Expert Guide – Do SAT Essays Really Matter?
If you look at the SAT exam pattern earlier, SAT essay was an essential part of the exam. The student had 25 minutes to bolster his or her opinion, but things have actually changed now. SAT Essay has actually undergone a lot of revamping and revision. It is now an optional part of the exam and a lot of schools do not require the Indian (NRI) students to attempt the essay when they sit for the exam.
New SAT Essay
The essay portion of the SAT exam has changed hugely. Rather than having to write a 25 minute opinion essay, now you are given 50 minutes where the student is required to analyze as how the author of the passage drafts his or her argument. There will be separate score for your SAT essay which will not be integrated with your 1600- point score.
So, in short the new essay is actually the optional part of your exam now. Basically, it all depends on the wish of the Indian (NRI) students whether he wishes to sit for the exam or not. Even if you do not sit for the exam you will still get the 1600 point score. This makes SAT Essay a discretionary part of the exam. For SAT Essay the student needs to pay an extra $11.50.
Now Who Requires SAT Essay?
The elite schools such as Stanford, Ivy League, MIT and University of Chicago hold conflicting views regarding the need for the exam. Harvard, Ive LEaue, Darmouth, Princeton and Yale require SAT Essay where as if you apply for UPenn, Columbia, Cornell and Brown there is no need of SAT Essay. Even the State schools hold dissimilar views.
For instance there is need for SAT Essay in both University of Michigan and University of California. Purdue University and University of Illinois recommend the exam, however Indiana University, University of Wisconsin- Madison and Penn State neither recommend or require this exam. So, at end of the day it all depends on the University you are applying for whether it needs your SAT essay or not.
Why Some Schools Still Need SAT Essay?
You may actually be wondering if essay wasn’t that important why some schools still need it. Some schools hold this opinion that more information always benefit. Without any doubt SAT Essay throws a light on point of view of the student. Also the school gets an idea about timed writing skills of an applicant by looking at the essay. Schools basically attempt to derive all conceivable information about the student by requiring them to write the SAT essay.
Some institutes require the essay as they want to bolster the importance of writing. The essay also offers insight as regards how a student will execute his college level work. So, these are some of the main reasons why some schools still want the students to write the SAT essay even though now it isn’t as important as it used to be.
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