to see if you remember your grammar rules. A few tips to avoid the biggest pitfalls:

Identifying Sentence Errors

These are in some ways the easiest of the bunch, because you don’t need to know how to fix the errors, you just have to see that they’re there. Sometimes one of the underlined portions will just sound wrong to you, and that makes things easier. But if not, it can help if you try to figure out what the test makers are suggesting might be wrong with their choice of underlining. For example, you might look at a sentence and immediately see that one of the underlined portions is the word “their” referring to the subject of the sentence. Obviously, they’re asking you “Is this the correct word to refer to that subject? Should it be a ‘his’ or a ‘hers’, or maybe an ‘its’?” Once you figure out why they’ve underlined that section – why someone might think that was wrong – you can just check quickly and make sure it is the correct possessive, or the correct conjugation of that verb , or the correct placement of that apostrophe . A lot of the nitpicky grammar rules show up in these questions, so brush up on your third grade grammar !

Improving Sentences

These involve going one step further than just identifying the error; now they’re asking you to fix it. You can start the same way, though – just look for any glaring errors in the sentence and go from there. Some common ones to check for: is it actually a whole sentence? Sentences need to have a subject and a verb at the very least. Are the commas in the right places ? If there are two commas in the sentence, you should be able to take out whatever’s in between them and have the sentence still be complete without it. Do you see the phrase “being that” anywhere in the sentence? That’s a huge no-no and will almost always be an error. Also, remember as you complete these questions that the point of the writing section is to improve the quality of the sentences without changing their meaning. Pay careful attention to whether your answer choice actually changes what the sentence means. “A painter depicting classic scenes in his paintings” is not the same as “a painter in his paintings depicting classic scenes.” The second one has him jumping through the looking glass and getting stuck inside his own artwork. Or, my favorite example from Peterson’s “Master the SAT”: “We bought a piano from an old lady with intricate carvings.” Wait, what?

Improving Paragraphs

Remember, this is a writing section, not a reading section. The reason they’re asking you questions about this paragraph is because they want you to fix the grammar/word choice/writing errors in context.

The two questions I ask my students when faced with one of these problems are:

Why is this question in the writing section, as opposed to the reading section?
Why is it in the Improving Paragraphs section rather than simply being an Improving Sentences question?

The purpose of paragraph questions is to see how well you understand the way that context changes writing choices. For example, a question might ask about a sentence in the paragraph and give you answer choices starting with five contrasting transitions. They’re asking about the context – does this sentence need a “Therefore” or a “Nevertheless” or maybe an “In spite of this”? All three will be grammatically correct, but only one makes sense in context. That’s why it’s in a paragraph question.

Overall the Writing section is sometimes seen as easier than the two original sections, but there are some twists to it that can make it just as difficult to consistently score high, particularly since we don’t generally cover grammar in school past fourth or fifth grade, so by the time we get to SAT level, most of us have gotten a bit fuzzy on the details. Overall, I suggest staying very aware of the distinction between a reading section and a writing section, and remembering that grammar mistakes are the top priority. Even if an answer choice sounds the best, if it’s got a grammar error in it, it’s wrong. There’s a reason they phrase the instructions as “Choose the best answer” – sometimes none of them are exactly what you’d say, but one will be better than the others. Go with your gut – and brush up on those grammar rules !

How do I structure an essay or paper?
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Are you struggling to pay attention to what you read and write
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3 Tips For Cracking the SAT Essay Section

Let's get started [ image source ] .

The essay section of the SAT can be a tough nut to crack. Where other sections’ scoring is relatively straightforward and predictable, the essay section can seem nebulous. What are they looking for? If you don’t know, how can you prepare? How can you improve? In this blog post, I outlined a few of the key points scorers look for, and if you work towards incorporating them into your writing, you’ll get closer to that elusive score of 6!

Use Specific Examples

This may seem like a no-brainer, but the main thing SAT scorers are looking for is your use of specific examples. Don’t say “war” when you can say “The Vietnam War.” Don’t say “modernist literature” when you can say “ To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.” While reading the question and planning your essay, if you can’t think of specific examples to match your thesis, then change your thesis. You should be crafting your response around the topics that fit the question, and should have enough information about to describe specifically and intelligently. Try to double check your writing when you practice writing and proofreading your essay. Ask yourself: can I be clearer? Can I go deeper into this topic in terms of time period? Can I discuss a certain person/movement/text/event instead of using a generalization? If so, rewrite, and do it quickly!

Make Sure You Answer the Prompt

One of the most common mistakes students make on the SAT section is not addressing the question. It is easy to get carried away with an idea or lose track of time and then, wham! No matter how wonderful your prose or logic is, if you do not answer the question, you are going to lose points. A tip: after you formulate a thesis but before you begin writing, read the SAT question and simplify it so that it asks a straightforward question (this will involve cutting out all the examples and probably some extraneous words). Then, evaluate: does your thesis EXACTLY answer this question? If so, proceed. If not, you need to pivot and rewrite that thesis.

An example question :

Is listening more important than speaking when you are trying to persuade others? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

The rewritten, simplified question : Is listening more important than speaking?

Once you’ve identified this “core” question, use it to focus your thesis by making your thesis directly answer that question.

Thesis: When trying to persuade others, listening is more important than speaking.

While this thesis may seem too obvious, it is best to write a clear, direct thesis quickly so that you can get to the business of organizing and writing as soon as possible. And even if you don’t necessarily believe your own thesis, that’s okay (maybe you think speaking is more important! Fine!) -- you won’t have time for any hesitation once you begin. Choose a side and stick with it!

Use Variety in Your Writing

You are learning a ton of new vocabulary for the verbal section of the SAT -- why not use it to spice up your essay as well? You want the vocabulary to be integrated naturally and with finesse, but that can be difficult because oftentimes you’re just memorizing their definitions. During your vocabulary studying, take some time to practice integrating those new words into sentences. Knowing what something means and knowing how to use it can be two very different things!

To bring up that essay score, you need to know how to do both. Write some practice sentences! Remember, essay scorers are reading hundreds of essays, and they’re doing it quickly. If you are saying interesting things in interesting ways, that will feel like a breath of fresh air to them and your score will reflect that.

Instead of saying “there were many interesting developments during the Renaissance,” say “The Renaissance was a time of seemingly unstoppable progress in many fields.” The vocabulary I used isn’t very advanced, but the sentence structure adds variety and interest. Avoid the overused constructions of “there were,” “there are,” “it is interesting/significant/important that.” Mix it up!

9 Hacks for the SAT Writing & Language Section

We can all agree there are some frustrating things about multiple choice tests, but let’s leave the doomscrolling for war, famine, climate change, oppression … oh no … I feel the walls of doom closing in. So let’s leave all that behind and focus on the good news!

The SAT doesn’t have to feel as daunting or confusing as it sometimes does to students.

