<p>As an SAT tutor, I encourage all my students to form a list of 5 characters they CAN always pull on as examples in an SAT essay. The list inevitably includes:</p>
<ol>
<li>MLK Jr.</li>
<li>Abe Lincoln</li>
<li>George Washington</li>
<li>Mahatma Gandhi</li>
<li>Achilles/Hester Pyrnne/Holden Caulfield</li>
</ol>
<p>Know what the person did and why it was important. That way, when the test starts, you ALWAYS have examples and the essay is easy. I make sure my students are done with the planning phase of the essay in under two minutes, so they can start writing the rest of the way.</p>