When it comes to standardized tests, timed essays are here to stay. In 2005 College Board added the infamous persuasive essay to the SAT; then in 2016, they made it analytical and optional, and finally, in 2022, the essay was “mostly” omitted, with some schools and states still administering it; but the SAT is not the only test to include this daunting section. In fact, the bulk of both of the English Advanced Placement (AP) exams are comprised of timed essays. The skill of writing a logical essay on an unfamiliar topic isn’t only required for high school students. Students pursuing postgraduate studies will find themselves face-to-face with this task in both the GRE and the GMAT exams. If that wasn’t bad enough, timed essays also find themselves on career path exams such as the Foreign Service Officer Test for American diplomats.
So why are so many exams including timed essays? Because the skill of writing a sound essay in standard written English is a hard one to find. The sole reason the essay portion was added to the SAT was because universities were finding that entering freshmen could not write at the college level and many colleges wanted a way to evaluate student’s ability to express ideas, develop a point of view, and use language effectively. The ultimate goal of the essay is to force high school students to be better writers by making high schools teach better writing.
Different tests will have different standards in which they evaluate a test taker’s writing ability. However, some simple guidelines hold true no matter the test or the topic. The essay will generally introduce a topic question in a short paragraph. In writing, it is important to show a wide range of experience and sophisticated knowledge. Students should always remember to write in an active voice, keep on topic, write in the given lines, pick only one side to argue for a persuasive essy, and know how to correctly spell and punctuate. The judges are looking for good organization, specific examples, and a smooth presentation.
Another key to getting a high score on a timed essay is based on the structure of the essay. This includes the opening and closing sentences, paragraph and sentence length, and the use of transition words to help the flow of the thesis. It will need to be structurally sound, effective, persuasive, and make logical sense. Creating five paragraphs that include three detailed examples is the standard for a great essay.
Generally speaking, judging will be done on the overall impression of the paper, so it must sound smart. The judges are looking for things that will make your paper stand out among all the papers they will be reading. Start off with a great hook to grab their attention and end with an amazing statement that sums up your thesis. Adding a couple of big vocabulary words can also raise your score. Writing intelligently throughout your paper can yield amazing results.
For an analytical essay, students can learn to skim the given article to quickly find an outline in two to three minutes. They can then use proven templates to reuse by filling in selective parts of the article to create an outstanding paper. This can showcase how well a student can write, under pressure, in a short amount of time.
The last important detail is practice. Perfect-timed essays don’t just happen, they are practiced. It can take time for students to effectively get their thoughts down in essay form. Students who are studying for any essay portion of an exam should write at LEAST ten timed essays before the big day. Practice with similar topics as the ones that will show up on your tests and in the format the test will be given. Some AP are currently handwritten while the SAT, GRE, and FSOT exams are done on the computer. Knowing and practicing in the format of the actual test will greatly enhance the chances of a great score on any essay.
It is not always easy, but with time and practice anyone can write the perfect timed essay.
