Is SAT Essay Right for You?

How to Decide If SAT Essay is Right for You or Not

It’s a huge question that bewilders every India/NRI student that are aiming to apply to the US universities.

Due to revisions which took place in SAT exam format in 2016 the essay has become an optional part of the exam. Now this can be a point of confusion for some parents and children who are in dilemma whether to take the SAT essay or not? Does taking the essay make their application any day stronger or it is just a futile exercise leading to no good outcomes. First let us tell you what is SAT essay all about?

SAT essay is an optional part of the SAT exam. In this section the students are provided with 50 minutes to write an essay. In case a student chooses to take the essay, it will be a separate section of the exam and will be given score which is separate from rest of the exam.

The main SAT score is out of 1600 and for the essay you will be provided score from 2-8.

Now that essay has become an optional part of the exam there are certain advantages and disadvantages of taking it. Just go through them so that all Indian/NRI students make an informed decision.

Check If the School You are Applying for Require SAT Essay

It is very important that you know this piece of information because it will hugely influence your decision to take SAT Essay or not. Just Google the school name and check on school’s webpage whether they need SAT Essay or not. Check this for each and every school which you apply for. In case the school in which you are interested necessities the SAT essay- choice is clear, you must take the essay otherwise you will jeopardize your chances of being selected.

Pros of Taking SAT Essay

• All Schools are Covered– When you appear for the essay you have all your SAT requirements met. You need not worry whether the school which you have chosen requires an essay or not. This is actually being safe than being sorry later on. And trust me there is no harm in being on a safer trajectory in life

• Boosts Up Your Chances of Selection- Even though Sat Essay is optional, there are some colleges which will give you a certain edge if your essay score is high. This is usually a case when a school recommends an essay but does not require the same. This is generally when school where you apply is particularly competitive. If you have a good essay score, it will bolster your application especially in case you are trying to demonstrate that you possess excellent English writing skills

Cons of SAT Essay

• Whole Big Section to Study– With SAT essay you will have an entire extra section to study as well as prepare. There is so much to study otherwise only for the exam and this extra section is actually a big burden. It will stress you more and this might get reflected in your scores

• Exam Becomes Longer– A student is given 50 minutes to attempt the essay. So, if you plan to do essay the duration of your exam will actually extend from 3 to 4 hours. This is a huge leap and you will need to put in extra effort to stay focused.

• Cost of Exam Goes Up– Sat essay poses an additional expense of $14 on the student and nobody wants to be burdened with an extra cost.

So, in short weigh all the pros and cons and decide which way you wish to move. Check out the Essay policy for which each and everey school you are applying and decide accordingly.

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