<p>So what is the formula for success? I need to tell my D! </p>
<p>My son last year had the same scores as OP (but a 750 in writing), and his essay was clear, well-supported, concise and elegantly written. (I teach writing to grad students, so I’m qualified to evaluate this, even if it is my kid :)) I’m assuming he wrote too concisely for the graders’ tastes, but the grading did, indeed, strike me as ridiculous.</p>