In fact, there are a few simple tips and tricks on the SAT that can help to pretty quickly boost your SAT score, especially in the Writing & Language section. And learning these hacks is useful for a couple of reasons:

The writing section is the most “black and white” portion of your verbal score. Not only that, there are actually NOT THAT MANY grammatical and rhetorical concepts tested. If you MASTER THESE FEW RULES, your verbal score WILL GO UP without all that pesky nuance required to hack the Reading section. This is the math-iest part of the Verbal SAT, so think of these rules like math formulas. Memorization + Application = Success!

The Writing & Language section on the SAT is nearly identical to the English section on the ACT . This is good news for students! If you are still deciding which test to take (or if you’re studying for both!), these HACKS apply to both SAT Writing & Language and ACT English.

HACK #1: OVERALL

Keep it short .

Friends, I’ll be brief. The SAT likes SHORTER answer choices. Why? Because they hate redundancy and unnecessary wordiness! In fact, they hate unnecessary anything (extra words, unnecessary punctuation etc.), so when in doubt … take it out!

Example:

However, most high schools in the U.S. start by 8:30 or earlier, nearly guaranteeing that the entire student body of a given high school will arrive chronically sleep-deprived in a habitual way.

NO CHANGE

habitually.

Over the long term.

DELETE the underlined portion and end the sentence with a period.

The correct answer here is D. Why? Because I just told ya to keep it short , brah, and what’s shorter than taking out the whole underlined portion?! But also, what does “chronically” mean? Well, it means…”happening repeatedly over time.” What does habitual/habitually/over the long term mean? Same. Exact. Thing.

EXCEPTION: Specific Job

When a question provides a set of answer choices without a question stem, the SAT is almost always asking about grammar. When that’s your job, the “keep it short” rule is your best friend. However, when a question stem asks about something else … something specific, don’t worry about keeping it short. Just do that specific job as, well, specifically as possible.

HACK #2: OVERALL

Equally right = equally wrong .

A multiple choice question can only have ONE CORRECT ANSWER, right? Right! They have to build the test this way, or the test utterly fails. They can’t afford that—people trash talk the SAT enough as it is. It therefore follows that if two (or more) answers are EQUALLY RIGHT, they must be EQUALLY WRONG! In other words, they can’t both be right, so they must be WRONG! This hack is a great way to eliminate multiple answers in one fell swoop, saving you both time and brainpower!

them.

Can you spot the 2 answers that would be equally correct and therefore must both be wrong? If you said B and D, you’re right! If you didn’t know that, check out Hack #4 !

EXCEPTION: Nuanced Difference

When you’re asking yourself whether two answer choices would be equally right (and therefore both wrong), you’re really asking, “do these do the exact same thing?” However, sometimes two choices are merely very similar, and that’s not good enough to eliminate them according to Hack #2.

For example, let’s say you’re looking at a diction question with these four answer choices:

Alter

Change

Transform

Eliminate

Which two words really do mean the exact same thing? “Alter” and “change”! Some students might also be tempted to eliminate “transform” for the same reason; however, a more nuanced understanding of the word “transform” reminds us that a transformation is a particular type of change where something becomes something else entirely. For example, I can “change” the oil in my car without “transforming” the oil in my car. Thus, while Hack #2 helps us eliminate answer choices A & B, we could not eliminate C based on the same logic.

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HACK #3: GRAMMAR

Banish “being” .

Is “being” a word in the English language? Yup. Are there correct ways to use “being” in a sentence? Absolutely. Do “being’s” friends and families love and support “being” no matter what? Let’s hope, because on the SAT … “being” has got to go! If you see this word in an answer choice, the answer choice is virtually guaranteed to be WRONG. Do not stop to say hi. Do not even look it in the eye. Just turn a cold cold shoulder, cross out the answer choice, and walk away.

DELETE the underlined portion

HACK #4: GRAMMAR

Semicolon = period. period. .

Just like the “being” hack, no nuance here, and no exceptions. At least on the SAT, the semicolon does ONE thing: punctuate two independent (as in, something that could be its own sentence) clauses. Guess what a period does? THE SAME THING! Why is this useful information?

Now you know what a semicolon does! On the SAT, that’s it, folks! (If you want to learn how you can use semicolons elsewhere, as in not on the SAT, check here .)

This means that a semicolon and a comma are NOT interchangeable. For any comma rule to apply, you need at least one DEPENDENT clause or phrase, and as we just mentioned, you use a semicolon between INDEPENDENT clauses only. Semicolon ain’t got time for any of this codependency nonsense! Semicolon and period will only hang if yo’ sentence can take care of itself!

Remember Hack #2? Well, if you see two answer choices where the only difference is one contains a semicolon and the other a period, they both have to be … you guessed it… WRONG!

HACK #5: GRAMMAR

Use commas (or dashes) to bracket off “inessential information”.

By “inessential information,” we mean clauses or words that could be removed from the sentence without destroying the integrity of the sentence structure.

The Statue of Liberty , which sits in New York Harbor, is a cherished symbol of freedom. — — — Ben took a trip to New Orleans —the birthplace of jazz— to celebrate his graduation from music school.

Why is becoming a master of these phrases such a great SAT test hack?

You’ll see A LOT of these … like, A LOOOOOOOOT of these, on the test.

As evidenced by the example sentences above, there are two predominant ways (two commas, two dashes) to punctuate these phrases. But NO MIXIE MATCHIES! MIXIE MATCHIES (comma + dash, etc.) are easy indications of WRONG ANSWER CHOICES.

Remember Hack #2! If two answers are equally right, they’re BOTH WRONG! Much as a semicolon = period (for the SAT), two commas punctuating an appositive = two dashes = a set of parentheses. If these are the only differences between two answer choices, they’re both wrongeddy wrong wrong wrong.

DO NOT bracket off information that, if removed, would harm the structural integrity of the sentence. You may see this most often in sentences including proper names.

Immunologist Anthony Fauci recently retired from his role as head of the federal government’s COVID response taskforce.

It’s tempting to want to put commas around the name Anthony Fauci. Sometimes we think we have to do this … but we don’t! In fact, here we can’t: look what would happen if did! Take it out, and the sentence reads, “Immunologist recently retired from…” Nope. That sentence just lost its subject!

HACK #6: GRAMMAR

Cut out the fat .

This hack is most useful with questions where knowing the subject of the sentence is key. If you’d like to become the All-Powerful (yet benevolent) Monarch of SAT Kingdom, know thy Subjects! Finding the subject is usually pretty easy in a simple sentence, and the SAT is well aware of that. So, to make questions appear more difficult, they add a bunch of extra junk to the sentence to try to hide the subject from your well-trained ears.

The hack here is to “cut out the fat” (i.e. cross out the extra crap), thereby simplifying the sentence and making it once again easy to find the subject. This can be especially helpful in questions relating to A) singular/plural verbs and B) pronouns.

So! What counts as “the fat” in a sentence? The two biggest culprits are A) prepositional phrases and B) “inessential information” bracketed off by commas or dashes (oh heyyyyyyyy! We just learned about those !)

