sat essay prompt examples

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, sat essay prompts: the complete list.

SAT Writing , SAT Essay

On every SAT Essay, you'll have to read an argument meant to persuade a broad audience and discuss how well the author argues his or her point. The passage you'll have to read will change from test to test, but you'll always need to analyze the author's argument and write a coherent and organized essay explaining this analysis.

In this article, we've compiled a list of the 14 real SAT essay prompts that the College Board has released (either in The Official SAT Study Guide or separately online) for the new SAT. This is the most comprehensive set of new SAT essay prompts online today.

At the end of this article, we'll also guide you through how to get the most out of these prompts and link to our expert resources on acing the SAT essay. I'll discuss how the SAT essay prompts are valuable not just because they give you a chance to write a practice essay, but because of what they reveal about the essay task itself.

UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered

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In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.

While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.

What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.

SAT essay prompts always keep to the same basic format. Not only is the prompt format consistent from test to test, but what you're actually asked to do (discuss how an author builds an argument) also remains the same across different test administrations.

The College Board's predictability with SAT essay helps students focus on preparing for the actual analytical task, rather than having to think up stuff on their feet. Every time, before the passage, you'll see the following:

• evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims.
• reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.
• stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed.

And after the passage, you'll see this:

"Write an essay in which you explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [her/his] audience that [whatever the author is trying to argue for]. In your essay, analyze how [the author] uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage.

Your essay should not explain whether you agree with [the author]'s claims, but rather explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [her/his/their] audience."

Now that you know the format, let's look at the SAT essay prompts list.

14 Official SAT Essay Prompts

The College Board has released a limited number of prompts to help students prep for the essay. We've gathered them for you here, all in one place. We'll be sure to update this article as more prompts are released for practice and/or as more tests are released.

SPOILER ALERT : Since these are the only essay prompts that have been released so far, you may want to be cautious about spoiling them for yourself, particularly if you are planning on taking practice tests under real conditions . This is why I've organized the prompts by the 10 that are in the practice tests (so you can avoid them if need be), the ones that are available online as sample prompts, and the ones that are in the text of the Official SAT Study Guide (Redesigned SAT), all online for free.

Practice Test Prompts

These 10 prompts are taken from the practice tests that the College Board has released.

Practice Test 1 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry."

Practice Test 2 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Martin Luther King Jr. builds an argument to persuade his audience that American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust."

Practice Test 3 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Eliana Dockterman builds an argument to persuade her audience that there are benefits to early exposure to technology."

Practice Test 4 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved."

Practice Test 5 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Eric Klinenberg builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to greatly reduce their reliance on air-conditioning."

Practice Test 6 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Christopher Hitchens builds an argument to persuade his audience that the original Parthenon sculptures should be returned to Greece."

Practice Test 7 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Zadie Smith builds an argument to persuade her audience that public libraries are important and should remain open"

Practice Test 8 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Bobby Braun builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to invest in NASA."

Practice Test 9 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Todd Davidson builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to fund national parks."

Practice Test 10 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Richard Schiffman builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to work fewer hours."

Special note: The prompt for Practice Test 4 also appears on the College Board's site with real sample essays written in response. If you've written a practice essay for practice test 4 and want to see what essays of different score levels look like for that particular prompt, you can go there and look at eight real student essays.

Free Online Practice

This prompt comes from the College Board website .

"Write an essay in which you explain how Dana Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society."

This prompt comes from Khan Academy , where it is listed as an alternate essay prompt to go along with Practice Test 2:

"Write an essay in which you explain how Leo W. Gerard builds an argument to persuade his audience that American colleges and universities should be affordable for all students."

The Official SAT Study Guide 2020

The Official SAT Study Guide (editions published in 2015 and later available online for free) contains all 10 of the previously mentioned practice tests at the end of the book. In the section about the new SAT essay , however, there are two additional sample essay prompts (accompanied by articles to analyze).

Sample Prompt 1:

"Write an essay in which you explain how Peter S. Goodman builds an argument to persuade his audience that news organizations should increase the amount of professional foreign news coverage provided to people in the United States."

Sample Prompt 2:

"Write an essay in which you explain how Adam B. Summers builds an argument to persuade his audience that plastic shopping bags should not be banned."

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How Do You Get the Most Out of These Prompts?

Now that you have all the prompts released by the College Board, it's important to know the best way to use them. Make sure you have a good balance between quality and quantity, and don't burn through all 14 of the real prompts in a row— take the time to learn from your experiences writing the practice essays.

Step By Step Guide on How to Practice Using the Article

#1: Understand how the SAT essay is graded .

#2: Follow along as we write a high-scoring SAT essay, step by step .

#3: Plan a set of features you'll look for in the SAT essay readings and practice writing about them fluidly. This doesn't just mean identifying a technique, like asking a rhetorical question, but explaining why it is persuasive and what effect it has on the reader in the context of a particular topic. We have more information on this step in our article about 6 SAT persuasive devices you can use .

#4: Choose a prompt at random from above, or choose a topic that you think is going to be hard for you to detach from (because you'll want to write about the topic, rather than the argument) set timer to 50 minutes and write the essay. No extra time allowed!

#5: Grade the essay, using the official essay rubric to give yourself a score out of 8 in the reading, analysis, and writing sections.

#6: Repeat steps 4 and 5. Choose the prompts you think will be the hardest for you so that you can so that you're prepared for the worst when the test day comes

#7: If you run out of official prompts to practice with, use the official prompts as models to find examples of other articles you could write about . Start by looking for op-ed articles in online news publications like The New York Times, The Atlantic, LA Times , and so on. For instance, the passage about the plastic bag ban in California (Official SAT Study Guide sample essay prompt 2, above) has a counterpoint here —you could try analyzing and writing about that article as well.

Any additional articles you use for practice on the SAT essay must match the following criteria:

• ideally 650-750 words , although it'll be difficult to find an op-ed piece that's naturally that short. Try to aim for nothing longer than 2000 words, though, or the scope of the article is likely to be wider than anything you'll encounter on the SAT.
• always argumentative/persuasive . The author (or authors) is trying to get readers to agree with a claim or idea being put forward.
• always intended for a wide audience . All the information you need to deconstruct the persuasiveness of the argument is in the passage. This means that articles with a lot of technical jargon that's not explained in the article are not realistic passage to practice with.

What's Next?

We've written a ton of helpful resources on the SAT essay. I f you're just getting started, we recommend beginning with our top SAT essay tips for a quick overview of the essay task and what you need to know.

A little more familiar with the SAT essay but still not quite sure how to write one? Follow along with our step-by-step guide to writing the SAT essay .

Looking to earn a high score? Learn what it takes to get the highest score possible on the SAT essay here .

Plus, if you want a reference linking you to all of our great articles on the SAT essay, be sure to check out our ultimate SAT essay guide .

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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

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SAT Essay Prompts (10 Sample Questions)

What does it take to get a high SAT Essay score, if not perfect it? Practice, practice and more practice! Know the tricks and techniques of writing the perfect SAT Essay, so that you can score perfect as well. That’s not a far off idea, because there actually is a particular “formula” for perfecting the SAT Essay test. Consider that every prompt has a format, and what test-takers are required to do remain the same- even if the passage varies from test to test.

The SAT Essay test will ask you to read an argument that is intended to persuade a general audience. You’ll need to discuss how proficient the author is in arguing their point. Analyze the argument of the author and create an integrated and structured essay that explains your analysis.

On this page, we will feature 10 real SAT Essay prompts that have been recently released online by the College Board. You can utilize these Essay SAT prompts as 10 sample SAT Essay questions for easy practice. This set of SAT Essay prompts is the most comprehensive that you will find online today.

The predictability of the SAT Essay test necessitates students to perform an organized analytical method of writing instead of thinking up random ideas on their own. Consider that what you will see before and after the passage remains consistent. It is recommended that you initially read and apply the techniques suggested in writing the perfect SAT Essay (🡨link to SAT Essay —- SAT Essay Overview: How to Get a Perfect Score) before proceeding on using the following essay prompts for practice.

Check our SAT Reading Practice Tests

10 Official SAT Essay Prompts For Practice

Practice Test 1

“Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry.”

Practice Test 2

“Write an essay in which you explain how Martin Luther King Jr. builds an argument to persuade his audience that American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust.”

Practice Test 3

“Write an essay in which you explain how Eliana Dockterman builds an argument to persuade her audience that there are benefits to early exposure to technology.”

Practice Test 4

“Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved.”

Practice Test 5

“Write an essay in which you explain how Eric Klinenberg builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to greatly reduce their reliance on air-conditioning.”

Practice Test 6

“Write an essay in which you explain how Christopher Hitchens builds an argument to persuade his audience that the original Parthenon sculptures should be returned to Greece.”

Practice Test 7

“Write an essay in which you explain how Zadie Smith builds an argument to persuade her audience that public libraries are important and should remain open”

Practice Test 8

“Write an essay in which you explain how Bobby Braun builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to invest in NASA.”

Practice Test 9

“Write an essay in which you explain how Richard Schiffman builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to work fewer hours.”

Practice Test 10

“Write an essay in which you explain how Todd Davidson builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to fund national parks.”

Visit our SAT Writing Practice Tests

What Is An Example Of A SAT Essay That Obtained A Perfect Score?

Here is an example of Practice Test 4 above and how a perfect SAT Essay in response to it looks like. This has been published in the College Board website.

Answer Essay with Perfect Score:

In response to our world’s growing reliance on artificial light, writer Paul Bogard argues that natural darkness should be preserved in his article “Let There be dark”. He effectively builds his argument by using a personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions.

Bogard starts his article off by recounting a personal story – a summer spent on a Minnesota lake where there was “woods so dark that [his] hands disappeared before [his] eyes.” In telling this brief anecdote, Bogard challenges the audience to remember a time where they could fully amass themselves in natural darkness void of artificial light. By drawing in his readers with a personal encounter about night darkness, the author means to establish the potential for beauty, glamour, and awe-inspiring mystery that genuine darkness can possess. He builds his argument for the preservation of natural darkness by reminiscing for his readers a first-hand encounter that proves the “irreplaceable value of darkness.” This anecdote provides a baseline of sorts for readers to find credence with the author’s claims.

