The current SAT essay, required for SAT test-takers prior to 2016, involves much preparation, critical thinking and memorisation of examples. Not only is this essay to be written within 25 minutes, it is also graded in a more qualitative way than the rest of the SAT test. Grading takes 2-3 experts and is based on objective techniques as well as the presence or absence of literary skill.
There are several common pitfalls of students regarding this essay, such as assuming things about the reader, using vague examples, drawing conclusions in their heads rather than on paper, and of course grammar and vocabulary mistakes.
The following is an example of an essay written in my SAT Essay Writing class, which I believe would score a 5 or 6 from SAT graders.
SAT Prompt: Do we value only what we struggle for?
If one struggles to achieve a goal, the process of struggling makes the achievement more memorable and rewarding. But we certainly do appreciate the things we were endowed with; things we didn’t struggle for, such as time, friendship and family.
Time is the most valuable thing that one doesn’t have to struggle for. Just as the French poet Arthur Rimbaud famously said “only idiots don’t appreciate the value of time”. People value time as they value life, even though they did nor have to work hard to gain it.
Those who don’t value the things they don’t struggle for are insensitive people who don’t see the value in the things that came gratis. These people only appreciate what they gained through hard work, and are ignorant and indifferent of the value of things they don’t struggle for. But others who see the value of the things they have already will appreciate everything in life; such as water, air, time and friendship.
The survivors of the Holocaust are people who value and appreciate everything they own and regard it as a privilege. Josh White, an 83-year-old man who was a survivor of the Holocaust said that it is only when one struggled hard for even the most basic thing in life that one truly is able to become gracious of the beauty of life, things so commonly under appreciated by normal people.
On the other hand, those who didn’t go through the most serious struggle for basic needs will not appreciate what they have currently. Sir Isaac Newton, born with great talent and specialty in maths and physics made almost all of his great discoveries before he turned 30 and filled himself with self-complacency after. He thought what he achieved was enough, and became contented about it, bragging about his rank for the rest of his life, while neglecting his talent. If he had valued his talent more, today we would probably have a much more innovative understanding of physics.
In conclusion, those who went through struggle for the most basic and common needs in life will appreciate not only the things they struggled for, but everything. Adversely, those who don’t see the value of the things they didn’t struggle for will become indifferent and ignorant to the things that came gratis.
Essay Analysis
This student uses excellent examples from history and backs up her claims with some serious critical thinking. It is no accident that her examples provide thoughtful and interesting questions and juxtapositions in themselves. Her use and control of the language is also apparent. She uses SAT words correctly and fluidly. There is some minor grammatical incongruence, but nothing that would cause any serious depreciation of her grade.
One criticism perhaps is about her structure. Her paragraphs on time and those who don’t value what they have struggled for seem out of place. I reckon these ideas should come in her crunch paragraph, rather than at the beginning of her essay.