The number of leeches you say it’ll take to get the “bad blood out of my insides” are beside the point; I am pretty uncomfortable with any leeches on my body as part of a medical treatment.

First of all, what word shall evermore be banished from SAT land?! Being! That eliminates B, but what I really want you to concentrate on here is the phrase “of leeches you say … insides”. That is one long prepositional phrase that, when taken out, makes the correct verb in question much easier to discern. The number … are ? Nope! The number … is ? Yep!

EXCEPTION: Underlined Portion

You know how sometimes you can’t operate on a piece of the body because it’s impossible to take something out without harming something else? Essentially, if the “fat” you would have crossed out is itself contained in the underlined portion a particular question is asking about, it is no longer extra. Gotta keep it. The question depends on it.

HACK #7: RHETORICAL

Where do main ideas go.

Child: Papa, where do we go when we die?

Papa: Well, my child, no one really knows!

… dad seems unhelpful.

Luckily, we DO know where MAIN IDEAS go in pieces of writing (which is super helpful), which is virtually always at the END OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH (thesis), the BEGINNING of each body paragraph (topic sentences) and the END OF THE PASSAGE (conclusion)

Child: Uh … yeah, I didn’t really ask about that. That’s way more boring than the thing I wanted to know.

And … scene!

As I collect the many playwriting awards I’ll surely win for this dramatic introduction, you may be thinking, “yeah! I’m with the kid on this one. Why do I care about this?” Well, because the SAT is going to ask you (without telling you directly that’s what they’re asking) to supply three types of sentences in a passage, and they all have to do with MAIN IDEAS.

The secret to answering a question about a main idea sentence can be found in the other main idea sentences already in the passage! You probably know from writing your own academic essays that a thesis sentence states the main idea of a piece of writing and a conclusion RESTATES (and often offers wider meaning or context for) the main idea.

So for any question asking you to provide the THESIS (they will not use this terminology but rather ask you to furnish the last sentence of the introduction paragraph), read and match the CONCLUSION already provided!

If they’re asking you to furnish the conclusion, read and match the THESIS! Another little hack-on-a-hack here is to ask yourself, “where is the first place I get a sense of the main idea of a piece of writing?” That’s right, THE TITLE! Titles won’t tell you as much as a thesis or conclusion (So Moby Dick is about a … oh! A whale? Yeah, that was not gonna be my guess), but they often will give you enough guidance to keep yourself on track.

EXCEPTION: Topic Sentences

Since topic sentences provide the main idea of only the paragraph in which they are contained, you’ll want to look for main idea clues within this paragraph rather than elsewhere in the passage. However, remember that a topic sentence is frequently, at heart, a transition! So it’ll also be useful to read the last sentence of the previous passage and choose an answer that acts as a bridge between main ideas.

HACK #8: RHETORICAL

When merging, watch your lane .

What are TRANSITIONS if not the MERGING of two ideas in a sentence (or between sentences)? This HACK deals with the idea that SAT questions about transition words (but, and, therefore, however, for example, etc.) can be broken down by how the two thoughts in question relate to one another, which we will be referring to here as “lanes.” If you know what “lane” you’re in, then you can eliminate all answer choices not in that lane! There are four primary “lanes,” or ways two thoughts can relate. Here they are, followed by some examples of transition words in each lane:

Agreement: And, In addition, For Example, Furthermore, Moreover

Contrast: But, However, Nevertheless, Surprisingly, Despite

Cause/Effect: So, Therefore, Thus, Consequently, Because

Time: Then, Subsequently, First, Next, Finally

NOT ONLY can thinking about the transitional “lane” you’re looking for help you eliminate words not in this lane, but also … it’s baaaaaaaaaaack! That lovely little Hack #2 ! If two answer choices include words that do the EXACT SAME THING (“therefore” & “thus”, or “furthermore” & “moreover”), they are both WRONG!

Mill Girls organized strikes in both 1834 and 1836 when management threatened to cut wages; however, their actions were largely unsuccessful.

consequently,

finally,

moreover,

The correct answer here is A) NO CHANGE! We want a CONTRAST word here, and the only answer choice that indicates contrast is A: however.

HACK #9: RHETORICAL

No means no … if it’s redundant or irrelevant.

Remember HACK #1 ? You do?! Gold star, you! If you need a wee refresher, HACK #1 states that the shorter, simpler, less “extra stuff” answer choices are usually best. This comes in handy in questions that ask whether you should KEEP/DELETE or ADD/DON’T ADD a sentence to the essay.

Obviously, there are times where we DO need to keep and/or add a sentence, but because we know the SAT loves to keep things short & simple, ALWAYS CHECK THE “NO” COLUMN FIRST. This can be especially helpful because there are two (AND ONLY TWO!) correct reasons to delete/not add a sentence: REDUNDANCY and IRRELEVANCE.

Essentially, we don’t need the sentence in question because we A) already know that or B) it’s irrelevant and so we don’t need to know it. Again … NO EXTRA STUFF! Sure, it’s nice that your pets are named Dua Lipa and Doja Cat, but why does that need to be part of this history of the domestication of animals in ancient Egypt? Answer: it doesn’t. (Sorry. That’s super cool though.)

Now, they won’t actually come out and say the words “redundant” or “irrelevant.” As in many parts of the SAT, they much prefer code terms or explanations that it is your job to know mean “redundant” or “irrelevant.”

For example, they may say “repeats information already found earlier in the passage” (code: redundant), or “contains loosely related information that interrupts the discussion of… (code: irrelevant). The better you are spotting language that means “redundant” or “irrelevant,” the better you’ll be at hacking these Yes/No questions.

Actions and Takeaways

To make sure you’ve got these down, look through the list below, and see if you can clearly define for yourself what the hack is and how to use it on the test. If not, scroll back up and reread that section.

HACK #1: KEEP IT SHORT

HACK #2: EQUALLY RIGHT = EQUALLY WRONG!

HACK #3: BANISH “BEING”

HACK #4: SEMICOLON = PERIOD. PERIOD.

HACK #5: USE COMMAS (OR DASHES) TO BRACKET OFF “INESSENTIAL INFORMATION”

HACK #6: CUT OUT THE FAT

HACK #7: WHERE DO MAIN IDEAS GO?

HACK #8: WHEN MERGING, WATCH YOUR LANE!

HACK #9: NO means NO … if it’s redundant or irrelevant

Once you’ve got these down, you’ll have a much easier time on the SAT. They may not help you with the doomscrolling though. (But please stop. Your mind will thank you.)

Special thanks to Martha for writing this post

Martha (she/her) is a teacher and performer from Los Angeles, California. She received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and is currently working towards an MA in Psychology from the University of the West. Martha has been tutoring since 2005, focusing on the SAT, ACT, U.S. History, and all things Language Arts. She is also an actor, director, and teaching artist with The Story Pirates, facilitating creative writing workshops all over Los Angeles and helping to adapt kids’ work for stage, screen, and podcast. When not working with students, you can hear Martha’s voice in video games such as God of War and Saints Row as well as animated programs such as the upcoming Transformers: Earthspark on Nickelodeon.

