Anonymous wrote:Not many schools require it, but if you’re not sure where your kid wants to apply, then they should just probably get it out of the way.

From what I’ve read, kids should try to get at least an 8.

8 is the maximum score for each section of the essay. There are three sections and 2 scorers for each section who award 1-4 points.

Not many schools require it, but if you’re not sure where your kid wants to apply, then they should just probably get it out of the way.

From what I’ve read, kids should try to get at least an 8.

We received that same advice, which sounded logical. All I can tell you is that my child did not do well on the essay. And when she applied (to ALL liberal arts colleges), none of them required it but they all received it. That made me nervous.

Most DMV high school students have opportunities to take free SATs, and families that meet income requirements also can apply for/receive test fee waivers.

I see no reason to take the writing/essay section on the SAT or any other section of the SAT early unless a talent search requires it. (The PSAT does not have an essay section.) The SAT essay section can only be taken with the rest of the test.

This section asks students to read a 650-750 word passage designed for a general audience, and to analyze how the author constructs an argument. This essay task is very similar to DBQs, with which most DMV high school students are familiar.

Taking the essay section on the SAT is "optional," but about half of all colleges and universities still require or recommend it. The requirement or recommendation is rather random, except that small liberal arts colleges may be more likely than other colleges and universities to rely on other evidence of students' abilities to execute college-level writing tasks. Schools that receive a student's SAT essay score/s and don't require or recommend them will just ignore it/them. Taking the essay section of the SAT is a good idea for most students because, when they test, they haven't finalized application decisions, and because many will decide that they want to superscore across multiple tests. AP English classes and accompanying AP tests offer students other opportunities to demonstrate their writing abilities, as well as ways to waive college courses down the road.

Full disclosure: I own an academic prep and placement service at chevychaseprepdotcom

It all goes together, unless I missed something (that was possible) on the College Board website.

Just so I understand correctly,
the writing score is not separate from the 1600 score. So the writing score will be submitted along with the 1600 score regardless if the colleges do not require writing exam.

Thank you.

I saw no way to send the score reports without the written portion, so we had to send them all, which was not helpful for my DC. I now suggest leaving it out/off.

What if DD does well on the SAT Exam but extremely poorly on the written? Will schools that do not require Written Exam still see the results or do they only see the Math and Verbal?

Not many schools require or even recommend the writing test. If your daughter is likely to take the SAT again years from now, she may have a college list at that time and will know whether it's needed. I would ask for the refund and save the money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If college is "years away" why would you ever send these scores in?

The OP explained why. Finances are tight and they want to utilize the free score reports that you get when you take the exam.

If finances are tight then take a practice test, which many places offer for free.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If college is "years away" why would you ever send these scores in?

The OP explained why. Finances are tight and they want to utilize the free score reports that you get when you take the exam.

Not sure the cost savings outweighs submitting scores as a freshman, presumably for the first time as well. To each their own.

Anonymous wrote:If college is "years away" why would you ever send these scores in?

The OP explained why. Finances are tight and they want to utilize the free score reports that you get when you take the exam.

Anonymous wrote:Can the SAT Writing Exam be taken alone or does it have to be taken along with the regular SAT Exam? My child is signed up for the SAT with Writing Exam but we have a time period to decline the Writing portion and receive a full refund. This is her first time taking the SAT and we opted to send her results to 4 colleges even though college is years away. The reason is finance is a huge issue in our household.

There is no way to take just the writing portion alone. You have to do it when you're taking the rest of the test.

If college is "years away" why would you ever send these scores in?

Can the SAT Writing Exam be taken alone or does it have to be taken along with the regular SAT Exam? My child is signed up for the SAT with Writing Exam but we have a time period to decline the Writing portion and receive a full refund. This is her first time taking the SAT and we opted to send her results to 4 colleges even though college is years away. The reason is finance is a huge issue in our household.