Special 3-hour session focuses
on the essay added to SAT, ACT

For many college-bound juniors and seniors in high school, the bar is being raised for getting into the school of their choice now that essay writing is required of all students taking the SAT and is required for many students taking the ACT. Many students take both tests.

The new version of the SAT -- requiring a 25-minute essay in addition to multiple-choice questions related to writing -- was introduced in 2005, as was the new ACT writing test with its 30-minute essay. Starting then, students had to show they can write a coherent essay and develop a point of view about an unknown topic on demand.

The SAT essay.  Such high-stakes writing is new territory for many high school students, but the College Board says good writing is a necessary career skill, and the addition of a written essay in the SAT results from a growing concern that many high school students have trouble writing clearly. Adding writing to the SAT also helps to increase prediction of college success. The College Board explains the SAT essay at this link. In the two years since its introduction, the new test has already increased the focus on writing in high school classrooms, according to more than 75% of teachers surveyed, and the writing scores are beginning to reflect the different levels of preparation that are available. (See more info.)

The ACT essay.  The ACT says its writing test offers another layer of understanding of students' writing skills and provides colleges with additional information to be used to make college admissions and course placement decisions. The ACT essay is explained at this link. Each college makes its own decision about requiring the ACT writing test. About a third now require or recommend taking it. Most accept the scores, even if the test is not required or recommended. (Many major colleges in Ohio require the ACT writing test. See list.) The ACT provides a search tool at this link for determining if colleges require or recommend the essay. By the second year of the new writing test, nearly half of the ACTs taken included it.

When to start preparing for the essays.  Juniors take the PSAT in October (to practice for the SAT and to qualify for National Merit scholarships) and normally register to take the SAT and ACT in late spring or early summer, especially if they want to meet college deadlines for early action or early decison. Seniors can take or retake the tests up to November and still have the scores considered by colleges (October at very latest for early action/early decision).  Registration is always required by at least a month before the SAT and ACT test dates and that would also be the latest time to start thinking about essay preparation. (See list of test dates.)

Students can be coached to essay success. The SAT and ACT essays are "coachable," meaning there are specific things a student can be taught to do, or avoid doing, that increase the likelihood of a better score. (See more info.) And this can be even more effective when the writing needs of the individual student can be assessed and the content adjusted accordingly. One-to-one coaching and practice essay writing, with corrective feedback from the coach, are the best way to prepare, in my opinion. The SAT and ACT essays are not the same and they require different approaches. (I think the ACT essay expects more from the student and is harder because the scoring is more rigid.)  Despite good intentions, it would be practically impossible for even the best high schools to provide the individual attention needed to prepare for the essays.

Augment a test-prep course with essay coaching.  Separate coaching for essays is beneficial whether or not a commercial SAT or ACT test-prep course is taken. I believe a commercial course can be valuable, but I would still augment it with one-to-one coaching to prepare a student for the essays. Some commercial test-prep courses don't specifically address the essays or they treat them almost as an afterthought. Because of its personal nature, essay preparation doesn't fit a formulaic, one-size-fits-all approach. Some test-prep courses try to cover the essays via email or online correspondence with a rotating staff of faceless, nameless "editors." With commercial test-prep courses, to get to the same level of effectiveness as one-to-one coaching you would need to subscribe to one of their $1,000-plus tutoring options.

Essay score could determine acceptance. Although you may read that some colleges, school counselors, and teachers discount the importance of the SAT and ACT essays, my advice is to take the essays very seriously. No one can guarantee a poor essay score won’t adversely affect a student. The score is part of the record and the actual essay is accessible to admissions staff. At selective colleges, the smallest differences between applications can determine acceptance. An example of a student’s writing in a timed situation, without the possibility of editing by others, offers insight of the student’s abilities and opportunity for comparison with other students. A number of colleges are comparing a student’s writing on the SAT essay to the quality of the student’s writing on the application essay;
a big disparity can be a red flag. Beyond the admission decision, the scores can be used in course placement, acceptance to honors programs, and scholarship decisions. Required remedial classes may be triggered at certain colleges by low writing test scores. Some graduate and professional degree applications ask for SAT and ACT scores.

One-to-one essay prep sessions available. As a professional editor and writing coach with experience in essay test preparation, I offer a 3-hour, one-to-one coaching opportunity for individual students designed specifically to maximize scores on the SAT or ACT written essays. It combines instruction, practice essay writing and evaluation. It can be scheduled at the student's convenience, either as a single session or as two 90-minute sessions at separate times. It zeros in on just the new essay portion of the tests, and is intended to supplement any other help provided by high schools or what is offered by commercial test-preparation courses. Both the SAT and ACT essay can be covered if desired. Parents are welcome to listen and observe. The cost is $200 and includes scoring and feedback on two practice essays by a second, outside editor.

Small-group sessions also available. Intensive, 3-hour sessions for small groups of students are available to prepare for either the SAT or the ACT essays. They are scheduled on weekends a month before the test dates and are open to anyone. Parents are welcome to listen and observe. Advance reservations are required. Space in each session is limited to six students. The cost is $100 per student. Other special group sessions can be arranged.

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• One-to-one coaching for individual students to learn and practice proven methods for  getting higher scores on SAT and ACT essay.

• 3-hour, small-group sessions focusing on either the SAT or ACT essay, and scheduled on weekends a month before each test date.