How to Write an SAT Essay

A winning SAT essay requires a range of specific skills for the top result. In this article from the cheap essay writing service EssayPro, we will discuss how to write SAT essay and get that SAT essay score for college admission. This includes the definition, preparation steps, time-management, SAT essay outline, tips, and examples.

What Is an SAT Essay?

So what is the SAT essay writing task in general terms? SAT writing is very much similar to your regular college paper. In fact, it’s not what you’re asked to write about. It’s how you’re graded on it that makes it stand out from the rest of the academic writing tasks you are surely familiar with.

Many people question: what schools require this type of assignment? The colleges that require the SAT essay are institutions like Stanford, Stanford, Yale, and many more. Considering most colleges with high reputations require this entrance exam, it is essential to learn how to write a great SAT essay if you want to enter college.

Before You Start Writing an SAT Essay...

While studying for the entrance exam, consider the question: ‘how long it takes to write an SAT essay?’. Time management is an essential part of the test and something to consider while writing the examination. Usually, writing time is made up of four examination stages:

There are different variations of these stages. Some people are faster with reading than they are creating an outline, and some are very quick writers. But regardless of how long it takes, the general approach to essay writing is the same.

Throughout the first stage, you familiarize yourself with the tasks you're going to deal with. 5 minutes is more than enough. But don’t rush through it. Missing some key details during this first stage can lead to failing the entire task before you even get to writing.

After you’ve got all the info you need - you can start planning. A plan of action will help you stay on track throughout the writing process. You can even draw up a schematic to reference as you go.

Writing will take up the majority of your time. Consult your outline and start filling it out step by step. Do not get bogged down. If you can’t get through some section of your outline - move on to the next one and return later.

Proofreading is one of the most important parts of essay writing. You should always try your best to leave as much time as possible for post-editing. The task is finished; now you have to relax and look through your text a couple more times to weed out any mistakes.

Whichever way your mind thinks, SAT essay practice is always the right way to go, so you’re able to find the most reliable timing combination that works for you within the set duration of the exam.

It is important to consider that the writing segment takes up a large portion of the 50 minutes. The reading and creating outline segments play a vital role in the completion of the SAT essay.

Our argumentative essay writers are ready to help you any time. Order essay or leave us a message ' Do my math homework '.

Things Your SAT Essay Needs

Now, let’s talk about how to write SAT essay tasks in a little more detail. To write a winning SAT essay outline , it is important to know what to include in it. Any paper regarding this examination should include these elements:

Introduction:

First impressions count;
Remember to avoid argumentative language;
Discuss, briefly, the analysis methods that the author has used;
Address the author’s points;
Examiners want to see an understanding of the source, a quote might be in order;

Feeling Overwhelmed Writing an Essay on Your Own?

We only need your paper requirements to create a plagiarism-free paper prompt.

Use examples that support your claims;
Quote the passage where the writer has used vivid language;
A short quote will suffice, no need to cite entire paragraphs;
Follow your evidence up with supporting claims;
Talk about what makes your arguments strong;
Explain why the examples are compelling to the reader;

Conclusion:

Restate the thesis;
Briefly talk about how your examples support it;
Be aware that this is not a place to write more in-depth text or more examples;
End with a conclusive sentence;

This outline should give you a pretty good idea of how to SAT when it comes to essay writing tasks.

SAT Essay Outline

In recent years, a new SAT essay format has been created. Take a look at how applicants tackle this assignment in 2022.

Introduction

This introduction paragraph is 2-5 sentences;
Write about the purpose of the source material;
Write a few lines describing the techniques used in the rest of the paper.
Usually, the body is made up of 2-3 paragraphs;
Each paragraph is around six sentences;
Your first sentence is a transition from the previous paragraph.
Paraphrase the thesis;
Mention the arguments discussed in the assignment;
End with a conclusive sentence.

Get more info about: HOW TO WRITE AN INTRODUCTION

Tips on How to Write an SAT Essay

For a high SAT essay score, consider these SAT essay tips below to get a good feel of how to create a great exam paper. They’ll give you a solid understanding of how to SAT in order to get a decent score.

How to Get a Good Score on SAT

SAT Essay Prompts Are Essential. Analyze the provided promptly. It can give you hints about the writer’s intent.
Introductions Are Essential. Ease your reader into the topic. Focus their attention and remember - it sets the stage for the rest of your essay.
Use Your Vocabulary & Effective Language. Only use formal language. Don’t repeat points, and watch your grammar. Avoid using simple words, slang, and writing in the first person.
Avoid Going Off-Topic. Keep your essay precise in regards to the source. It is essential to show the examiner that you have read and understood it.
Practice Makes Perfect. Looking at SAT essay examples will help you understand how the essay should be written. Practice writing your paper using an SAT essay sample as a reference.

What Is an Average SAT Essay Score?

An average SAT essay score is 5\4\5 (for reading\analysis\writing). But you don’t really want to aim for an average SAT essay score. You need to land above that if you want your application to benefit from it.

You have to consider several factors if you want to get a good SAT essay score. Here they are:

You have to demonstrate your proficiency in all three in order to get a perfect score. First, you have to show that you have a thorough understanding of the subject matter of your essay. There is no place for even the slightest missteps. You want to show that you have knowledge of the facts and can interpret them well.

Analysis has to do with the personal conclusions you draw in your essay. You have to show that your writing is not just a stream of consciousness. Your thesis should be well-thought-out and supported by relevant and strong evidence.

Finally, the writing aspect is about presentation. Here you need to show that you have a strong command of language. It’s not only about grammar. Even the particular choice of words matters. How well you form your thoughts will determine your writing score. You should also watch your writing style. For a serious academic paper like this one, it should always be formal. No matter the subject.

So what is a good SAT essay score? It’s the result of your careful consideration of source material, your argument, and your form.

Is SAT Now Optional?

SAT is indeed optional. Very few colleges still practice this approach to applicant screening. But you can still take this test if you’d like to showcase your formidable writing skills. Will it help you when applying to top universities? For example, does Harvard require SAT essay submissions? Ivy League institutions like Harvard have also opted to take SAT test score submission during the application process optional. If you want to get an edge in a competitive environment like this, you have to research modern methods of applicant assessment. Like writing a personal statement.

Should I Take SAT?

Well, that depends on your goals. For example, if you are going for a major that has to do with analytical writing - an SAT test with an essay is a great way to show your skills and talent. But you shouldn’t obsess over it if you’re not entirely sure you’d be able to get a good score. There are alternative ways to show your writing off.

SAT Essay Examples

Check out these SAT essay examples to get a further grasp of how to write an outstanding paper. Feel free to use them as a reference.

Paul Bogard’s “Let There Be Dark” illustrates a large variety of rhetorical writing methods to create a key message. The message being: before the almost infinite list of benefits of the night’s natural darkness is completely lost, people should make more effort to decrease light pollution.

Dr. John’s “The Classics” argues that the enthusiasm of modern children of English literature in the classroom is at the lowest it could possibly be. He argues that there can be some extreme consequences for the survival of classic texts. The claim, itself, mentions classroom surveys that have taken place in high schools across the country.

Don’t Know How to Start?

Have you read the whole article and found yourself in a situation where you type " write my essay online "? Start from structuring your ideas. Writing an outline and a pinch of professional writing help can put you onto the right path to writing your SAT essay paper.

You can also look for SAT essay prompts if you want to practice a bit before the actual exam.

SAT Topics: Best Ideas

The best ideas for an SAT practice essay come in the form of prompts. You are unlikely to find the same exact prompt you have been practicing with on your SAT exam. But it will give you enough experience to feel confident in your writing abilities.

Write an essay in which you explain how Volodymyr Zelensky builds an argument to persuade his audience that the democratic countries must unite to help the Ukrainian cause.
How does the availability of information influence our perception of global issues?
Analyze and evaluate societal constructs and stereotypes in regard to different age groups
Analyze and evaluate the importance of factors of competition and cooperation in relation to humanity’s technological progress.
Consider and analyze potential issues of creating a new society in isolation from the rest of humanity. For example, a colony on a faraway planet.

The SAT test is slowly going out of fashion. The pandemic has only reinforced this trend. Despite that, it still remains a pretty comprehensive way to gauge one’s abilities. So, while it’s not mandatory to take the SAT test anymore, you can certainly take it anyway if you think it will help you showcase the skills relevant to your education.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

How To Prepare For The SAT Essay Section

3 Essential Skills To Master Before Taking the ACT

Should I Take The ACT or SAT?

Although the essay portion of the SAT is optional, it may be in your best interest to take it. It’s strongly recommended because it offers you an opportunity to showcase your skills in comprehension, logic, and of course, writing. College is going to require a lot of writing from you so the more you practice this, the better you’ll be set up for the future. The lessons learned in AP Language and Composition and AP Literature and Composition will prepare you for the essay on the exam and college in general.

After taking one or both of these courses, you will have the skills necessary to craft an “A” worthy essay for any course. There is no need to worry if you have never taken classes like this before or if taking both seem scary. Below are some tips that will help you prepare for the essay that has been inspired by AP courses.

Understand The SAT Essay Prompt

Teachers will say the “AP” in AP Lit and Comp is for “address the prompt.” This will be the golden rule to follow no matter what subject you’re writing for. Being that the SAT essay prompt is available online for students, you’ll be able to familiarize yourself with it before test-day. The only aspect of the prompt that will change is the reading sample you will be analyzing and referencing. By addressing the prompt early, you’ll be able to know exactly what the prompt is asking and save time when discerning what is being asked of you.

Prepping this way will allow you more time to read the sample closely and take away key elements that will help you during the writing process. Once you’re familiar with the prompt make sure to practice following the points they want you to address. Failure to follow the prompt will result in a test-reader not giving you full marks.

Never Summarize, Always Analyze On The SAT Essay

How boring would it be to have someone explain the plot of your favorite show when you know exactly what happens? Simply summarizing the reading for the prompt will not showcase your comprehension skills that are necessary to your success in taking the exam.

Unfortunately, no matter how many teachers, tutors, and test prep coaches say it, many students will only summarize the reading and that is not what the exam will ask of you unless explicitly stated. Most likely, you will be asked to analyze the argument made in the reading – the complete opposite of summarizing a text. The analysis portion consists of drawing out something new from the excerpt or trying to get into the author’s head and explore why they used a particular voice or choice of words.

If it helps, use scrap paper to briefly write down your thoughts on it and write reference points to back up your argument and analysis. Consider this to be your pre-writing so that you can ensure you’re confident in the points you are drawing out. The more prepared you are in what you’re talking about, the less likely you will be to summarize the reading.

Take Practice Tests Often

Whether it’s with a tutor or not, taking practice tests will benefit you in the long run. You should try your best to mimic the test-taking conditions, but if you are worried about running out of time, short change yourself while practicing on your own. This will allow you to have the peace of mind of knowing you can complete the assignment effectively in less than the allotted amount of time.

If you’re working on your own, ask a teacher to review your work and tell you where you can improve so you can pinpoint the areas you need to work on. Note that your best resource for all practice materials can be found at the official College Board website.

Always Read Everything

You’ve heard this one before, but it’s worth repeating and remembering. Reading everything in the test booklet will help you improve your comprehension speed and writing. The better you are at reading and understanding, the easier it will be to analyze details that will make your essay stand out. This will especially come in handy if you are currently enrolled in an AP English course.

While you are preparing for AP testing, you can also be preparing for the SAT at the same time. Two birds, one stone. If you’re not a voracious reader, try asking a teacher for materials that aren’t too advanced so you can begin to work your way up.

Not feeling confident in what you’re doing is going to be the biggest obstacle you face during test-taking and preparation. To calm your nerves, prepare to the best of your ability, take a deep breath, and make sure that you don’t neglect self-care along the way. Taking out the necessary time to better your skills will ensure that you’re ready and rested for the essays on the SATs and AP exams!

Test Prep Guru

Overcoming Procrastination: Strategies for Getting Things Done

How to Prepare for the SAT Essay

In this article we will explore one proven method for preparing for the SAT essay. But first, a bit of history:

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a college entrance and placement exam that was first administered in 1926. The SAT is created for the College Board by the Educational Testing Service. In 2005, the College Board modified the exam by adding a writing section and an essay along with adding Algebra II content to the math section and other changes. How to best prepare for the SAT essay is the focus of this article.

One way to improve your score on the SAT essay is by developing a particular formulaic approach and then practicing it over and over again until even the most difficult prompt will be answerable.

The reason this approach works is that your essay will be graded by specifically trained high school or college teachers who will review your essay holistically and grade it on a scale of 1 to 6. Each essay response will be graded by two people and their scores will be averaged together for your final score. These two individuals will be looking for your essay to contain certain components and if you give them what they're looking for, they'll reward you with a high score.

The SAT essay will be comprised of an essay prompt or question for which you will have 25 minutes to compose an answer. This essay question or prompt will most likely consist of an idea or opinion, on which you will need to choose a side and construct an argument. Here is a sample prompt:

Are people best defined by what they do? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Read the prompt carefully. Notice that it asks you a yes or no question. Whether you answer yes or no doesn't matter at all. There is no right answer to this question. Rather, what is important is how well you back up your response with evidence.

After first choosing a side, you will construct an opening paragraph in which you state your thesis. You will then need to develop three distinct examples to back up your choice, devoting one paragraph to each example. You will end your response with a concluding paragraph where you restate your thesis. That makes for a total of 5 paragraphs. Here is how it looks in outline form:

Paragraph #1: State your thesis. Indicate with what evidence you will prove your point.