Bogard’s argument is also furthered by his use of allusion to art – Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” – and modern history – Paris’ reputation as “The City of Light”. By first referencing “Starry Night”, a painting generally considered to be undoubtedly beautiful, Bogard establishes that the natural magnificence of stars in a dark sky is definite. A world absent of excess artificial light could potentially hold the key to a grand, glorious night sky like Van Gogh’s according to the writer. This urges the readers to weigh the disadvantages of our world consumed by unnatural, vapid lighting. Furthermore, Bogard’s alludes to Paris as “the famed ‘city of light’”. He then goes on to state how Paris has taken steps to exercise more sustainable lighting practices. By doing this, Bogard creates a dichotomy between Paris’ traditionally alluded-to name and the reality of what Paris is becoming – no longer “the city of light”, but moreso “the city of light…before 2 AM”. This furthers his line of argumentation because it shows how steps can be and are being taken to preserve natural darkness. It shows that even a city that is literally famous for being constantly lit can practically address light pollution in a manner that preserves the beauty of both the city itself and the universe as a whole

Finally, Bogard makes subtle yet efficient use of rhetorical questioning to persuade his audience that natural darkness preservation is essential. He asks the readers to consider “what the vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?” in a way that brutally plays to each of our emotions. By asking this question, Bogard draws out heartfelt ponderance from his readers about the affecting power of an untainted night sky. This rhetorical question tugs at the readers’ heartstrings; while the reader may have seen an unobscured night skyline before, the possibility that their child or grandchild will never get the chance sways them to see as Bogard sees. This strategy is definitively an appeal to pathos, forcing the audience to directly face an emotionally-charged inquiry that will surely spur some kind of response. By doing this, Bogard develops his argument, adding gutthral power to the idea that the issue of maintaining natural darkness is relevant and multifaceted.

Writing as a reaction to his disappointment that artificial light has largely permeated the prescence of natural darkness, Paul Bogard argues that we must preserve true, unaffected darkness. He builds this claim by making use of a personal anecdote, allusions, and rhetorical questioning.

Related Topic:  SAT Requirements

This response scored a 4/4/4.

Reading—4: This response demonstrates thorough comprehension of the source text through skillful use of paraphrases and direct quotations. The writer briefly summarizes the central idea of Bogard’s piece ( natural darkness should be preserved ;  we must preserve true, unaffected darkness ), and presents many details from the text, such as referring to the personal anecdote that opens the passage and citing Bogard’s use of  Paris’ reputation as “The City of Light.” There are few long direct quotations from the source text; instead, the response succinctly and accurately captures the entirety of Bogard’s argument in the writer’s own words, and the writer is able to articulate how details in the source text interrelate with Bogard’s central claim. The response is also free of errors of fact or interpretation. Overall, the response demonstrates advanced reading comprehension.

Analysis—4:  This response offers an insightful analysis of the source text and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the analytical task. In analyzing Bogard’s use of personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions , the writer is able to explain carefully and thoroughly how Bogard builds his argument over the course of the passage. For example, the writer offers a possible reason for why Bogard chose to open his argument with a personal anecdote, and is also able to describe the overall effect of that choice on his audience ( In telling this brief anecdote, Bogard challenges the audience to remember a time where they could fully amass themselves in natural darkness void of artificial light. By drawing in his readers with a personal encounter…the author means to establish the potential for beauty, glamour, and awe-inspiring mystery that genuine darkness can possess…. This anecdote provides a baseline of sorts for readers to find credence with the author’s claims ). The cogent chain of reasoning indicates an understanding of the overall effect of Bogard’s personal narrative both in terms of its function in the passage and how it affects his audience. This type of insightful analysis is evident throughout the response and indicates advanced analytical skill.

Writing—4: The response is cohesive and demonstrates highly effective use and command of language. The response contains a precise central claim ( He effectively builds his argument by using personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions ), and the body paragraphs are tightly focused on those three elements of Bogard’s text. There is a clear, deliberate progression of ideas within paragraphs and throughout the response. The writer’s brief introduction and conclusion are skillfully written and encapsulate the main ideas of Bogard’s piece as well as the overall structure of the writer’s analysis. There is a consistent use of both precise word choice and well-chosen turns of phrase ( the natural magnificence of stars in a dark sky is definite ,  our world consumed by unnatural, vapid lighting ,  the affecting power of an untainted night sky ). Moreover, the response features a wide variety in sentence structure and many examples of sophisticated sentences ( By doing this, Bogard creates a dichotomy between Paris’ traditionally alluded-to name and the reality of what Paris is becoming – no longer “the city of light”, but moreso “the city of light…before 2AM” ). The response demonstrates a strong command of the conventions of written English. Overall, the response exemplifies advanced writing proficiency.

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SAT Essay Prompts | Real World Examples

The best way to get used to what you’ll see on the SAT Essay is…seeing actual SAT Essay prompts and readings. So we have two official practice prompts for you to look at straight from the College Board.

When tackling the SAT Essay, be mindful of these dos and don’ts that’ll help you write it effectively on test day.

SAT Essay Prompt 1

Here are the actual directions to follow:

“As you read the passage below, consider how Paul Bogard uses

• evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims.
• reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.
• stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed.”

SAT Essay Prompt 1 Reading Passage

“ Adapted from Paul Bogard, “Let There Be Dark.” ©2012 by Los Angeles Times. Originally published December 21, 2012.

At my family’s cabin on a Minnesota lake, I knew woods so dark that my hands disappeared before my eyes. I knew night skies in which meteors left smoky trails across sugary spreads of stars. But now, when 8 of 10 children born in the United States will never know a sky dark enough for the Milky Way, I worry we are rapidly losing night’s natural darkness before realizing its worth. This winter solstice, as we cheer the days’ gradual movement back toward light, let us also remember the irreplaceable value of darkness.

All life evolved to the steady rhythm of bright days and dark nights. Today, though, when we feel the closeness of nightfall, we reach quickly for a light switch. And too little darkness, meaning too much artificial light at night, spells trouble for all.

Already the World Health Organization classifies working the night shift as a probable human carcinogen, and the American Medical Association has voiced its unanimous support for “light pollution reduction efforts and glare reduction efforts at both the national and state levels.” Our bodies need darkness to produce the hormone melatonin, which keeps certain cancers from developing, and our bodies need darkness for sleep. Sleep disorders have been linked to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and depression, and recent research suggests one main cause of “short sleep” is “long light.” Whether we work at night or simply take our tablets, notebooks, and smartphones to bed, there isn’t a place for this much artificial light in our lives.

The rest of the world depends on darkness as well, including nocturnal and crepuscular species of birds, insects, mammals, fish, and reptiles. Some examples are well known—the 400 species of birds that migrate at night in North America, the sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs—and some are not, such as the bats that save American farmers billions in pest control and the moths that pollinate 80% of the world’s flora. Ecological light pollution is like the bulldozer of the night, wrecking habitat and disrupting ecosystems several billion years in the making. Simply put, without darkness, Earth’s ecology would collapse…

In today’s crowded, louder, more fast-paced world, night’s darkness can provide solitude, quiet and stillness, qualities increasingly in short supply. Every religious tradition has considered darkness invaluable for a soulful life, and the chance to witness the universe has inspired artists, philosophers, and everyday stargazers since time began. In a world awash with electric light…how would Van Gogh have given the world his “Starry Night”? Who knows what this vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?

Yet all over the world, our nights are growing brighter. In the United States and Western Europe, the amount of light in the sky increases an average of about 6% every year. Computer images of the United States at night, based on NASA photographs, show that what was a very dark country as recently as the 1950s is now nearly covered with a blanket of light. Much of this light is wasted energy, which means wasted dollars. Those of us over 35 are perhaps among the last generation to have known truly dark nights. Even the northern lake where I was lucky to spend my summers has seen its darkness diminish.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Light pollution is readily within our ability to solve, using new lighting technologies and shielding existing lights. Already, many cities and towns across North America and Europe are changing to LED streetlights, which offer dramatic possibilities for controlling wasted light. Other communities are finding success with simply turning off portions of their public lighting after midnight. Even Paris, the famed “city of light,” which already turns off its monument lighting after 1 a.m., will this summer start to require its shops, offices, and public buildings to turn off lights after 2 a.m. Though primarily designed to save energy, such reductions in light will also go far in addressing light pollution. But we will never truly address the problem of light pollution until we become aware of the irreplaceable value and beauty of the darkness we are losing.”

SAT Essay Prompt 2

“As you read the passage below, consider how Dana Gioia uses

SAT Essay Prompt 2 Reading Passage

“Adapted from Dana Gioia, “Why Literature Matters” ©2005 by The New York Times Company. Originally published April 10, 2005.

[A] strange thing has happened in the American arts during the past quarter-century. While income rose to unforeseen levels, college attendance ballooned, and access to information increased enormously, the interest young Americans showed in the arts—and especially literature—actually diminished.

According to the 2002 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, a population study designed and commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts (and executed by the US Bureau of the Census), arts participation by Americans has declined for eight of the nine major forms that are measured… The declines have been most severe among younger adults (ages 18–24). The most worrisome finding in the 2002 study, however, is the declining percentage of Americans, especially young adults, reading literature.

That individuals at a time of crucial intellectual and emotional development bypass the joys and challenges of literature is a troubling trend. If it were true that they substituted histories, biographies, or political works for literature, one might not worry. But book reading of any kind is falling as well.

That such a longstanding and fundamental cultural activity should slip so swiftly, especially among young adults, signifies deep transformations in contemporary life. To call attention to the trend, the Arts Endowment issued the reading portion of the Survey as a separate report, “Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America.”

The decline in reading has consequences that go beyond literature. The significance of reading has become a persistent theme in the business world. The February issue of  Wired  magazine, for example, sketches a new set of mental skills and habits proper to the 21st century, aptitudes decidedly literary in character: not “linear, logical, analytical talents,” author Daniel Pink states, but “the ability to create artistic and emotional beauty, to detect patterns and opportunities, to craft a satisfying narrative.” When asked what kind of talents they like to see in management positions, business leaders consistently set imagination, creativity, and higher-order thinking at the top.

Ironically, the value of reading and the intellectual faculties that it inculcates appear most clearly as active and engaged literacy declines. There is now a growing awareness of the consequences of nonreading to the workplace. In 2001 the National Association of Manufacturers polled its members on skill deficiencies among employees. Among hourly workers, poor reading skills ranked second, and 38 percent of employers complained that local schools inadequately taught reading comprehension.

The decline of reading is also taking its toll in the civic sphere… A 2003 study of 15- to 26-year-olds’ civic knowledge by the National Conference of State Legislatures concluded, “Young people do not understand the ideals of citizenship… and their appreciation and support of American democracy is limited.”

