One of the key factors students should note in recent years is that top universities no longer require the SAT essay section.
SINCE 2016, the SAT essay has become optional. However, many students still choose to take this section to showcase their writing skills to their dream universities.
Deciding whether to take the SAT essay might be a concern for many students. Here are three factors to consider when deciding whether to take the 50-minute SAT essay:
– To gain an advantage in the SAT, students must be strong readers.
– The SAT essay requires students to have strong rhetorical and persuasive writing skills.
– A large number of universities have waived standardized test score requirements.
The SAT essay section is never easy. In fact, the reading passage is usually around 700 words long, or approximately one page. Before writing their response, students need to carefully read and analyze each paragraph.
The diversity of topics in the SAT essay can be challenging for students who struggle with reading comprehension. However, the good news is that these topics are often predictable. The question usually revolves around asking students to explain how the author constructs their argument. “How” often means using rhetorical devices like metaphors, arguments, etc.
Fortunately, the author’s thesis is usually presented clearly in the passage. Let’s take a sample SAT prompt as an example: “Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved.” Based on the prompt, students should read the passage with a focus on the specific devices the author uses rather than focusing on the “big ideas” – a different reading approach than that used for the SAT Reading section.
The SAT essay requires students to identify the methods the author uses to persuade the reader. Therefore, students should be familiar with 10-15 rhetorical strategies. The more proficient they are with these methods, the quicker they will form ideas for their essay.
Once students have understood the passage and identified some methods, they can begin applying the essay writing skills they have learned in high school, such as drafting. Students should start by brainstorming with the methods they have the most ideas for writing about. Then, develop a concise thesis statement, support it with evidence from the passage, avoid lengthy and disjointed points, and conclude with an engaging closing, all while paying attention to punctuation.
Note: Students must always provide evidence from the passage to support their main and supporting points. Additionally, ensure you have enough time to review your essay for errors.
In recent years, many universities—including Ivy League schools such as Harvard in Massachusetts, Princeton in New Jersey, and Yale in Connecticut—have not only made the SAT essay optional but have also waived the SAT requirement for undergraduate applicants. This trend began in early 2018, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted even more universities to adopt this policy.
As a result, universities have shifted their focus to other aspects of a student’s application. To evaluate a student’s writing skills, universities now pay more attention to factors such as classroom performance and personal essays in the application.
The increasing number of universities waiving the SAT requirement does not mean that the test has become obsolete. For students who still wish to complete the SAT essay—especially those planning to apply to writing-intensive majors or to universities that still recommend the essay—this essay can be a valuable way to demonstrate progress in writing skills.