Paragraph #2: Example #1

Paragraph #3: Example #2

Paragraph #4: Example #3

Paragraph #5: Conclusion; restate thesis and review your evidence.

You will probably find it difficult to choose and elaborate on three distinct examples, at least at first. That is why it's important that you practice this formula repeatedly. It's OK if at first you can only come up with two examples. But the more you practice, the easier it will become. And the more essay prompts you expose yourself to, the easier your brain will find it to come up with three distinct examples about something you likely have never thought about.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to prepare for the sat: 10-step guide.

SAT Strategies

You know you need to take the SAT. Maybe you’ve even registered. But what now? How do you prepare?

If you’re not sure where to begin or how to prepare for the SAT, this is the guide for you. First we’ll go over what you’ll need to do to prepare for the test. Then, we’ll discuss some methods you might use for preparing for the SAT. We’ll wrap up with some resources that you might find helpful.

How to Prepare for the SAT: 10 Main Steps

In this section, we’ll go over the general steps you’ll need to take to get ready for the SAT, all the way from registration to test day. This is aimed primarily at self-studiers, but a good tutor or program will walk you through these same steps.

#1: Register for the SAT

If you haven’t already registered for the SAT, you can register at the College Board website . You’ll need to create an account with them to register if you haven’t already.

You’ll be able to select from different locations and dates. Try to pick a location that’s not too far away, since you’ll have to drive there the morning of the test!

In terms of date, you want to make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare. If you’re totally unfamiliar with the SAT, I would advise picking a date at least three months in advance if possible. If you have to work on a compressed timeline because of application deadlines, you can do that too! You’ll just need to expect to spend more time preparing every week for a shorter number of weeks.

You do need to do more than just push a button, but it's still easy to register

#2: Get Oriented to the Overall Structure and Format of the SAT

Next, you’ll want to become oriented to the overall structure of the test. The SAT is out of 1600 points distributed into two chunks: 800 points for the Math section, and 800 points for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (made up of a Reading test and a Writing test). The lowest possible score is 400 points (200 on each section).

The essay section is optional and is separately scored out of eight points in three domains, making the max essay score 24.

Most of the test (aside from the optional essay) is comprised of multiple choice questions with four answer choices. However, some of the math questions are “Grid-Ins,” or “Student-produced responses,” which require you to calculate an answer and then grid it in a special section on your scantron.

This handy chart tells you the order, number of questions, and time for each section.

#3: Become Familiar With the Content and Feel of the SAT

The different sections of the SAT test different areas of your knowledge and skills. Additionally, the SAT has a particular style of asking questions that you’ll want to become closely familiar with. Thus, each section has its own distinct set of question types and formats that you will face on test day. How to prepare for SAT math will be different than how to prepare for SAT reading, which will be different than how to prepare for SAT writing!

For more information on each of the SAT’s sections, check out our guides:

What’s tested on SAT Math?
What’s tested on SAT Reading?
What’s test on SAT Writing?
How to write an SAT Essay

SAT questions have their own special feel, just like this grass.

#4: Pinpoint Your Weaknesses

Once you feel generally oriented to the test, you’ll want to figure out what areas you’re weak in and set a baseline. The best way to do this is to take a complete, timed practice test. Luckily for you, the College Board has released more than six free practice tests .

Be sure to find a quiet testing environment, and bring lots of scratch paper and an approved calculator ! You want the conditions to be as test-like as possible. If you’re signed up to take the essay, you should also write a practice essay as part of your practice test run. (See our advice on how to decide whether you need the SAT essay .)

Once you’ve taken the practice test, use the provided scoring guidelines to figure out your score. This will help you figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are. The sections where you did best are clearly your stronger ones, but you can also get more granular than that. Look back through the test to see which questions you missed and note down any patterns. Did you miss all of the data interpretation questions on reading? All the trig on math? Those are question types (and skill areas) you need to work on.

The SAT also provides guidelines on calculating your subscores in different areas. You can use this to get an additional idea of what particular areas you are strongest and weakest in within a section.

Work your weakest SAT muscles!

#5: Set a Score Goal

Once you have an idea of your baseline, set a goal score! You’ll want it to be something you can realistically accomplish in the time frame you have for preparing for the SAT. A 100-point improvement from your baseline in a month is probably doable; a 300-point improvement in that time frame is much less so. And remember that the more you want to improve your score, the more time you’ll have to put into it! Our rough estimates for point improvement are as follows:

0-30 point improvement: 10 hours
30-70 point improvement: 20 hours
70-130 point improvement: 40 hours
130-200 point improvement: 80 hours
200-330 point improvement: 150 hours +

Your target score should also take into account the schools that you’re interested in attending. You want to be within their middle 50% if possible. The middle 50% describes the score range of the 25th-75th percentile of admits. So if a school’s middle 50% is 1050-1200, then 25% of admits scored below 1050, 50% scored between 1050 and 1200, and the top 25% scored above 1200. For more on setting target scores, see our guide here .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

#6: Make a Study Schedule

Based on your goal score and how much time you have before the test, you’ll want to make a study schedule for yourself. You’ll probably want to spend a consistent amount of time every week studying until you take the test. For example, if you think you’ll need to study 50 hours to make your score goal, and the test is in 10 weeks, try to study about 5 hours a week for 10 weeks. This will help keep you moving and making progress at a steady pace.

It’s also best if you set aside specific, scheduled blocks of time in advance. So maybe you’ll do one hour after school every day, or you’ll plan to spend 2.5 hours on Saturday morning and 2.5 hours on Sunday morning every week prepping for the test. By setting consistent, scheduled times, it will help make studying into a habit. And make sure somebody else knows your study schedule so they can hold you accountable!

See more advice on making a study schedule here .

Crush the calendar—don't let it crush you!

#7: Review Important Content

Once you have a goal and schedule, it’s time to start reviewing content. Learn any material you need for the test that you don’t know yet, and review what you already know. Target the areas you know you’re weak in, but don’t neglect anything. So if you’re weak in Math, it’s fine to spend more time on it, but you should still spend a little time preparing for the SAT Reading section even if it’s your best subject. This helps make sure you are sufficiently ready for every section and that you don’t backslide on the subjects you’re already good at.

You are the one who can best determine how to learn and review content most effectively. However, we have some methods and resources you may want to consider in sections below.

#8: Learn Test Strategies

An important part of preparing for the SAT is learning the best strategies to approach the test. This includes learning how to best eliminate answers, guess when you need to, manage your time, and additional section-specific tips.