It is probably no surprise that declining rates of literary reading coincide with declining levels of historical and political awareness among young people. One of the surprising findings of “Reading at Risk” was that literary readers are markedly more civically engaged than nonreaders, scoring two to four times more likely to perform charity work, visit a museum, or attend a sporting event. One reason for their higher social and cultural interactions may lie in the kind of civic and historical knowledge that comes with literary reading…

The evidence of literature’s importance to civic, personal, and economic health is too strong to ignore. The decline of literary reading foreshadows serious long-term social and economic problems, and it is time to bring literature and the other arts into discussions of public policy. Libraries, schools, and public agencies do noble work, but addressing the reading issue will require the leadership of politicians and the business community as well…

Reading is not a timeless, universal capability. Advanced literacy is a specific intellectual skill and social habit that depends on a great many educational, cultural, and economic factors. As more Americans lose this capability, our nation becomes less informed, active, and independent-minded. These are not the qualities that a free, innovative, or productive society can afford to lose.”

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SAT Essay Prompts: Analysis and Practice

Analyzing and practicing SAT essay prompts is crucial for success on the Writing and Language section of the SAT. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you understand SAT essay prompts, analyze them effectively, and practice writing essays that meet the SAT's expectations:

 Understanding SAT Essay Prompts

1. Prompt Structure: SAT essay prompts typically consist of a passage or excerpt followed by a question that asks you to analyze the author's argument, rhetorical strategies, or persuasive techniques.

2. Key Components: Pay attention to the main argument or thesis presented in the passage, as well as the evidence and rhetorical devices used to support it.

3. Purpose of Analysis: The SAT essay prompt is designed to assess your ability to analyze and evaluate an author's argument, rather than to express your own opinion or personal experiences.

 Analyzing SAT Essay Prompts

1. Identify the Main Argument: Read the passage carefully to understand the author's main argument or thesis. Highlight key points and evidence used to support it.

2. Evaluate Rhetorical Strategies: Identify and analyze the rhetorical devices and persuasive techniques used by the author, such as appeals to emotion, logic, or authority.

3. Consider Tone and Style: Pay attention to the author's tone and writing style, as well as any patterns or recurring themes in the passage.

4. Assess Effectiveness: Evaluate how effectively the author presents their argument and persuades the reader to agree with their point of view.

 Practicing SAT Essay Writing

1. Time Yourself: Set a timer for 50 minutes (the allotted time for the SAT essay) and practice writing essays under timed conditions to simulate test-day conditions.

2. Choose Prompts: Select SAT essay prompts from official SAT practice tests, review books, or online resources. Aim to practice with a variety of prompts to improve your versatility.

3. Outline Your Response: Before writing your essay, create a brief outline outlining your main points and the structure of your argument. This will help you stay focused and organized.

4. Write Clear, Concise Responses: Write in clear, concise language, and provide specific examples and evidence from the passage to support your analysis.

5. Edit and Revise: Take time to review and revise your essay after you've finished writing. Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, and make any necessary revisions to strengthen your argument.

6. Seek Feedback: Ask a teacher, tutor, or knowledgeable peer to review your essays and provide constructive feedback. Use their suggestions to improve your writing skills.

 Tips for Success

1. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving your SAT essay writing skills. Aim to practice writing essays on a regular basis to build confidence and familiarity with the format.

2. Read Critically: Read a variety of texts, including articles, essays, and editorials, and practice analyzing the author's argument, tone, and rhetorical strategies.

3. Stay Updated: Familiarize yourself with current events and social issues, as SAT essay prompts often draw from contemporary topics and debates.

4. Stay Calm and Focused: On test day, stay calm and focused, and trust in your preparation and practice. Remember to manage your time effectively and pace yourself throughout the essay-writing process.

By understanding SAT essay prompts, analyzing them effectively, and practicing writing essays that meet the SAT's expectations, you can improve your performance on the SAT Writing and Language section and work towards achieving your target score.

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8 Best SAT Essay Examples To Prepare For Your Test

Are you looking for the top SAT essay examples? Take a look at our guide containing the best examples to prepare for your examination.

Are you busy preparing for the SAT essay? The College Board is responsible for administering the SAT, which is essential for determining college decisions. In addition, writing is important for every field of study, which is why the SAT values the essay. As a result, your SAT essay score can have an impact not only on the entirety of your test performance but also on your college admissions decisions. Therefore, it may be helpful to look at a few sample essay prompts, allowing you to determine how you can maximize your performance on your essay.

1. The Value of Struggle

2. the topic of greed, 3. politicians and personal character, 4. demonstrating a lack of knowledge, 5. fame and fortune, 6. truth and lies, 7. expectations and public figures, 8. quick reaction times, what should i write in my sat essay, how long should my sat essay be, what should i do before i write my sat essay.

Prompt: Do we only value the things that we struggle for?

Plan your response carefully, and make sure you support your point of view with specific examples. The examples can come from history, a personal anecdote from high school, or knowledge of particular subjects.

This is a very common type of SAT writing prompt. In the prompt, the essay alludes to absolutism. In this case, the absolute is that we only value things we struggle for. Unless we struggle for it, we will never love it. In general, taking an absolute point of view will unnecessarily pigeonhole you into an impossible argument. Therefore, it is essential to change your response slightly. Instead, it would help if you talked about situations where you value things you struggle for and do not value things you struggle for. Just because you do not struggle for it doesn’t mean it is not valuable.

For example, you may not necessarily have valued your relationships with your siblings. If you are lucky, you may get along well with your siblings without stressing about it. This could be an example you can use in your essay. Likewise, you value your relationships with your family members but do not struggle for them. Then, you might want to share an example of something that you value after struggling for it.

Prompt: Is greed always a bad thing?

Greed is a driving force behind a lot of decisions that we make. There are some situations where greed is terrible and others where greed is good. You don’t want to take the standpoint that greed is always wrong. For example, greed is something that can help you maximize your score on the SAT. Because you want to go to an established college, someone could say you are greedy. It depends on how you use that motivation. Because you are channeling it for a positive force, such as doing well on the SAT, it is not necessarily bad. You can also talk about athletes who are greedy for success and decide to channel that motivation into excelling in their chosen field.

On the other hand, there are situations where greed might be bad. For example, you may want to point out a famous person who has gone to jail for financial misdeeds. You might even want to talk about Bernie Madoff , who ran one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history. He hurt many people out of greed and ended up paying a steep price for it. It would be best if you wrapped up the essay by discussing specific circumstances where greed is bad and others where greed is good. Then, you can talk about how that difference can guide our decisions and make us better people. 

Prompt: Should you consider the personal character of a politician before deciding to vote for that person?

Anyone who has recently paid attention to politics has likely seen many attack ads. They are trying to convince people to vote for politicians based on personal character instead of what they might do (or not) for the country. Even though the personal character is not necessarily the most important thing you should think about, it should play a role in your decision-making process.

As you write this essay, you may want to use an example of a situation where the personal character is important for deciding who to vote for. For example, you may want to talk about Richard Nixon, who was forced to resign after the press unveiled the Watergate scandal. While Richard Nixon did many great things in the office, such as opening up China, the Watergate scandal demonstrated that he could not be trusted. Because he lost the trust of the people, he would not be able to govern effectively, forcing him out of office.

Another example includes Bill Clinton, who is widely known to have cheated on his wife with Monica Lewinsky. Despite this, he was not forced to resign from office, and he is widely respected as a good president, if not a good person. He presided over one of the largest economic expansions in US history, and he was the last person to have a balanced budget. In this case, despite his personal character flaws, he was able to govern effectively.

There are plenty of other examples you can use to write this essay, but it all comes down to whether someone’s personal character has an impact on their ability to govern. If their individual character flaws do not impact their ability to govern effectively, then it might not impact their potential success as a leader. On the other hand, if someone’s personal character flaws completely remove their ability to govern effectively, then you may want to vote for someone else. You can use these general points to craft a strong essay. You might also be wondering, which colleges require SAT essay section for consideration .

Prompt: Are you required to admit your lack of knowledge before you are able to learn something?

This essay prompt is one that just about everyone can relate to. The premise of the essay is clear: if you feel like you already know everything, you will not be able to learn something new. At the same time, it is possible for you to learn something without admitting that you totally lack knowledge. You simply need to be open to a new point of view. You might be able to pull an example of this from the classroom.

For example, the first day you walked into chemistry class, you probably didn’t know the first thing about chemistry. You did not necessarily need to admit your lack of knowledge before you can start learning something new. This could be an example you can use that goes against the premise of the prompt.

On the other hand, there are situations where admitting a lack of knowledge can help you learn something new. For example, you may want to point out a discussion that you recently had with an expert in a certain area. By admitting that you did not know anything, you might have allowed that person to teach you. If you acted like you knew everything, that expert may not have wanted to teach you anything. By admitting your lack of knowledge, you open yourself up to new sources of information. 

To do well on this essay, you will need to specify when admitting a lack of knowledge can help you learn something and when it is unnecessary. That difference will help you maximize your SAT essay score. You might also be interested in these GRE writing examples .

Prompt: Is fame always a good thing? 

Fame and fortune have been popular topics of discussion recently. There are many people who believe that famous people lead lives of comfort and luxury. Many people believe that they lead lives that the rest of us can only dream of. Even though it may look nice to be a famous person, it is not always a good thing. Therefore, you should immediately take the point of view that there are situations where fame can be good, but there are other situations where fame can be bad. 

You might want to start with an example of a situation where fame is good. You can talk about almost any famous athlete, actor, or actress. You can talk about how their fame has landed them a lot of endorsement deals, making them enormous sums of money that they can use to support a luxurious lifestyle, their children, and future generations. Clearly, there are situations where fame can be a good thing.

On the other hand, you will need to use examples where fame might not necessarily be a good thing. For example, you may want to talk about the tremendous mental health issues that Britney Spears has suffered because of her fame and her conservatorship. Or, you may want to talk about the mental health struggles that a lot of famous musicians have, such as Kurt Cobain (who ultimately committed suicide).

You might also want to talk about the tremendous anxiety that Naomi Osaka struggles with when she has to talk to the press. Despite her tennis success and fortune, she doesn’t always appear happy on the tennis court. Based on the examples you choose, you will ultimately have to decide when fame is a good thing and when fame is a bad thing. The answer varies from person to person, and there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer. You simply need to write a strong essay that supports your point of view. 

Prompt: Is it always important to tell 100 percent of the truth?

Growing up, we are always taught to tell the truth. It is easier to tell children that they should tell the truth no matter what. At the same time, life is not black and white. There are some situations where shades of grey matter. When you write this essay, you should not do it as a “yes or no” answer. Instead, you need to talk about when it is important to tell the truth and when telling a lie, even a lie of omission, is important.

For example, you may want to take the point of view that telling a lie is a good thing if it benefits the person listening. You might want to use an example of explaining life and death to a small child. If your child really loves your next-door neighbor, but your next-door neighbor is dying of cancer, you don’t necessarily want to tell the child that the neighbor has cancer. The child might not be able to understand this. Instead, you may want to say that the person is not feeling well.

On the other hand, there are plenty of situations where telling the truth is a good thing. For example, you definitely don’t want to lie to your significant other about major financial issues. You probably don’t want to lie to your family members about major events in your life. If you lie to people important to you, particularly if you hurt them, it can damage your relationship with them, causing irreparable harm. When you close this essay, you will have to define when it is okay to lie to someone and when it is not. You might find it easier to say that lying is okay when it benefits the person you are talking to. You will need to use specific examples to write a strong essay. 

Prompt: Do we expect too much from our public figures?

As a society, we tend to hold our public figures in high esteem. What this means is that we also hold them to a higher standard. Therefore, things that might not necessarily get us fired from our jobs could force a public figure to resign. At the same time, public figures are people, not superheroes. Therefore, do we expect too much from them?

You may want to start by discussing whether it is appropriate to place high expectations on the shoulders of public figures. After all, they have only earned that position by demonstrating that they may have more knowledge, wisdom, or personal capacity than the average person. Therefore, it should only make sense that we would hold them to a higher level. Then, you may want to share some of the high expectations we place on public figures. We expect them to defend the country, help those less fortunate, and foster scientific and economic growth. 

On the other hand, you may want to talk about situations where the expectations we have for public figures are not necessarily reasonable. For example, you may want to discuss the expectation that public figures should immediately end a global pandemic. Or, you may want to talk about situations where public figures fall short because of events outside their control.

For example, our public figures are still accountable to the law. They are not dictators and could fall victim to significant companies or politicians who do not cooperate with them. When you finish this essay, you may want to discuss the difference between reasonable and unreasonable expectations. How do you define reasonable and unreasonable? You may even want to take the point that what is reasonable or unreasonable can vary from person to person.

Prompt: Is it better for us to react instinctively in times of crisis?

They call them reflexes for a reason, you want to respond as quickly as possible when there is a crisis. Evolutionarily, we would expect our reflexes to guide us in the right direction, but that is not always the case. For this essay, you will need to specify when it is better to react instinctively and when it is better to take a slower approach.

For example, you might want to talk about slamming on the brakes when trying to avoid an accident. If a child crosses the street in front of you, you don’t have time to pause, think, and decide whether you want to swerve or stop. Therefore it would be best if you reacted instinctively. If you wait too long, you will hit the child, leading to a catastrophe. In this situation, your reflexes are good.

Then, there are situations where it is better to take a more thought-out approach. For example, you might want to talk about a politician behind a desk trying to deal with energy, climate, or military crises. It may be prudent for politicians to reach out to their advisers, get everyone’s input, and decide what to do next. To write a strong essay, you will have to decide when it is crucial to react instinctively and when it is essential to pause for a moment and take a step back. Then, if you choose strong examples, you can write a solid response.

Looking for more? Check out these SAT writing tips .

FAQs About SAT Essay Examples

It would help if you used specific, varied examples to write a strong essay. The models need to support your point of view. It would help if you tried to choose examples from your personal life, current events, and history to demonstrate an extensive knowledge base. With a bit of test prep, you could get a perfect score. 

There is no set length for your SAT essay. A five-paragraph essay is an excellent rule of thumb, but it is not required. It is more critical to show that you know how to organize your essay using paragraphs. There will be a time limit, so your essay cannot be super long. 

It is always helpful to spend a couple of minutes brainstorming and outlining your essay before you start writing. You only have so many sheets of paper, so you need your essay to be organized before you begin. Think about your central claim, your sentence structure, and word choice. Next, write your thesis statement, topic sentences, and examples you want to use before you start writing your new SAT essay. Then, step by step, you will have a template around which you can build your central idea.

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ? If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Amanda has an M.S.Ed degree from the University of Pennsylvania in School and Mental Health Counseling and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. She has experience writing magazine articles, newspaper articles, SEO-friendly web copy, and blog posts.

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SAT Essay: Writing Tips, Test Scores & Examples

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The SAT essay is an optional section of the SAT exam that measures a student's ability to analyze and interpret a given piece of writing. It is a timed, 50-minute essay task that requires students to read a 600-700 word passage and then write a coherent response. This essay is designed to assess reading, writing, and analytical skills.

The SAT essay is scored on a scale of 2 to 8, with 2 being the lowest score and 8 being the highest score. The essay is scored based on three key areas: reading, analysis, and writing. The scores for each area are then added together to get a total score out of 24.

Feeling a little nervous before taking your SAT essay is normal. When you're dealing with something important for your future, it's ok to feel some pressure. That's why the goal of this guide is to help you get ready for this assignment and finally, get the highest SAT essay scoring. Let's take a look at SAT essay examples and the best practices to write it so that you can pass this test successfully.

What Is the SAT Essay?

SAT essay is a short, timed writing assignment that you'll get as part of the SAT. There are two great things about it. First, now the majority of educational institutions don't require an SAT writing essay. It is an optional task, which nevertheless, you are recommended to do. 

Secondly, new SAT essay rules don't require you to reinvent the wheel and deal with something you've never encountered before. At the same time, you shouldn't expect a typical essay-style question; there are no prompts like "Tell us about your favorite book." Instead, you will have to read a specific prompt, for example, a short article or speech, and analyze, interpret, and evaluate a given text.

Purpose of the SAT Essay

The main goal of the SAT essay is to evaluate three academic skills you should have and demonstrate. They are:

A perfect SAT essay wins 5-5-5 in reading, analysis, and writing. That's why you will have to read an assigned prompt first, then analyze the ways authors build their arguments, and describe their approach in writing. SAT essay is meant to be an opportunity for students to show off their writing skills, but it's also meant to test a student's ability to think critically about a topic, and most importantly, the ways an author explains it.

If you ever have trouble with SAT tasks, use college essay help online for the best result.

How to Write an SAT Essay

Keep in mind that SAT essay writing task is timed and requires you to analyze a passage and then support your analysis with evidence from a text. While SAT with essay usually lasts up to 5 hours, you will have up to one hour (usually 50 minutes) to complete a paper after you are done with the test itself. 

So, break down your assignment into four stages and keep track of the timeyou should devote to each of the states.

• Read and analyze — 10 minutes. For the first time, read the passage quickly to get an overall sense of its main idea. Then, re-read it more slowly. Highlight any arguments or opinions that stand out to you. This is critical because if you don't have an idea of what exactly an author is trying to say and what persuasion approaches they use, then it will be hard for you to write an effective analysis based on their argumentation.
• Outline — 10 minutes. Follow a standard essay structure of introduction-body-conclusion. Pay the most attention to the body. Draft three-four paragraphs, following one paragraph — one statement rule. Here, SAT essay practice doesn’t differ from writing any other type of paper.
• Write — 20 minutes. Next, proceed with writing being guided by your outline. We recommend getting started right with a body paragraph. Pick up the writing or reasoning technique an author uses in the passage and explain it, using examples from the test. Do it three-four times discussing different approaches of a writer and highlighting their weak and strong points. Sum up everything in your conclusion. Here you can also briefly state your opinion. Then, get back to the intro. You will feel how easy it is to write it after you have fully understood the passage and analyzed it in your body.
• Proofread and edit — 10 minutes. Don't skip this step! It's very important for your essay to be flawless in terms of spelling and grammatical correctness. So, make sure to provide enough time for essay revision and check everything twice before submission. Although the SAT have an essay as an optional assignment, do your best to show your paper writing skills.

>> View more: How to Write a Good Essay

SAT Essay Outline

Creating a new SAT essay outline before you start writing is a great way to ensure that you cover all necessary ideas. It is also an opportunity to prepare yourself mentally for such a task at hand. When you know what you're going to write and what SAT essay format to follow, you can get in the right mindset for writing effectively. The template you'll find below will help you as well. 

>> Read more: How to Write an Outline for an Essay

SAT Essay Template

• Briefly introduce a topic
• Mention a passage you're going to analyze and its author
• State your thesis statement
• State your first supporting point – how an author uses a specific persuasion technique
• Provide evidence for supporting your point – cite an example for a passage directly
• Explain how the evidence supports your point
• Transition to the next paragraph
• Follow the same structure as shown above
• Elaborate on different points until you reach the necessary essay length
• Restate your thesis
• Summarize your supporting points
• End with a strong concluding statement

You can pay for college essays at any time if you find anything too difficult or mind-boggling.

SAT Essay Prompts

SAT sample essay prompts are written in a way that asks you to analyze and evaluate other writers or speakers. SAT practice essay requires analytical writing on your part. That's why topics and questions for this assignment are diverse. Below you will find some prompts and corresponding samples to get an idea of what to expect from this task and how to deal with it. 

Sample SAT Essay Prompt 1 & Answer

So, let’s proceed with real-life examples and discover what to write in an SAT essay. 

For instance, the task may sound as follows: 

Write an essay in which you explain how Bill Gates builds his argument to persuade the audience of the need to address global climate change in his "Innovating to Zero" speech at the TED conference in 2010.

Here is what you can write about.

SAT Essay Sample 1

Bill Gates was at the forefront of the innovation development that is now changing the world. However, these changes are not always positive. In his "Innovating to Zero" speech at TED2010, he set an ambitious goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050. Bill Gates used a combination of emotional, logical, and ethical appeals to persuade the audience of the urgency and importance of tackling climate change. The most prominent persuasion technique that he uses throughout the speech is an emotional appeal. He uses an approach that's on the verge of rhetoric and psychology, making his audience feel compassion and pointing out that 2 million purest people on the globe will be unable to survive climate change. The goal of this technique is to help people realize the true cost of the upcoming disaster, and then — get a solution everyone can contribute to. Next, Bill Gates uses a logical appeal. He says: "We have to go from rapidly rising to fall [carbon emissions], and falling all the way to zero." To add credibility to his persuasion, he cites examples of new technologies that already make a difference. The speaker also supports his statements with statistics and calculations, moving to the concluding part — the call to action. Finally, Gates uses a call to action to encourage the audience to take care and rethink their attitudes toward climate change now. At this moment, he is leveraging the power of his reputation and global recognition of his contribution to technology development. Through this example, we can see how the personality of the speaker significantly amplifies all the persuasion techniques he used during the speech.

Sample SAT Essay Prompt 2 & Answer

Let’s consider one more example and deal with the following task:

Write an essay in which you explain how Sojourner Truth builds her argument to persuade the audience on men's and women's rights equity in her "Ain’t I a Woman" speech at a women's rights convention in 1851 in Ohio, USA.

SAT Essay Sample

The problem of equal gender rights, especially for people of color, has been relevant for over three centuries. History knows many outstanding speakers and activists of both genders, and Sojourner Truth is one of them. Her speech "Ain't I a Woman?" is a worthy example of consistent logic and strong persuasion. The speaker builds her argument using the rhetorical approach of opposition and contrast. She argued that if women were capable of doing hard work and bearing children, then they should be treated as equals to men. Next, she cites examples from her life to show that women are capable of doing even more. In the next sections of her speech, Sojourner Truth asks rhetorical questions and repeats them for better persuasion. "Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! A man had nothing to do with Him." The goal of this tactic is to appeal to religion which was very important for people of that time and help women realize that they are more powerful than they used to think. "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn back and get side up again". This statement is the continuation of the previous one. At the same time, it is a passionate, courageous, and driving call to action Sojourner Truth concludes her speech with.

Would you like additional assistance with your writing? If so, we can offer proficient support. Simply fill out our online essays order form, and our experts will handle your task quickly.

How Is the SAT Essay Scored? 

SAT essay scores simply. Two independent reviewers from an admission committee rate your paper based on 3 criteria:

They can score you from 1 to 4 points for each criterion. The points each of the reviewers gave are added together and students get a total SAT writing score with 24 points being the maximum. 

Tips for Writing the SAT Essay

So, now you have an idea of what to write in your paper, what kinds of topics to expect, and how your essay will be scored. Find out more SAT essay writing tips to skyrocket your chances of getting the highest grade possible.

• Review successful SAT examples. The best way to get started is by reviewing past essays that got a good SAT essay score. Pay attention to topics and ways other students express themselves in response.
• Practice at home before taking a test. Pick up prompts you like and try writing a piece at home. Exercise with different topics several times. Next, find a passage you've never read before. Set a cutdown timer and try to write an SAT essay under time pressure.
• Read the passage twice. The first time through, focus on understanding what an author is saying and how they're saying it. The second time around, pay more attention to their logic and argumentation.
• Highlight important points during the second reading round. Mark these points with a pencil. So, you can easily find them later when you're writing your essay.
• Focus on analysis. Instead of simply stating your opinion or offering an example, explain why your opinion or example is valid based on what an author has written. You should be able to support your position with evidence from a passage. If there isn't enough evidence in the passage itself, draw from outside sources that support your argument (such as real-world experience).
• Use specific evidence from the passage. Instead of making up your own ideas about what an author was trying to say, use specific examples from a text to support your point of view.
• Use strong vocabulary. SAT essay is a very formal, academic writing prompt, so you need to write with that in mind. Choose words that are more advanced than those you'd use in conversation.
• Proofread and edit twice. Once you've finished your draft, go back and read through it again. Making sure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Be very attentive since during your SAT test, you will not be able to use online tools for grammar and readability checks.

Bottom Line on SAT Essay Writing

SAT practice essays are challenging, but they are also an opportunity to show colleges you're ready to take on the next step in your education. Fortunately, SAT writing essays aren't as hard as they look. All you need to remember is that, at its core, an essay is just an argument — and every good argument has three parts: a claim, evidence for supporting that claim, and a conclusion. Invest your time and effort into getting ready for this assignment. Take a look at new SAT essay samples and try writing some pieces following the structure and tips we've shared in this article. 

If you found our SAT essay blog post helpful, you may also be interested in learning how to write an ACT essay  or succeed at AP English Language and Composition Exam .

Take advantage of our professional writing service . Our writers specialize in a wide range of academic disciplines and are dedicated to providing high-quality content to students for all types of assignments.

FAQ About SAT Essays

1. how long is the sat with an essay and without an essay.

The SAT without essay usually takes up to four hours. If you have to complete a writing assignment, you will be given extra 50 minutes for it. As for SAT essay length, it is 550-750 words.

2. What is a good SAT essay score?

The highest SAT essay scoring you can earn is five points for reading, analysis, and writing respectively. 3-4 scores on each task are average. 1-2 scores are a low result.

3. What colleges require the SAT essay?

The most famous institutions requiring the SAT essay include but aren't limited to: 

• Harvard University
• The University of California schools
• City University London
• Delaware State University
• Howard University.

4. Should I take the SAT essay?

Despite being an optional task, it is still better to take the SAT essay. If you have a chance to improve your score and you know how to handle this task, take the fullest advantage of this opportunity.

Rachel R. Hill is a real educational devotee. She prides in writing exceptional general guides while listening to every need of students.

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SAT essay is required to make sure you can think critically, and you can't just write about what you've already read. You should form your own opinions and explain them when writing the SAT essay.

SAT Essay Prompts: Guide, How to Write, and Examples

5 July 2023

last updated

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a standard requirement of college applications in America. Basically, an SAT essay is the only optional element of the SAT. Also, this essay does not fall into any of the common categories of essays. Then, SAT essay prompts ask examines to analyze the persuasive strategy of a preselected argumentative text. Hence, this guide begins with a detailed definition of the SAT essay and its significance to the test takers. Further on, the manual discusses the grading rubric and highlights strategies for increasing one’s SAT essay score. Next, the guide presents a critical analysis of the past SAT essay, which includes an overview, expectations, writing process, and assessment breakdown. As a result, the manual concludes with an outline and SAT essay corresponding to a newly designed essay task. In turn, students need to learn how to write the SAT essay.

Guide on How to Write an SAT Essay

Over the years, the college admission process has become quite complicated. Basically, the SAT exam is a common requirement for admission into most colleges in the United States. In this case, an SAT essay is one of the tests in the SAT exam, which students may decide to complete. Moreover, this form of essay writing differs from the standard essay types. Consequently, it is vital for individuals who are planning to take the SAT essay test to prepare adequately and internalize this unique form of essay writing. Therefore, this manual provides students with detailed explanations concerning the SAT essay with a focus on the writing style, scoring rubric, and best practices for attaining high scores in the SAT essay.

Definition of the SAT Essay

The SAT essay is one of the parts of the SAT exam, which students complete after answering all the multiple-choice sections of the test. In this case, an SAT essay requires authors to develop a response to SAT essay prompts by using a single text as the source of supporting evidence. Basically, the SAT essay section contains only one essay prompt and a single source text. Moreover, SAT essay source texts and prompts may differ extensively. Nevertheless, the underlying expectation that applicants demonstrate an understanding of the inner workings of the source’s argument is constant for all SAT essays. In turn, test takers have 50 minutes to complete the SAT essay, which places some constraint on the length of the essay. Thus, an SAT essay is a means for evaluating a student’s critical thinking and writing skills.

Target Group of SAT Essay Prompts

The College Board developed the SAT essay is an optional test for college applicants. For example, many universities require applicants to take SAT essay prompts and share their SAT essay score reports as part of the college application. In this case, the SAT essay test is not a mandatory SAT section for all colleges, which explains its optional status. Then, colleges encourage applicants to complete the SAT essay because it provides additional information that the admissions office may use to determine the college readiness of an individual. Moreover, the College Board releases a schedule that identifies seven test dates in different months when an interested party can take the SAT exam. Typically, all test dates fall on Saturday because most examinees are high school goers, which makes the avoidance of conflict between the regular school program and SAT a priority.

Value of Getting the SAT Essay Score

College applicants that take the SAT essay have a unique opportunity to show the admissions officer the level of their reading, analysis, and writing skills. For instance, an SAT essay prompt is a standardized test that college admission officers use as one of the comparative dimensions. Basically, it enables them to select the best candidates to join colleges from thousands of applications. In particular, completing the SAT essay increases the number of colleges that an individual may send applications. Also, it is because some colleges have the SAT essay as a mandatory requirement for successful admission. Furthermore, the SAT essay enables authors to sharpen tested skills by studying and practicing for the paper. Developing an individual’s capability to critically read, analyze, and respond in writing to a prompt is invaluable because these skills are applicable in other activities, for instance, writing the college admission essay.

Grading System on SAT Essay Prompts

1. overview.

The SAT essay grading system uses a structure that reflects the three skills that the paper examines in the test taker. Basically, the SAT essay score comprises of three distinct figures that correspond to the targeted skills: reading, analysis, and writing. In each category, markers can provide a score: 1 (inadequate), 2 (partial), 3 (proficient), or 4 (advanced). In this case, the SAT essay score of the individual targeted skill exists separately. Moreover, admission officers interpret the SAT essay score in their raw form without combining them to form a single total score. In turn, it is worth noting that two raters assess the SAT essay. As a result, students receive three sets of scores for the SAT essay: first marker’s scores, second marker’s scores, an overall score that adds the scores of the two markers while for individual targeted skills.

2. Reading Skills

This dimension of the SAT essay score demonstrates an individual’s reading skills by examining the text for particular cues that are useful in gauging one’s ability to read a reasonably complex text. In this case, the marker looks for evidence that the examinee is able to comprehend the source text. Explicitly, markers ascertain that the response:

• identifies the central ideas;
• distinguishes the most significant details of the text and their interrelationships;
• excludes any of factual or interpretational errors of the source text; and
• consists of quotations or paraphrases that the author employs appropriately as textual evidence.

Depending on the response’s ability to achieve the four cues, the maker determines an appropriate score for the reading dimension of the SAT exam essay score.

3. Analysis of SAT Essay Prompts

The analysis dimension of the SAT essay evaluates an examinee’s ability to deconstruct the source text’s argument and explain the role of the individual parts in developing the argument. Basically, there are four primary marking considerations for rating the response for the analysis dimension:

• Provision of a thoughtful analysis that corresponds to the analytical demands of the essay prompt.
• Presence of objective evaluation of the evidence derived from the source texts, persuasive and stylistic elements that the source’s author employs in the text, the reasoning of the source’s author, and the significance of any other peculiar features of the source text.
• Selection of appropriate, strong, and adequate evidence to support the examinee’s claims.
• A narrow focus on the main features of the source text throughout the essay.

Moreover, the analytical aspects of the response should be obvious to readers.

4. Writing the SAT Essay

The writing dimension allows markers to assess the examinee’s capability to present his or her ideas by using the English language. In this case, the scoring rubric identifies eight primary marking points:

• The extent of cohesiveness in the essay response.
• The author’s ability to utilize language for clear and persuasive communications.
• Adherence to the standard essay structure where the introduction, body, and conclusion are easily discernible.
• The presence of a thesis statement that precisely announces the central claim of the essay response.
• The text has a logical, systematic, and easy to follow progression with strong links between the paragraphs.
• Compliance with the formal conventions of the English language
• Minimal errors and complete absence of errors.
• Creative use of language and sentence structures.

Maximum Performance

1. practice tests.

The skills evaluated by using SAT essay prompts take a substantial amount of time to master, which makes consistent practice a useful strategy for increasing an individual score. In this case, students should allocate adequate time to familiarise themselves with the SAT essay. Moreover, there are many resources that a person may utilize in preparing for the SAT essay:

• The Official SAT Guide published by the College Board (hardcopy textbook).
• SAT essay content on the official College Board website.
• Institutional guides.

These resources provide adequate information to complete the SAT essay successfully. However, merely perusing through sources without writing a practice essay may hurt scores because the essay tests an individual’s ability to apply the content of manuals, which can prove challenging. Moreover, practicing aids the examinee to adapt to the time constraint of the test.

2. Rubric Comprehension

Mostly, students tend to overlook the explanations of the rubric, which places them at a disadvantage. Basically, the rubric is a ‘cheat sheet’ because it informs examinees of markers’ expectations for each of the skills. In this case, it enables test takers to craft a response that matches marking guidelines. Then, reading the rubric may not necessarily result in a deep understanding of the marking criteria. For example, the interaction with rated SAT essays may assist students to comprehend the enforcement of the scoring rubric. In turn, test takers can access real SAT essays and detailed explanations for the scoring published by College Board, which exemplifies the examiner’s scrutiny of a response by using the rubric. Hence, knowledge of the rubric and its use may elevate an individual’s SAT essay score because it raises their awareness concerning the marking points for each rating dimension.

3. Instructions

Students need to read through SAT essay prompts despite the standardized form of the essay prompt. Basically, the SAT essay assignment has a rigid structure, which implies that prompts follow a predefined structure with minor alterations to integrate the prompt with the source text. Nonetheless, reading the essay prompt clarifies the content of the response because it states the specific argument that must be the focus of the examinee’s essay. Also, the prompt reminds test takers that the SAT essay is not an argumentative essay , which is essential because markers do not rate off-topic essays. In turn, the relevance of the essay’s content to the prompt has a significant impact on student’s scores.

Review of a Past Sample of the SAT Essay Prompt

Sample sat essay practice prompt.

As you read the passage below, consider how Paul Bogard uses

• evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims.
• reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.
• stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed.

Adapted from Paul Bogard, “Let There Be Dark.” ©2012 by Los Angeles Times. Originally published December 21, 2012.

At my family’s cabin on a Minnesota lake, I knew woods so dark that my hands disappeared before my eyes. I knew night skies in which meteors left smoky trails across sugary spreads of stars. But now, when 8 of 10 children born in the United States will never know a sky dark enough for the Milky Way, I worry we are rapidly losing night’s natural darkness before realizing its worth. This winter solstice, as we cheer the days’ gradual movement back toward light, let us also remember the irreplaceable value of darkness. All life evolved to the steady rhythm of bright days and dark nights. Today, though, when we feel the closeness of nightfall, we reach quickly for a light switch. And too little darkness, meaning too much artificial light at night, spells trouble for all. Already the World Health Organization classifies working the night shift as a probable human carcinogen, and the American Medical Association has voiced its unanimous support for “light pollution reduction efforts and glare reduction efforts at both the national and state levels.” Our bodies need darkness to produce the hormone melatonin, which keeps certain cancers from developing, and our bodies need darkness for sleep. Sleep disorders have been linked to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression, and recent research suggests one main cause of “short sleep” is “long light.” Whether we work at night or simply take our tablets, notebooks and smartphones to bed, there isn’t a place for this much artificial light in our lives. The rest of the world depends on darkness as well, including nocturnal and crepuscular species of birds, insects, mammals, fish and reptiles. Some examples are well known—the 400 species of birds that migrate at night in North America, the sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs—and some are not, such as the bats that save American farmers billions in pest control and the moths that pollinate 80% of the world’s flora. Ecological light pollution is like the bulldozer of the night, wrecking habitat and disrupting ecosystems several billion years in the making. Simply put, without darkness, Earth’s ecology would collapse…. In today’s crowded, louder, more fast-paced world, night’s darkness can provide solitude, quiet and stillness, qualities increasingly in short supply. Every religious tradition has considered darkness invaluable for a soulful life, and the chance to witness the universe has inspired artists, philosophers and everyday stargazers since time began. In a world awash with electric light…how would Van Gogh have given the world his “Starry Night”? Who knows what this vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren? Yet all over the world, our nights are growing brighter. In the United States and Western Europe, the amount of light in the sky increases an average of about 6% every year. Computer images of the United States at night, based on NASA photographs, show that what was a very dark country as recently as the 1950s is now nearly covered with a blanket of light. Much of this light is wasted energy, which means wasted dollars. Those of us over 35 are perhaps among the last generation to have known truly dark nights. Even the northern lake where I was lucky to spend my summers has seen its darkness diminish. It doesn’t have to be this way. Light pollution is readily within our ability to solve, using new lighting technologies and shielding existing lights. Already, many cities and towns across North America and Europe are changing to LED streetlights, which offer dramatic possibilities for controlling wasted light. Other communities are finding success with simply turning off portions of their public lighting after midnight. Even Paris, the famed “city of light,” which already turns off its monument lighting after 1 a.m., will this summer start to require its shops, offices and public buildings to turn off lights after 2 a.m. Though primarily designed to save energy, such reductions in light will also go far in addressing light pollution. But we will never truly address the problem of light pollution until we become aware of the irreplaceable value and beauty of the darkness we are losing. Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved. In your essay, analyze how Bogard uses one or more of the features in the directions that precede the passage (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Bogard’s claims, but rather explain how Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience.

Overview of the Task

The selected task consists of three main features: reading instructions, the source text, and the SAT question. Firstly, the reading instructions for this essay inform examinees of the nature of details that they should attempt to extract during the reading of the source text. Specifically, the reading instructions direct the attention of students to the following aspects of the source text: evidence, reasoning, and stylistic or persuasive elements. Then, the source text is the only reading that examinees use in responding to the essay question. In this example, the source text is an adaptation of “Let There Be Dark,” which is an opinion article written by Paul Bogard in 2012. In turn, the source text contains 696 words, which is a wordcount that requires approximately three minutes to read. Finally, the essay question appears after the source text.

Expectations

In the essay question, examiners explicitly state the requirements of the written response. Basically, the examiner states the goal of the essay, which is to identify and describe the technique that Bogard employs in developing his argument for the preservation of natural darkness. Also, this strictly defined writing activity appears in the first sentence of the essay question paragraph. Then, additional descriptions that clarify the writing purpose appear in the next two sentences of the essay question. In this case, additional descriptions create a link between the reading directions issued before the source text and the essay’s content. Furthermore, the essay question offers some guidance for students when it points out that applicants should concentrate on the most relevant features of the source text and warns against the creation of an argumentative response.

Writing a Perfect Response

1. creation of a thesis statement.

The first step of the writing process is the development of a thesis statement. In this case, the thesis statement is a direct response to the essay question, which asks students to elucidate Bogard’s argument building strategy. Specifically, the main claim answers the ‘how’ question put forth in the essay prompt. Moreover, the thesis sentence states the central findings of writers after reading and analyzing the source text in the context of the considerations mentioned in the reading directions. In turn, a strong thesis statement would state the main elements of the source text that authors of the response paper intend to expound on in body paragraphs. As a result, based on the standard essay structure, students formulate a one-sentence thesis statement, which they place at the end of the introductory paragraph of the response.

3. Writing the Paper

The actual writing of the essay is quite challenging because of its variations from the typical writing practices. Basically, regular paper assignments allow students to write multiple drafts before submitting the final essay for grading. In this case, the SAT essay does not extend students this convenience of electronically typed assignments because the paper is handwritten within a fixed duration. Consequently, examinees must create an essay that is close to perfect in the first and only writing attempt. During the writing of the essay, authors select appropriate words that capture their ideas while adhering to the academic writing and English language conventions. In turn, students should adequately consider each sentence and its contribution to the paragraph and the essay before writing it to reduce the need for heavy editing. Besides, examinees should spend approximately 25 minutes in writing the essay.

4. Proofreading

The SAT essay undergoes the standard proofreading process that writers use for other forms of writing. The first round of proofreading should focus on the smoothening the flow of ideas and confirming that the essay meets the expectations outlined in the prompt. During this first session, the author critically examines the topic sentences, explanation of the evidence, and transition statements to improve the readability and value of these paragraph elements in realizing the goal of this form of essay. The second round of proofreading prioritizes the removal of grammar and spelling mistakes. The proofreading stage of the writing process should not include massive changes to the initial draft because of the time restrictions. Moreover, major last-minute changes may prove to have more adverse effects than beneficial impacts on the essay in its entirety. After proofreading, the essay should be flawless.

Evidence of the examinee’s reading skills is inherent in the writing. Basically, the marker pays attention to the ability of the author to distinguish between strong and weak features of Bogard’s article in the response. In particular, the college board committee will evaluate the use of direct quotations and paraphrases. Then, authors must minimize the use of long direct quotations because they are a sign that authors were unable to understand the text to allow for proper paraphrasing in their own words. Also, direct quotes that students incorporate in the paper should maintain their contextual meaning. In turn, the author’s capability to illustrate interrelationships between the evidence and Bogard’s argument correctly plays a significant role in the score that students receive for this dimension.

Analysis of SAT Essay Prompts

1. conducting analysis.

Markers evaluate the author’s analytical skills through reviewing the author’s reasoning concerning the effects of various persuasive tools that Bogard employs in his argument. In “Let There Be Dark,” Bogard begins the article with a personal anecdote, which is a crucial tool in his persuasion strategy. Also, the mere identification of the personal anecdote as a persuasive tool does not earn the author any marks for this skill. Instead, an explanation concerning its effect on the reader is the content that the marker desires to observe. Hence, the extensiveness of the author’s analytical explanations affects the rating of the examinee that receives for the analytical dimension score.

Based on the identification of Bogard’s anecdote, authors may argue that Bogard’s anecdote takes readers on an introspective journey where he challenges them to revisit or imagine a time when the sky was truly dark. Moreover, students may continue to explain that Bogard compares the reader’s image of the past to the present state of affairs to create and magnify the significance of the fading darkness. Therefore, applicants may conclude that the personal anecdote is a starting point that allows Bogard to convince the audience of the transition from a period of true darkness to the present state of minimal darkness, which is the foundation of Bogard’s argument. In this analytical example, writers show the value of Bogard’s anecdote to his persuasive strategy and note the effect of the persuasive element on the audience.

