HOW DAUNTING IS THIS WRITING TEST?
The Writing Section of the SAT consists of three parts: A twenty five minute essay, A 25 minute multiple choice section and a ten minute multiple choice section. The multiple choice questions test grammar, usage, and word choice. The score range with the essay factored in, is 200-800. The short essay question always appears in section one of the SAT. The short essay measures ones ability to:
Students will be asked to develop and support their point of a view on an issue, using reasoning and evidence — based on their experiences, readings, or observations.
The essay will be scanned and sent via the Internet to two different, trained high school and/or college teachers to be scored. Each reader will give the essay a score of 1 to 6 (6 is the highest score) based on the overall quality of the essay and the student’s demonstration of writing competence. Finally, the two scores will be added together to comprise a final score.
Often, young gifted scholars feel reluctant and anxious about this new part of the SAT. This is partly because many young gifted children have not had specific, structured writing lessons. Furthermore, many young scholars taking the SAT are only in fifth to seventh grades. They are expected to be accelerated in writing just because they have high I. Q .s. The erroneous logic here is apparent. Many of these children refuse to write long essays and end up in tears when forced to write. Perfectionism often stymies them.
Here are some general tips to give your children to alleviate anxiety and to help them learn to write with more ease:
A) Getting Ready to Write
B) Getting Ready for the Actual SAT Must Know Tips for the Writing Sections
Hopefully some of these tips will help reluctant writers and ease the anxieties of all test takers - who must know grammar - and who must know how to write a coherent essay.
Good luck!
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