Schools Still Making Limited Use of SAT Writing Scores
The half-hour essay that was added to the SAT last year has probably caused more confusion and consternation among test-takers than any other part of the revised exam. We're still hearing questions like, "Which matters more -- what I write about or how I write it?," "How long does my essay need to be?," and "Do I have to quote 'great books' like The Great Gatsby or The Scarlet Letter to get a high score?"
Not surprisingly, a lot of test-takers also ask an obvious follow-up question: "What do colleges and universities do with my SAT writing score, anyway?"
The answer is, in most cases, not much.
Colleges are reserving judgment on the validity of the SAT writing test as a predictor of academic success until they've had an opportunity to how several classes of incoming students have performed as undergrads. Until then, SAT writing scores will play a limited role in the assessment of applicants' academic qualifications. Many schools say they will not begin considering SAT writing scores in admissions decisions until 2008 or 2009.
That's not to say, however, that the writing score is always irrelevant to admissions decisions -- or that college-bound students shouldn't make an honest effort to perform well on the SAT essay and the multiple-choice writing section.
A high writing score can be one more thing that draws favorable attention to your file and sets it apart from the competition. Admissions officers at several schools have said that a high writing score can be the thing that tips the scales in favor of one applicant over another. This seems to be the case most often at selective schools where admissions officers have to make difficult choices between applicants with similarly strong profiles.
Writing scores have the potential to draw unfavorable attention to an applicant's file, too. An application that includes a brilliant essay but a miserable writing score may leave admissions officers wondering whether the same person who took the SAT wrote the essay. Suspicions that an applicant submitted someone else's writing as their own can be enough to move an application to the reject pile.
The bottom line is that you should do your best to master the basic writing skills that will earn you a good score on the essay and writing section of the SAT. Don't do this just for the sake of the SAT writing score. Do it because good writing skills will serve you well throughout your college years and beyond. The SAT writing test is an ordeal you'll have forgotten about within half a year. The ability to write well is a valuable asset that you'll be grateful for forever.
Not surprisingly, a lot of test-takers also ask an obvious follow-up question: "What do colleges and universities do with my SAT writing score, anyway?"
The answer is, in most cases, not much.
Colleges are reserving judgment on the validity of the SAT writing test as a predictor of academic success until they've had an opportunity to how several classes of incoming students have performed as undergrads. Until then, SAT writing scores will play a limited role in the assessment of applicants' academic qualifications. Many schools say they will not begin considering SAT writing scores in admissions decisions until 2008 or 2009.
That's not to say, however, that the writing score is always irrelevant to admissions decisions -- or that college-bound students shouldn't make an honest effort to perform well on the SAT essay and the multiple-choice writing section.
A high writing score can be one more thing that draws favorable attention to your file and sets it apart from the competition. Admissions officers at several schools have said that a high writing score can be the thing that tips the scales in favor of one applicant over another. This seems to be the case most often at selective schools where admissions officers have to make difficult choices between applicants with similarly strong profiles.
Writing scores have the potential to draw unfavorable attention to an applicant's file, too. An application that includes a brilliant essay but a miserable writing score may leave admissions officers wondering whether the same person who took the SAT wrote the essay. Suspicions that an applicant submitted someone else's writing as their own can be enough to move an application to the reject pile.
The bottom line is that you should do your best to master the basic writing skills that will earn you a good score on the essay and writing section of the SAT. Don't do this just for the sake of the SAT writing score. Do it because good writing skills will serve you well throughout your college years and beyond. The SAT writing test is an ordeal you'll have forgotten about within half a year. The ability to write well is a valuable asset that you'll be grateful for forever.
posted by AllStarEssays at 10:55 AM
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