3. Writing Dimension

The writing dimension of the SAT essay follows rather rigid criteria, which makes its assessment to be straightforward. Mostly, an SAT follows the standard five-paragraph essay structure. Also, the SAT essay must have an introduction, at least two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In this case, the college board committee expects a thesis statement at the end of the informative introduction. Besides, the body paragraphs should comply with paragraph structure guidelines, which implies that each body paragraph has a topic sentence, evidence from the source text, a detailed but concise evaluation of the evidence, and a transition statement that binds the one paragraph to the next. In turn, markers take an interest in the sentence structure variety and other mechanics of language in calculating the rating for the writing dimension of the SAT essay score.

Example-Based Explanations for Responding to an SAT Essay Prompt

Viable sat essay.

Adapted from Lawrence Kraus, “The Ideological Corruption of Science.” ©2020 by Wall Street Journal. Originally published July, 2020.

In the 1980s, when I was a young professor of physics and astronomy at Yale, deconstructionism was in vogue in the English Department. We in the science departments would scoff at the lack of objective intellectual standards in the humanities, epitomized by a movement that argued against the existence of objective truth itself, arguing that all such claims to knowledge were tainted by ideological biases due to race, sex or economic dominance. It could never happen in the hard sciences, except perhaps under dictatorships, such as the Nazi condemnation of “Jewish” science, or the Stalinist campaign against genetics led by Trofim Lysenko, in which literally thousands of mainstream geneticists were dismissed in the effort to suppress any opposition to the prevailing political view of the state. Or so we thought. In recent years, and especially since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, academic science leaders have adopted wholesale the language of dominance and oppression previously restricted to “cultural studies” journals to guide their disciplines, to censor dissenting views, to remove faculty from leadership positions if their research is claimed by opponents to support systemic oppression. In June, the American Physical Society (APS), which represents 55,000 physicists world-wide, endorsed a “strike for black lives” to “shut down STEM” in academia. It closed its office—not to protest police violence or racism, but to “commit to eradicating systemic racism and discrimination, especially in academia, and science,” stating that “physics is not an exception” to the suffocating effects of racism in American life. While racism in our society is real, no data were given to support this claim of systemic racism in science, and I have argued elsewhere that there are strong reasons to think that this claim is spurious. The APS wasn’t alone. National laboratories and university science departments joined the one-day strike. The pre-eminent science journal Nature, which disseminates what it views as the most important science stories in a daily newsletter, featured an article titled “Ten simple rules for building an anti-racist lab.” At Michigan State University, one group used the strike to organize and coordinate a protest campaign against the vice president for research, physicist Stephen Hsu, whose crimes included doing research on computational genomics to study how human genetics might be related to cognitive ability—something that to the protesters smacked of eugenics. He was also accused of supporting psychology research at MSU on the statistics of police shootings that didn’t clearly support claims of racial bias. Within a week, the university president forced Mr. Hsu to resign. At Princeton on July 4, more than 100 faculty members, including more than 40 in the sciences and engineering, wrote an open letter to the president with proposals to “disrupt the institutional hierarchies perpetuating inequity and harm.” This included the creation of a policing committee that would “oversee the investigation and discipline of racist behaviors, incidents, research, and publication on the part of faculty,” with “racism” to be defined by another faculty committee, and requiring every department, including math, physics, astronomy and other sciences, to establish a senior thesis prize for research that somehow “is actively anti-racist or expands our sense of how race is constructed in our society.” When scientific and academic leaders give official imprimatur to unverified claims, or issue blanket condemnations of peer-reviewed research or whole fields that may be unpopular, it has ripple effects throughout the field. It can shut down discussion and result in self-censorship. Shortly after Mr. Hsu resigned, the authors of the psychology study asked the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science to retract their paper—not because of flaws in their statistical analysis, but because of what they called the “misuse” of their article by journalists who argued that it countered the prevailing view that police forces are racist. They later amended the retraction request to claim, conveniently, that it “had nothing to do with political considerations, ‘mob’ pressure, threats to the authors, or distaste for the political views of people citing the work approvingly.” As a cosmologist, I can say that if we retracted all the papers in cosmology that we felt were misrepresented by journalists, there would hardly be any papers left. Actual censorship is also occurring. A distinguished chemist in Canada argued in favor of merit-based science and against hiring practices that aim at equality of outcome if they result “in discrimination against the most meritorious candidates.” For that he was censured by his university provost, his published review article on research and education in organic synthesis was removed from the journal website, and two editors involved in accepting it were suspended. An Italian scientist at the international laboratory CERN, home to the Large Hadron Collider, had his scheduled seminar on statistical imbalances between the sexes in physics canceled and his position at the laboratory revoked because he suggested that apparent inequities might not be directly due to sexism. A group of linguistics students initiated a public petition asking that the psychologist Steven Pinker be stripped of his position as a Linguistics Society of America Fellow for such offenses as tweeting a New York Times article they disapproved of. As ideological encroachment corrupts scientific institutions, one might wonder why more scientists aren’t defending the hard sciences from this intrusion. The answer is that many academics are afraid, and for good reason. They are hesitant to disagree with scientific leadership groups, and they see what has happened to scientists who do. They see how researchers lose funding if they can’t justify how their research programs will explicitly combat claimed systemic racism or sexism, a requirement for scientific proposals now being applied by granting agencies. Whenever science has been corrupted by falling prey to ideology, scientific progress suffers. This was the case in Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union—and in the U.S. in the 19th century when racist views dominated biology, and during the McCarthy era, when prominent scientists like Robert Oppenheimer were ostracized for their political views. To stem the slide, scientific leaders, scientific societies and senior academic administrators must publicly stand up not only for free speech in science, but for quality, independent of political doctrine and divorced from the demands of political factions. Write an essay in which you explain how Lawrence Krauss builds an argument to persuade his audience that ideological biases are crippling scientific institutions. In your essay, analyze how Krauss uses one or more of the features in the directions that precede the passage (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Krauss’s claims, but rather explain how Krauss builds an argument to persuade his audience.

Descriptive Outline

I. introduction.

Background:

• Recent events on systemic oppression
• The manifestation of systemic oppression in the education sector

Thesis statement: Krauss uses logical appeals, cause and effect rhetorical strategy, and a personal anecdote to build a persuasive argument.

Example paragraph of the SAT introduction:

In “The Ideological Corruption of Science,” Lawrence Krauss reflects on the proliferation of extremist ideologies in education systems. Basically, this re-evaluation of the systemic oppression reveals that ideological biases have corrupted scientific institutions. In turn, Krauss uses logical appeals, cause and effect rhetorical strategy, and a personal anecdote to build a persuasive argument.

Analysis of example paragraph :

This paragraph informs readers concerning the author’s name and title of the article. Also, it provides a summary of the source text’s primary argument. Then, the thesis statement notifies readers about the content of the remainder of the essay. At the end of the introductory paragraph, readers have a good idea of the content of Krauss’s article and the response essay.

A. First Body Paragraph:

Minor claim: The use of logic as a persuasive element.

Evidence supporting the minor claim:

• The forced resignation of physicist Stephen Hsu from Michigan State University

Example of the 1st paragraph :

The most dominant aspect of Krauss’s persuasive strategy emerges from the use of logical appeals. In this case, Krauss’s text contains numerous examples of the detailed accounts of systemic oppression. Particularly, Krauss describes the forced resignation of Stephen Hsu, who committed the “crime” of conducting studies on human genetics that his peers considered to be symbolic of the rise of eugenics. Then, Krauss outlines the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Hsu from Michigan State University, but he intentionally fails to state whether it is a just or unjust dismissal. Also, Krauss does not state whether the allegations leading to the dismissal are rationally sound and objective. In turn, this omission of his opinion is the embodiment of a logical appeal where he provides the audience with adequate situational information for them to develop their own opinion in the context of his proposed line of thought. Hence, Krauss utilizes this persuasive technique in the narration of the incident at Princeton and international laboratory CERN.

Analysis of example paragraph:

The topic sentence of this paragraph announces that logical appeal is the persuasive element of interest. Basically, the author provides an accurate paraphrase of Hsu’s experience. After the evidence, the writer notes that the Krauss chooses to withhold his personal opinion while presenting this scenario. Moreover, the author identifies the effect that the omission of Krauss’s opinion on the readers’ ability to make independent judgments based on the evidence at hand. In this paragraph, the person illustrates Krauss’s use of logical appeals in his text.

B. Second Body Paragraph:

Minor Claim: Krauss’s heavy reliance on the cause and effect as a rhetorical strategy.

• The ripple effect of Hsu’s resignation on publication.
• Reason for the scientists’ reluctance to defend the ideological independence in educational institutions.

Example of the 2nd paragraph:

Krauss employs the cause and effect rhetorical approach in convincing the audience that a single decision founded on wrong principles has a ripple effect throughout the system. Basically, the dismissal of Hsu triggers the submission of a retraction request for the study that found police shooting statistics to be weak evidence of racial bias in policing. Before revising the retraction claim, the publishers of the study stated that the request for retraction was a consequence of the “misuse” of the article in media as evidence that policing is not racist. Moreover, Krauss demonstrates that the compelled resignation of Hsu placed “pressure” on the researchers to retract their findings to protect themselves from the “wrath” of the system. In turn, this example makes the significance of the readers’ decision regarding the correctness of Hsu’s dismissal obvious. Besides, it shows the audience that the dynamics of systemic oppression where one decision creates a precedent for similar judgments of relatively identical cases.

This paragraph shifts the markers’ attention to a strategically designed cause and effect scenario. Specifically, the author uses the cause and effect scenario to addresses the counterargument that a single decision cannot have a widespread impact on all scientific institutions. Also, the writer notes that there is a strong association between primary and secondary effects of ideological biases in scientific institutions. In turn, the cause-effect rhetorical strategy fortifies Krauss’s argument for systemic oppression.

C. Third Body Paragraph

Minor Claim: Krauss employs a personal anecdote as a persuasive element.

• The anecdote at in the opening paragraph.

Example of the 3rd paragraph:

The personal anecdote that plays the role of the hook for the article elevates the persuasive nature of Krauss’s argument. At the beginning of the text, Krauss notes his personal experience as a physics professor led him to believe that science institutions were not susceptible to the “deconstructionism,” which plagued the English Department. In this case, the anecdote provides the audience with the basis of comparison, which increases the clarity of the Krauss’s hypothesized systemic change. Furthermore, the Krauss anecdote elevates the value of his proposition because it establishes that he worked in the scientific institutions, which implies that he speaks from personal experience. As a result, the audience may consider his argument to have more weight as opposed to the opinion of a freelance journalist.

In this paragraph, the author discusses the use of personal anecdotes. Basically, the writer argues that the anecdote creates an ideal “before” situation, which facilitates the comparison between the previous and current science institutions. Also, the author acknowledges that the anecdote informs the reader of the author’s history as a professor. In consequence, readers may be easily swayed by Krauss’s argument because he worked and probably works in the system.