Here are some of our SAT strategy guides:

Overall SAT Strategy

Using Process of Elimination on the SAT
How to Ace the SAT: 6 Expert Tips and Strategies

SAT Reading

The Best Way to Read the Passage in SAT Reading
The Top 4 SAT Reading Strategies You Must Use
The Top 10 SAT Reading Tips You Must Use
The Fundamental Strategy of SAT Reading

SAT Writing

The Best Way to Read the SAT Writing Passages
What is SAT Writing and Language? 5 Tips to Excel
Heart of Algebra: Key Strategies for SAT Math
How to Figure Out What SAT Math Questions Are Really Asking
Command of Evidence: 3 Key SAT Writing Strategies
SAT Essay Tips: 15 Ways to Improve Your Score
How to Get a Perfect SAT Essay Score

As any predator can tell you, it's all about strategy.

#9: Practice, Practice, Practice

Practicing for the SAT has two facets. The first facet is targeted practice of the skills you need to hone for the test. You can do this through practicing specific question types, topics, or entire sections that you need more work on. When you get questions wrong, make sure to really work through them to understand where you went astray.

You’ll also probably want to engage in a couple of complete test practice runs. For these, take an official complete practice test under the same conditions you’ll have on test day. You may even want to try starting at the same time your test will really start at least once. Be sure to include breaks and a snack!

#10: Be Ready for Test Day!

When test day happens, you want to be ready! So be sure to engage in all your best test-taking practices, like getting lots of sleep the night before, having a balanced breakfast, and packing your bag with pencils and a calculator!

Sadly, this is not the best pre-test breakfast.

Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must use to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

4 Options for How to Prepare for the SAT

There are a variety of methods that students use when preparing for the SAT. We provide pros and cons to the main ones here. Note that you may use some combination of the options laid out below.

Many students prep for the SAT mostly on their own, with the help of prep books, online resources, mobile apps, and so on.

You have control over exactly what and when you study. This is great if you have a good idea of exactly what you need to work on, because you can easily tailor your studying program to your own needs.
This is the cheapest option out there, especially if you use free resources and get prep materials from the library!
It can be hard to stay motivated. This is why it’s important to have someone else know when you plan to study so they can help hold you accountable.
It can be a lot of work! You need to figure out your own weaknesses, track down resources, and so on. So you have to be willing to put some extra investment into planning.
If you have a lot of improvement to make, it may be hard for you to self-diagnose your own weaknesses. Or even if you know that you’re, say, very weak on math, you may not know exactly where to begin or how to attack the situation. Sometimes guidance is necessary!

It can be hard to stay upbeat when you're working alone.

Online Program

The online prep program is a relatively new innovation in how to prepare for the SAT. But is it legit?

It will accurately diagnose your strengths and weaknesses and assign lessons and practice problems based on those strengths and weaknesses.
Additionally, a good program will help you create a study plan and track your progress.
It will also have high-quality, clear content review and practice questions.
It will even teach you the best SAT strategy!
Here at PrepScholar, we have a comprehensive online SAT prep program that is customized to your needs.
Many online programs are much more affordable than hiring a private tutor or taking a prep course.
Not all online prep programs are created equally! The wrong online prep program is a massive waste of time and money. And don’t just assume that just because it comes from a big-name test-prep company that it offers you anything great! Make sure you know what you’re really getting for your money before you commit to a program.

An online prep program is like a teacher and a computer melded into one potent combo.

Prep Course

Twenty students in a high-school classroom after hours, listening to an SAT prep teacher drone on about conjunctions. Good prep method or bad one?

The schedule of the class forces you to stay on track with the pace the class sets, which could be good if you have trouble staying motivated.
There’s not much personalization to your own needs and pace. For the most part, you’ll need to proceed with the class, whether you know the material being covered like the back of your hand or you’re completely lost.
The quality of the teacher also makes a huge difference here. A teacher who is invested in everyone’s experience and tries to adjust curriculum to meet class needs can help you improve your score. A bad teacher may just stand in front of the class reading vocab word definitions for two hours. And unfortunately, you have basically no control and no way of knowing if you’ll get a good teacher or bad one when you sign up for the class.
Test prep courses are expensive! It can be more expensive than hiring a private tutor for a limited number of hours, which may frankly be more worth your money.

On the bright side, you can use any downtime in class to look up cute cat photos.

Private Tutor

Having your very own tutor for the SAT sounds like the dream, right? Here are the pros and cons.

A good tutor is truly invaluable. They’ll help you make a study plan, identify your weaknesses, explain concepts you’re shaky on, and help you come up with an SAT strategy that works best for you. From a high-quality tutoring professional, tutoring both provides you with an expert to guide you and takes the guesswork out of creating a study plan.
Additionally, a tutor can help keep you motivated!
A sub-par tutor is a serious waste of time and money. If they aren’t a high-scorer (think 95th percentile at the very least) who’s also a great teacher, the tutoring situation is just the blind leading the blind. You want a true professional who knows the test inside and out.
Private tutoring is expensive! Thus, this option just isn’t available to everyone.

A good tutor is worth their weight in gold, and also costs that much.

Great SAT Prep Resources to Help You Study

There are a variety of resources you might want to use for your SAT prep, regardless of what prep method you decide to go with. Here’s a roundup of some of the best ones.

Practice Tests and Questions

Practice tests and questions are the single most important resource for SAT prep. You want as much SAT-like practice as you can possibly get!

The gold standard is the collection of free SAT tests from the College Board. They also offer some sample questions .
You can also get tons of questions from the Khan Academy free SAT prep program , created in concert with the College Board.
For additional practice test resources, including old and unofficial practice resources, check out our guide to all the free tests out there .

A good prep book can help you out a lot. See our list of the best SAT prep books to help you decide on which ones, if any, you need!

Useful Applications and Tools

There are also many online and mobile applications and tools for learning and practicing SAT material.

We already mentioned Khan Academy , although you definitely want to supplement Khan Academy with other materials .
We also have a guide to the best SAT prep games .

This kind of tool won't help you much on the SAT, though.

Online Guides

You can also find a lot of information on SAT strategy and content for free online. Check out other articles on our SAT/ACT prep blog for comprehensive guides and advice on every SAT-related topic under the sun!

Review: 10 Steps for How to Prepare for the SAT

In broad terms, here’s how to prepare for the SAT:

Register for the test (if you haven’t already)
Get oriented to the overall test structure and format
Become familiar with content and question styles
Figure out your weaknesses
Set a score goal
Make a study plan
Review important content
Learn test strategies
Be ready for test day!

Students can use a variety of methods to prepare for the SAT, including self-prep, an online program, a prep class, or a private tutor. Each method has some pros and cons (although some, like a prep class, have a lot more cons). And there are tons of resources out there for students to use, like practice tests, prep books, apps and tools, and online guides like ours!

Get ready to conquer the SAT, noble warrior!

What's Next?

Worried that the SAT may be difficult? Check out our analysis of 8 key factors that might make the test hard . And see our in-depth analysis of whether or not you can fail the SAT .

Wondering why you have to take this test anyways? Check out 10 critical reasons to take the SAT .

If you're stumped on how to fit in SAT studying with your other obligations, see 10 amazing tips for balancing SAT test prep and school !

See our complete guide to the SAT test day experience if you aren't sure what to expect!

Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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COMMENTS

What Is the SAT Essay?
February 28, 2024. The SAT Essay section is a lot like a typical writing assignment in which you're asked to read and analyze a passage and then produce an essay in response to a single prompt about that passage. It gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your reading, analysis, and writing skills—which are critical to readiness for ...
How to Write an SAT Essay, Step by Step
This is the argument you need to deconstruct in your essay. Writing an SAT essay consists of four major stages: Reading: 5-10 minutes. Analyzing & Planning: 7-12 minutes. Writing: 25-35 minutes. Revising: 2-3 minutes. There's a wide time range for a few of these stages, since people work at different rates.
SAT Essay Tips: 15 Ways to Improve Your Score
This basically boils down to: don't be repetitive and don't make grammar mistakes. In addition, you should avoid using first person statements like "I" or "My" in the essay, along with any other informality. You're writing the equivalent of a school paper, not an opinion piece. Bad (Too informal):
The SAT Writing Section (Essay): Here's What You Need to Know
Practice is key; you'll want to be able to read an essay quickly, pull out devices, and write a straightforward essay with a minimum of confusion and anxiety. Only practice and memorization of the right information will get you there. As you prepare to take the SAT, take a look at some example essays that scored highly. It won't be the same ...
The Ultimate SAT Essay Study Guide: Tips and Review
How to Write an SAT Essay, Step by Step. Learn the ins and outs of writing a perfect-scoring SAT essay by following along as we go through the reading, analyzing and planning, writing, and revising stages of a sample essay. You'll get to see the whole process, from scribbled handwritten planning notes to the polished final product.
5 SAT Essay Tips for a Great Score
Here are 5 tips for writing a killer SAT essay, should you decide to add on that section: 1. Stay Objective. The thing to remember here is that ETS (the company that writes the test) is not asking you for your opinion on a topic or a text. So be sure to maintain formal style and an objective tone.
Test Prep 101: Guide to the SAT Essay
The new SAT Essay is a lengthy and uniquely challenging section, and it addresses many of the problems that were evident in the prior version of the SAT Essay section. The new SAT Essay section presents an extended piece of nonfiction prose, often times an article excerpted from the likes of Time Magazine, Condé Nast, or the Los Angeles Times ...
Tips on How to Write the SAT Essay
SAT Essay Directions Example 2. Write an essay in which you explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [his/her] audience that [author's claim]. In your essay, analyze how [the author] uses one or more of the features listed above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of [his/her] argument ...
How to Write the SAT Essay
If you decide to take the SAT Essay section, don't skip out on prep. Arm yourself with tips for the SAT Essay section and take a look at the SAT Essay rubric to see how graders score your essay! Strategies for the SAT Writing and Language Section. Should I Take the SAT Essay Section? Before you decide to take the optional SAT Essay during the ...
10 Easy SAT Writing Tips to Get a Perfect Score in 2024
Tip #1: Don't avoid the "No change" answer. One of the easiest ways to improve your performance on the SAT Writing section is to treat the "No change" multiple-choice answer just like any other option. That's because there is no difference between "no change" and the other answers. They are all equal contenders.
How To Succeed On The Essay Portion Of The SAT
The instructions are simple - write an essay. There is no preferred format or technical direction to follow which gives the test taker flexibility in their writing. The important instructions are outlined at the beginning of the section: Develop a point of view on an issue presented in the excerpt. Support your point of view using reasoning ...
SAT Writing Test Format and Strategies
The Essay. The essay on the SAT is a timed 25-minute writing assignment where you are given a single prompt and you must answer it in a clear, well-organized manner. High school classes don't generally discuss timed essay assignments, unless you're in a specialized course like the International Baccalaureate where timed essays are an ...
SAT Essay Prompts: The Complete List
No extra time allowed! #5: Grade the essay, using the official essay rubric to give yourself a score out of 8 in the reading, analysis, and writing sections. #6: Repeat steps 4 and 5. Choose the prompts you think will be the hardest for you so that you can so that you're prepared for the worst when the test day comes.
CC
Three strategies for boosting your score on the SAT essay section: use specific examples, answering the prompt, and introducing variety in your writing. 3 Tips For Cracking the SAT Essay Section. SAT. ... October 9, 2023 The single most useful tactic I learned for standardized test prep January 11, 2023 How ...
5 Must-Know SAT Writing Tips
5 Must-Know SAT Writing Tips. The SAT Writing & Language Test is the second section on the SAT, and it tests you on both grammar and effective use of language. The SAT Writing section consists of 44 questions to complete in 35 minutes, which means you have less than a minute to complete each question. While this may seem fast, it is very doable ...
9 Hacks for the SAT Writing & Language Section
Remember Hack #2! If two answers are equally right, they're BOTH WRONG! Much as a semicolon = period (for the SAT), two commas punctuating an appositive = two dashes = a set of parentheses. If these are the only differences between two answer choices, they're both wrongeddy wrong wrong wrong.
How to prepare for the SAT: 10 Steps to the Perfect SAT Score
Instead of stressful late-night studying before the test, meditate, read a book or spend time with your friends. Organize your bag. The night before the SAT is the right time to make sure you take everything you really need to bring on test day (see step 8). Have a good sleep.
What's tested on the SAT Essay section?
The SAT Essay Test features an argumentative source text of 650-750 words aimed toward a large audience. Passages will examine ideas, debates, and shifts in the arts and sciences as well as civic, cultural, and political life. Rather than having a simple for/against structure, these passages will be nuanced and will relate views on complex ...
The Most Reliable SAT Essay Template and Format
To summarize, your SAT essay should stick to the following format: Introduction (with your thesis) - 2-5 sentences. Start with a statement about what the author of the passage is arguing. Thesis with a clear statement about what argumentative techniques you'll be examining in the essay. Example 1 - 6-10 sentences.
How to Write a SAT Essay: Outline, Tips, Examples
A winning SAT essay requires a range of specific skills for the top result. In this article from the cheap essay writing service EssayPro, we will discuss how to write SAT essay and get that SAT essay score for college admission. This includes the definition, preparation steps, time-management, SAT essay outline, tips, and examples.
Tips for the SAT Essay Section
The better you are at reading and understanding, the easier it will be to analyze details that will make your essay stand out. This will especially come in handy if you are currently enrolled in an AP English course. While you are preparing for AP testing, you can also be preparing for the SAT at the same time. Two birds, one stone.
How to Prepare for the SAT Essay Part 1
The SAT is created for the College Board by the Educational Testing Service. In 2005, the College Board modified the exam by adding a writing section and an essay along with adding Algebra II content to the math section and other changes. How to best prepare for the SAT essay is the focus of this article.
How to Prepare for the SAT: 10-Step Guide
#3: Become Familiar With the Content and Feel of the SAT. The different sections of the SAT test different areas of your knowledge and skills. Additionally, the SAT has a particular style of asking questions that you'll want to become closely familiar with. Thus, each section has its own distinct set of question types and formats that you will face on test day.