The Fifth Most Common Mistake Students Make on the SAT Essay

Here's an example:

A recent SAT had the following prompt:

"Do circumstances determine whether or not we should
tell the truth?"

One student wrote:

Sometimes circumstances determine whether or not we
should tell the truth and sometimes we must tell the
truth no matter what.

Unfortunately, this thesis is one that did NOT lead to
a high scoring essay.

Here's why:

SAT Essay graders are instructed to score an essay on
how well a student supported a single position on the
issue.

That means you must do the following:

Take a clear position--by writing a thesis that answers
the prompt with a clear 'yes' or 'no'.

Supporting your point of view--and I quote the College
Board here--"with reasoning and examples taken from
your reading, studies, experience, or observations."

If you've taken advanced writing classes then you know
that good persuasive writing always deals with counter-
arguments...

...but in only 25 minutes you have just enough time to
support your thesis with 3-4 examples.

There just isn't time to find counter-arguments and
prove these arguments wrong. The College Board knows
this and that's may be why they don't require it.

This is actually good news for you as this means you
can focus totally on one thing--proving your thesis with
several examples.