III. Conclusion

Closing points:

• The author defends his position well.
• Effectiveness of the persuasive strategy.

Example paragraph of the SAT conclusion:

Krauss’s designs a complex persuasive strategy to advance his arguments to the audience. In this case, Krauss’s article addresses a controversial issue but manages to provide a reasonable argument, which both supporters and opposers of his position can tolerate. As a result, this effect is evidence of the efficacy of Krauss’s persuasion strategy.

Response Patterns

The response to any SAT essay follows some common patterns. Basically, all SAT essays begin with an introductory paragraph, which ends with a thesis statement. In most cases, the thesis sentence identifies the particular persuasive element that the author discusses in the body of the paper. Then, body paragraphs tend to follow some form of hierarchy that students establish upon a critical reading of the source text. Also, each body paragraph contains at least one instance of textual evidence. In turn, writers ensure that there is a minimum of two body paragraphs, which discuss unique minor claims. Finally, the concluding paragraph of the SAT paper is not a recap of the major points. Instead, the concluding paragraph offers closing statements that affirm the importance of a carefully thought-out persuasive strategy.

Learning from the Review of the Practice SAT Essay

The overview of the practice essay provides much insight that is useful in responding to sample SAT essay prompts. The practice essay familiarises the examinee with the structure of the essay prompt and the expectations of the examiner. Prior exposure to the structure of the essay prompt reduces the likelihood of incorrect interpretation. The previous example made the expectations of the marker apparent because it explains the core features that graders typically look for during the rating process. This information is useful because it enables the author to develop a mind-set identical to the markers, which aids in suitable content generation. Equally important, the review outlines some of the common mistakes, which an author strives to avoid while responding to the SAT essay prompt, for instance, overreliance on direct quotes for expression.

Characteristics of Other SAT Essay Prompts

Based on the analysis of the two SAT essays, it is apparent that SAT essay prompts have some similarities. Basically, the set of reading instructions that precede the source text for any paper is identical for all SAT essay prompts. In this case, the paragraph containing the essay question utilizes a template. Moreover, the author’s name and argument are the features of the template that the examiner changes to adapt the essay question to the source text. Then, source texts are argumentative, but they have varying lengths. In turn, the examiner maintains the source text’s length to ensure that the reading time for a person with average reading skills does not exceed five minutes. Hence, these shared characteristics make it possible for an individual to speculate the content of any SAT essay prompt.

General Preparation Strategy for SAT Essay Prompts

1. sat essay structure.

The essay structure is a fundamental concept in academic writing. In the SAT essay, examiners test the students’ knowledge of the essay structure passively by asking applicants to respond to an academic question in an extended prose writing format. In consequence, students must study the basics of academic writing, especially the paper structure and complementary paragraph structure. Basically, the mastery of the basic concepts that define academic writing is mandatory because the rating of all the three skills depends on the paper. In turn, it implies that poor writing skills may have a substantial indirect adverse impact on the ratings of the reading and analysis dimensions of the SAT scores.

2. Argument Creation

The development of arguments is a common task in scholarly writing. For example, examiners select a text that has the traits of an argumentative essay to be the source, which examinees employ in responding to SAT essay prompts. Basically, knowledge concerning argumentative essays is a pre-condition for the successful deconstruction of the source text of an SAT essay. Accordingly, test takers must have a deep comprehension of the rhetorical strategies that authors utilize in argument creation. In turn, if examinees do not understand the principles of argument formation, it may be difficult for them to break down an argumentative text and describe the link that exists between textual evidence, persuasive elements, and the audience’s reactions.

Takeaway on SAT Essay Prompts

• Reading the prompt is not an optional activity despite the standardized SAT essay prompt structure.
• During the critical reading, test takers should identify viable evidence that they may incorporate in the response.
• The SAT essay requires an analysis of the persuasive strategy that the author of the text employs in articulating his or her argument.
• The five-paragraph essay structure and conventional paragraph structure guide the examinees in the written presentation of their response.
• Prior knowledge of academic writing practices and argument formation is necessary for the successful completion of the SAT essay.

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

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SAT Essay Examples For High Scoring Student

Sat essay examples.

Just like with essays on other exams, the secret to excelling on the SAT essay section is by pre-planning the examples and evidence that you wish to use. But you might be wondering how it can be done on the new SAT essay as the whole point of the essay is to use information from the given passage while answering and you don’t know about the essay ahead of time.

Well, the truth is that while the specifics of each example depend on the passage and obviously change with each exam, the pattern of the examples you choose to discuss can be defined, and therefore, planned ahead of time. 

In this blog, we will discuss a few good SAT essay examples that will help you in formulating almost any essay SAT gives you. By practicing examples of the most common types of essays asked on SAT, you will cut down on planning time during the exam and increase the amount and quality of content you can write in a limited time. This will help build your confidence and enable you to walk into any SAT essay exam with a positive attitude.

If you are looking for an answer to the question, “Is there an essay on the SAT?”, here it is: The College Board in January 2021 announced that the essay portion of the SAT will no longer be asked after June 2021. Some schools with school day testing still offer the SAT essay section. Therefore, now it’s no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school offers it during SAT School Day Testing. 

While the SAT Essay scores were already made optional by most colleges, this means that the SAT Essay cancelled section is now not required by the College Board. It will also probably result in changes in college applications such as not considering the essay scores for ACT or SAT anymore, in addition to requiring more writing samples for placement. 

For every passage, you should play for its particular strengths. If there are a lot of statistics or facts involved, you can discuss those in your essay. If it dwells more on personal appeals or anecdotes to emotion, you can discuss those. But if you struggle with analysing in a limited amount of time, it is best to memorize these types of examples beforehand so that you get a helpful checklist to get through while you read the essay prompt. This will point you in the right direction.

Below we have discussed a few examples of SAT essays on different topics such as evidence and reasoning that you can use as stellar evidence to support your thesis. We have also guided you on how you can use the evidence type to support your thesis across a range of SAT essay prompts for each example. After you go through the blog, you will realize how helpful pre-planned high-scoring student SAT essay examples are. 

Example of Evidence

The most fundamental technique that the author uses to build an argument is by supporting his points with the help of evidence. Many different kinds of evidence can be used by the author to support his/her claim. But here we will discuss a single one (facts and statistics) that is commonly seen in official SAT Essay prompts. 

Example 1: Facts and Statistics

Using facts and statistics to bolster one’s argument is one of the most reliable techniques authors use to build an argument. It is more commonly seen in essays written about social studies-related and scientific topics where specific facts and data are readily available.  

How to Identify it?

Statistics are usually found in the form of specific numbers about the topic under study. It may be shown in the form of tables, percentage, or as a way to communicate other information. Below are a few examples of statistics from an official essay prompt of SAT , “Let There Be Dark” written by Paul Bogard. 

Example: In United States, 8 children born out of 10 will never get to know a sky dark enough for the Milky Way

Example: In Western Europe and the United States, the increase in the amount of light in the sky is about 6% on an average year

Non-numerical information can also be used to depict factual evidence. You will often encounter facts being presented with references to the research survey, study, expert, or other sources from which they have been derived. Below is another example from the same topic.

Example: The World Health Organization already classifies working during night shifts as potentially carcinogenic for humans. 

Why is it Persuasive?

Statistics and facts are persuasive argument building methods as the author is not just making up random points for why the argument could be possibly right. There is actually some data, statistics, research, or other types of reliable information that backs up the author’s argument. 

In the above examples, Paul Bogard reveals specific information regarding the issues with light pollution (when he says that most children in the United States won’t be fortunate enough to see the Milky Way) to back up his argument that light pollution is a real issue. He then proceeds to present information indicating how light pollution is a major problem (working during the night is carcinogenic for humans).

By presenting valid facts and information instead of just forcing a subjective opinion and beating about the bush, Paul Bogard empowers the reader to connect the dots themselves. This gives the reader a power or ownership over the argument, rendering it more persuasive. This is because the reader concludes the same statements even on his own, rather than blindly trusting Bogard on telling them what to think. 

Example Type 2: Anecdotes

Another technique often used by authors as an alternative to presenting evidence with facts or statistics is using the anecdote. This type of evidence can be found more commonly in speeches or other types of SAT essay prompts that are personally directed towards the reader. 

An anecdote refers to a short story about a real event or a person. It is when an author goes about discussing their own personal experiences or that of someone else they know or have heard of. Below is an anecdote example from an official SAT essay prompted that has been taken from the foreword by Jimmy Carter, a former U.S. President. 

One of the most humbling and unforgettable experiences of our lives happened on the coastal plain. During our trip, we had expected to see the caribou. However, to our amazement, we saw the migration of thousands of caribou along with their newborn calves.

The sweep of tundra surrounding us was flooded with life in a matter of a few minutes with the sounds of clicking hooves and grunting animals filling the air. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the dramatic procession of the herd of the Porcupine caribou. We now understand why this special birthplace has been described as “America’s Serengeti” by many. 

Although anecdotes are not facts or statistics, they can be a reliable technique to express information because it’s more interesting for the reader to go through the anecdote rather than read dry, boring facts. People tend to trust the experiences more if they can personally relate or connect with them, although it does not always mean that the statement is true.

In the example stated above, instead of talking about the statistics supporting the creation of wildlife refuges, rather an anecdote is used by Jimmy Carter to represent the same point using illustrations of the wonders of nature, which works more effectively. By allowing the readers to vicariously experience this majestic event of the migration of the caribou, Carter stimulates the empathetic sense of the reader towards wildlife preservation and therefore makes it more likely for the reader to agree with him on the topic of wildlife preservation. 

Conclusion  

We hope that the essay prompts given above help you in your SAT preparation and in getting a SAT good essay score. Don’t forget to check out our other blogs on how to prepare effectively for the SAT.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. why is it helpful to prepare sat essay examples.

The SAT essay examples will help you get a sat good essay score as they have several things in common with the exam pattern:

• All of these passages try to convince the reader of the veracity of the claim of the author. 
• All of these are around the same length.
• All of these can be analysed and written about in a relatively short time period 

2. How can essay example practice help to get a good SAT essay score?

By practising these essay examples you will have a decent idea ahead of time regarding argument-building techniques that will help you greatly on the test day and increase your overall SAT essay score. 

3. Will the techniques used by the author on the SAT be complex?

The main techniques used by the author won’t be too complex. This is because you just can’t afford the time to analyse and write about complicated techniques. Therefore, you can prepare yourself beforehand with SAT essay examples found across persuasive passages on many common topics.

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