Basics of the SAT Essay

1. You are only given 25 minutes to complete the essay. But trust me … when you take the real test, it’s not going to feel like a whole 25 minutes. Make sure you give yourself less time when practicing (16-18 minutes), so you can build up mental and physical stamina.

2. Be aware of the psychological effect of section 1. The essay will always be the first section of the SAT. If you mess it up for whatever reason, it’s going to haunt you for the rest of the test. But if you nail it, you will gain the confidence to continue to the rest of the sections.

3. Many academies say it is OK to use “I” but again … I say no. Although “I” is acceptable to express your personal point(s) of view, it weakens your thesis. If you begin with “I believe,” you are presenting your personal, fundamentally biased opinion – therefore, avoid using “I” if possible.

4. Essays are scored by two graders. Each grades on a scale of 1-6 (for a total of 12). Remember, though, that each grader has only a minute or so to read and grade your essay. That is why highlighting certain sections of your essay might do the trick to help you succeed.

5. Do not veer off topic! Answer the question. If you don’t, you will receive a grade of zero. Believe me … I have seen it happen.

6. Your essay equals 1/3 of your writing score: +/- 250. So, it is crucial that you do well!


How to Prepare for the 80:20 Rule

There are 10 steps you must learn and master. Once you have your own custom-made template, 25 quality examples, 3 to 5 transitions, and detail plug-ins, you are ready to tackle all possible prompts.

Key Terms:

1. Universal Template: A pre-built template/structure that you can use to write your essay.

2. 25 Quality Examples: Edison, JFK, and Hitler are elementary examples. They are trite, and most graders will not be impressed by them. Use high-quality examples, such as Jack Welch, Howard Schultz, Steven Jobs, the Enron scandal, the Patriot Act, etc. Remember! Graders get only a minute or so to read and grade your essay. You must do everything possible to impress them.

3. Transitions: There are pre-built transitions that you can easily pick and choose to smooth out the flow of your essay. I will give you some examples as we go.

4. Plug-ins: Plug-ins are all details that were pre-researched, pre-written, and memorized – ready to be used at a moment’s notice.

So, Here Are the 10 Steps: