How to Write Great Essays

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riting an essay in an exam situation, with the clock ticking, is very different from
other types of essay writing. Of course, the fundamentals of good writing do not
change (which is why Chapters 1–4 apply to any type of essay). What changes is
your approach. When you have just 25 minutes (SAT), 45 minutes (GED), or an hour (many
state tests, such as Regents’), you must use your time wisely. Every minute counts.
The way to take full advantage of every minute is to prepare; gather all available infor-
mation about the test beforehand, and develop a strategy that will take you through the essay
writing process. Understand the topics, know how to organize your thoughts, and be able
to expand prewriting notes into paragraphs. Take timed practice exams to get used to the
situation, and also to identify your strengths and weaknesses. The weeks before the exam
are when you should figure out which topics you write best on, and which grammatical errors
you make most frequently. When you take a timed essay exam, preparation can mean the
difference between a great score and a poor one.
C H A P T E R
Timed Essay 
Writing Strategies
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Timed Essay Writing Strategies
CHAPTER 7 
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS

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HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER 7
Timed Essay Writing Strategies
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While most of the information in this chapter applies to every type of timed essay writing
situation, there are specifics for each test that you should be aware of. In this section you
will learn the general features of the most common timed essays, as well as how to get the
most up-to-date information about topics and any changes made to the tests.
GED
The General Educational Development (GED) test contains a 45 minute-writing section in
which test takers must develop an expository essay which includes personal observations,
knowledge, and experiences. The typical GED essay is about 250 words in length, written
on one of five given topics. The official GED Testing Service website offers links to your juris-
diction’s testing program, which may differ slightly from that of other states. Check
www.acenet.edu/clll/ged/index.cfm for the latest information.
Those who score the GED essay read between 25 and 40 essays an hour. They look for:
■
well-focused main points
■
clear organization
■
development of ideas
■
appropriate sentence structure and word choice
■
correct punctuation, grammar, and spelling
SAT I
With just twenty-five minutes to write, you will not be expected to turn in a final draft essay
when taking the SAT I. Minor errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics are not weighed
against you. Scorers instead read the essay to get an overall impression of your writing abil-
ity. They look for evidence of critical thinking: how well did you respond to the topic, develop
a point of view, and use appropriate examples and evidence to support your position? Is
your essay clearly focused, and does it transition smoothly from one point to the next? Do
you show evidence of having a varied and intelligent vocabulary?
Since readers will look at dozens of essay, an hour, it is important to make your essay
stand out. This is best done through the use of examples and evidence. Don’t just strive to
be technically perfect, or try to discuss important topics such as world history or scientific
advances (unless you are passionate about them). Stand out by using specifics that make
the essay uniquely yours.
The latest information on the SAT I essay may be found at www.collegeboard.com.
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Timed Essay Writing Strategies
CHAPTER 7