SAT Writing and Critical Reading

Timing

SAT Writing– 25 minutes - Essay – 25 minutes - 35 questions (improving sentences and

paragraphs, identifying sentence errors) – 10 minutes - 14 questions (improving sentences)

SAT Critical Reading– 25 minutes - 24 questions (sentence completion, short and

reading comprehension) – 25 minutes - 24 questions (sentence completion, short and

reading comprehension) – 20 minutes - 19 questions (sentence completion, long reading

comprehension)

Writing

Essay– 25 minutes to write about a given topic– Tests you on your grasp of English language

conventions and your ability to develop a point of view supported by evidence based on reading, experience, and studies.

Writing

Multiple Choice– Two sections– Identifying sentence errors– Improving sentences– Improving paragraphs

Critical Reading

Short Passages– 1-2 paragraphs long– 1-2 questions for each passage– Tests you on your reading comprehension, not

prior knowledge

Critical Reading

Long Passages– 3-5 paragraphs long– 3-5 questions per passage– Main ideas and a couple of details– All of the answers are in the passage

Critical Reading

Sentence Completion– Read a sentence with missing word(s) or

phrase(s) and choose an answer to fill in the blank

SAT Writing Score

Your essay is scored by two SAT graders who will each give a score from 1-6 where 6 is the best and 1 the worst. The essay score that you see on your score report will be the sum of the scores by both graders.

Multiple choice writing is on a 20 to 80 scale. If you answer a question correctly, you get one point; if you answer a question incorrectly, you get -1/4 point; if you omit a question, you get zero points. Your multiple choice score and essay score is then converted into one score on a scale from 200-800.

SAT Critical Reading Score

The Critical Reading score are computed similarly to the multiple choice section of SAT Writing. A correct answer earns one point, an incorrect earns -1/4 point, and an omit earns zero points. Again, your raw scores will be converted on 200-800 scales.

Sample Essay Question

Heroes may seem old-fashioned today. Many people are cynical and seem to enjoy discrediting role models more than creating new ones or cherishing those they already have. Some people, moreover, object to the very idea of heroes, arguing that we should not exalt individuals who, after all, are only flesh and blood, just like the rest of us. But we desperately need heroes to teach us, to captivate us through their words and deeds, to inspire us to greatness.

Adapted from Psychology Today, "How To Be Great! What Does It Take To Be A Hero?“

Assignment:Is there a value in celebrating certain individuals as heroes? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.