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Note: This article covers the *old* SAT Essay. Click here for our most current complete guide to the SAT Essay test!
Suffering from SAT Essay stress? You’re not alone. With only 25 minutes to craft a winning SAT essay, students can easily panic and write much too frantically, or freeze and waste their precious time. Sometimes, when the clock is on, all the tips they’ve learned and preparation they’ve done can get thrown out the window. Don’t let that happen! Be calm and don’t make these common mistakes.
SAT Essay Mistake No. 1: No Clear Central Argument
Uh-oh. We’re here for your opinion. Don’t equivocate! Pick a side and prove you’re right. Your argument should be made crystal-clear in your thesis, which should come at the end of your first paragraph. What’s a thesis look like? In its simplest form, it’s a statement of opinion, which you’ll then go on to prove. For example…
“Creativity is needed more than ever in today’s society.”
“Sometimes, telling a lie can be justified.”
“Putting others first all the time can lead to self-ruin.”
“The SAT doesn’t measure intelligence—it measures how well you can take the SAT.”
Get my gist?
SAT Essay Mistake No. 2: All Description, No Analysis
Again, this isn’t what we paid to see. We want our money back. Think about the news. Most news programs don’t just rattle off the facts—they comment on them. Often, commentators with diverging opinions get into heated debates. Think of the argumentative essay as one of those commentators (but hopefully less blustery). They have got a point to prove, and they’re going to first lay out the facts, then extrapolate from those facts why you ought to agree with them. Don’t just tell us what the Holocaust was. Tell us why it was bad, and how it might have been prevented, and why it matters, moving forward. Description’s best friend is analysis. Don’t separate them! The same is true for quotes. Don’t just quote someone and drop the mic. Analyze that quote. Unpack it.
SAT Essay Mistake No. 3: Commentary Without Evidence
This is the opposite of the previous problem. You’ve certainly got opinions, and you’re happy to regale us with them, but you fail to provide concrete examples to corroborate your claims. Once you’ve figured out what you think, you’ve got to find examples from history, literature, science, culture, or even your own personal life (if you can pull it off well) to discuss and analyze.
SAT Essay Mistake No. 4: One Long Rambling Paragraph
Think about this blog post. Wouldn’t it annoy you if it were one big paragraph? This isn’t On the Road: The Original Scroll. It’s a well-structured essay. Here’s a sample structure for you guys.
Paragraph 1: Intro (get to the point) + your thesis
Paragraph 2: Example #1 (described and analyzed)
Paragraph 3: Example #2 (described and analyzed)
Paragraph 4: Synthesize. Smack down the counter-argument.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion. Wrap it up.
The intro and conclusion should NOT be longer than the description and analysis of your examples. If you don’t have time to create a conclusion that rivals the beauty of an origami swan, don’t fret. It’s possible to write a great essay without tying a pretty bow on it.
SAT Essay Mistake No. 5: Failing to Address the Prompt
Pay attention to the prompt. Chances are, it’s asking you a yes or no question. Make sure you understand the question before you start writing. It doesn’t matter how good of a writer you think you are. If you ignore the prompt or fail to address it, you’ll get burned.
Pretty simple, huh? Keep these tips in mind before you test! Remember: address the prompt with a clear argument supported by descriptive examples and thoughtful analysis. It’s that easy!
And finally, for all of you math people out there…
Clear argument + descriptive examples + thoughtful analysis = a winning essay!
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That’s all for now! Remember, this advice was written for the *old* SAT Essay. Now check out our current complete guide to the SAT Essay, available exclusively from our online store.
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