LiamNeeson

So I thought I wrote a pretty good essay on the January SAT and I ended up with a 10/12.

Does anybody have a good method of scoring a 12 or any ideas on how to write a 12?

Also, can anyone who scored a 12 on the essay post his or her essay in this thread?

Thanks!

warsovereign

Throw big words, fill up two pages, use grand style.
Content and logic are the last to be concerned.

HONORLIONS

Remember, they read the essays in intervals of 30 seconds.

Do things to make your essay stand out: organized paragraphs, SAT word use here and there, and a strong conclusion. Find a good NYT article and first skim through it, then really read it. See what stood out to you and what didn't; use this knowledge to improve your essay.

Boubou

90% of essays longer than 400 words get 12/12. Also as in any essay, a witty or well organised "hook" at the beginning and at the end.

katieeee

Everything that everyone previously mentioned will help! Also, you should introduce a counter argument and then undermine it if possible. Length, strong vocabulary, varied sentence structure and plenty of support and examples-that's pretty much it!

cheerioswithmilk

You know, there is a thread entitled "How to score a 12 essay in just 10 days" that would help. Try the search.

And by the way, using lots of big words is counterproductive. If it flows, fine. If it doesn't (which it usually doesn't) then it usually comes off pretentious and unnecessary.

bismuthoxide

I'm not sure if this is necessary, but the essays that I've gotten 12s on as opposed to the 10 I got had 3 examples (1 psychological research, 1 literary, 1 historical) as opposed to 2.

Dorkyelmo

Does anyone have advice coming up with ideas effectively?

eagles94

@dorky

Make them up. Works well.

njersey

Make your essay long and have two VERY strong examples. Go up to the last line, and don't waste space on your conclusion (only have 1 sentence, 2 tops). Have a 3 - 4 sentence intro, where you generally address the broad issue and transition into your specific examples (and don't be so cliche about it e.g. "This can be seen in... ." Try and come up with your own phrase e.g. "The turbulent European revolutions of 1848 are a testament to the power of will and force among discontent citizens."). Know unique individuals, and know topics in depth. This especially works if you're knowledgeable about history, as it's easy to come across as impressive about a topic if you know a lot about it. You don't have to go to two unique examples, and a literary example, in my opinion, isn't the best idea simply because five - six sentences isn't enough to connect it back to a broad idea. I said this before, but I'll say it again: be unique. Have distinct, thoughtful examples.

There's no need to come up with these on the spot. Just think about issues or fields you know a lot about and be prepared to connect it to a variety of topics. If you like science, think about what science consists of on a philosophical basis. If you like debate, try and go through some examples of the modern world.

Avoid politics by the way. Try and have modern world connections about every day events. Think about how people interact, how systems work, how we ebb in and out of each other's lives. Be broad. This is an essay to see if you can tackle the general idea; you can get into the itty bitty details later. It's easier, however, to talk about a topic if you know a lot about it, so be knowledgeable and thoughtful at the same time.

I got a 12/12 on the October essay. My topic was how disciple was important in maintaining freedom, and I discussed the Constitution and the law and how our freedoms are only maintained when there is a structure (whether it be a document or a police force) to enforce and regulate our limitations. It was a bit broad, but I made an effort to connect it to modern society. My other topic was science, where I talked about how scientific freedom (the idea of using science to pursue your scientific interests, however diverse they may be) requires discipline, particularly in experimenting. I talked about how an experiment must have a procedure and must be replicable (is that a word?), and discipline is the only way that scientists are allowed to pursue their interests and passions.

Collegel0l

Probably one of the best threads around here: How to Write a 12 Essay in Just 10 Days

Went from a 4 to an 11, just by using this method! I bet if I would have practiced a tad more and improved my voc, I could have easily gotten a 12

Best of lucks!

deathblade127

Use Roosevelt, Truman - it's full-proof 11/12.

deathblade127

*fail proof. sorry loll

GolfFather

Neither.

The correct expression is "foolproof."

foolproof - definition of foolproof by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

Foolproof - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

iank1434

so this IS foolproof?