<p>Three examples are NOT needed. I took both the SAT II Writing and the New SAT (earning 800 and 12 on both essays) using an opening thesis, two detailed, relevant examples and tying it all together with a conclusion. Three examples may seem like a good idea, but I would argue it serves a time suck because students have to think of the third reason which reasons to be less strong than the first. Furthermore, each example will be developed to a lesser extent.</p>