The first section of every SAT is the essay. You will have 25 minutes to write an essay on an assigned topic.

Get Ready to Write the Essay
  • Prepare for the essay question by writing at least 2 practice essays. It takes practice to develop an idea in 25 minutes.

  • Find sample essay questions at College Board. com or in your SAT Study guide. Brainstorm several of them. The questions repeat key themes. If you practice several questions, you will likely practice a question similar in theme to the question you receive on exam day.

How to Write the SAT Essay
  • Read the quote and question carefully. Be sure you understand the essay question before you begin planning and writing. You must write an essay that answers the given question.

  • Brainstorm, outline, or otherwise plan your essay for 3-5 minutes. Taking time to plan your essay is essential because thesis and content matter here. Make sure you have a main idea and a plan to develop it before you begin writing. You will need to brainstorm on the essay question page. No draft paper is provided.

  • Make sure you give your reader the evidence (reasons, examples, details, facts, or stories) that illustrates your main idea.

  • Write as quickly and as neatly as you can manage.


    Check your Essay

    Introduction:
    Do you have a strong, interesting, complex idea that answers the question? This is your main idea.

    Body Paragraph(s):
    Do you have examples to back up your main idea? Use details like names and titles, statistics, facts, and reasons.

    How do your examples make your main idea richer? More interesting?

    You can focus on one example if you have enough ideas and details to write about 2 paragraphs on one example.

    You can use examples from current events, books, movies, history, and personal experience.

    Conclusion:
    Re-state your main idea. Tell the reader why your main idea matters. What are the consequences of your main idea?

    Vocabulary:
    Avoid general words like “bad, good, nice.” Use strong verbs. Use words like “shows, demonstrates, argues, proves, and exemplifies” instead of “says." If you cannot think of substitutions for common words like "good" and "bad" as you write an essay, then brainstorm a list now.

    How is the SAT Essay graded?

    The essay is graded by two readers who score the essay on a measure of 1-6. This means the highest possible score is 12. View the scoring guide for the essay at the College Board.