The Optional SAT Essay: What to Know
Tackling this section of the SAT requires preparation and can boost some students' college applications.
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Even though an increasing number of colleges are dropping standardized test requirements, students who must write the SAT essay can still stand to gain from doing so.
Although the essay portion of the SAT became optional in 2016, many students still chose to write it to demonstrate strong or improved writing skills to prospective colleges.
In June 2021, the College Board opted to discontinue the SAT essay. Now, only students in a few states and school districts still have access to — and must complete — the SAT essay. This requirement applies to some students in the SAT School Day program, for instance, among other groups.
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Whether or not to write the SAT essay is not the biggest decision you will have to make in high school, but it is certainly one that requires thought on your part. Here are three things you should know about the 50-minute SAT essay as you decide whether to complete it:
- To excel on the SAT essay, you must be a trained reader.
- The SAT essay begs background knowledge of rhetoric and persuasive writing.
- A growing number of colleges are dropping standardized test requirements.
To Excel on the SAT Essay, You Must Be a Trained Reader
The SAT essay prompt never comes unaccompanied. On the contrary, it follows a text that is about 700 words long or approximately one page. Before test-takers can even plan their response, they must carefully read and – ideally – annotate the passage.
The multifaceted nature of the SAT essay prompt can be distressing to students who struggle with reading comprehension. But the good news is that this prompt is highly predictable: It always asks students to explain how the author builds his or her argument. In this case, "how” means which rhetorical devices are used, such as deductive reasoning, metaphors, etc.
Luckily, the author’s argument is usually spelled out in the prompt itself. For instance, consider this past SAT prompt : “Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved.”
Due to the essay prompt’s straightforward nature, students should read the passage with an eye toward specific devices used by the author rather than poring over “big ideas.” In tour SAT essay, aim to analyze at least two devices, with three being even better.
The SAT Essay Begs Background Knowledge of Rhetoric and Persuasive Writing
Since your SAT essay response must point to specific rhetorical devices that the author employs to convince the reader, you should make it a point to intimately know 10-15 common ones. The more familiar you are with rhetorical devices, the faster you will become at picking them out as you read texts.
Once you have read the passage and identified a handful of noteworthy rhetorical devices, you should apply many of the same essay-writing techniques you already use in your high school English classes.
For instance, you should start by brainstorming to see which devices you have the most to say about. After that, develop a concise thesis statement, incorporate quotes from the text, avoid wordiness and other infelicities of writing, close with an intriguing conclusion, and do everything else you could imagine your English teacher advising you to do.
Remember to always provide evidence from the text to support your claims. Finally, leave a few minutes at the end to review your essay for mistakes.
A Growing Number of Colleges Are Dropping Standardized Test Requirements
In recent years, some of America’s most prominent colleges and universities – including Ivy League institutions like Harvard University in Massachusetts, Princeton University in New Jersey and Yale University in Connecticut – have made submission of ACT and SAT scores optional.
While this trend began as early as 2018, the upheaval caused by COVID-19 has prompted many other schools to adopt a more lenient testing policy, as well.
Advocates for educational fairness have long expressed concerns that standardized admissions tests put underprivileged students at a disadvantage. In light of the coronavirus pandemic , which restricted exam access for almost all high school students, colleges have gotten on board with this idea by placing more emphasis on other factors in a student’s application.
To assess writing ability in alternative ways, colleges now place more emphasis on students’ grades in language-oriented subjects, as well as college application documents like the personal statement .
The fact that more colleges are lifting their ACT/SAT requirement does not imply that either test or any component of it is now obsolete. Students who must write the SAT essay can still stand to gain from doing so, especially those who wish to major in a writing-intensive field. The essay can also demonstrate a progression or upward trajectory in writing skills.
The SAT essay can give a boost to the college applications of the few students to whom it is still available. If the requirement applies to you, be sure to learn more about the SAT essay and practice it often as you prepare for your upcoming SAT.
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If you’re going to be applying to college soon, there’s a good chance that you’re already thinking about the SAT. Most colleges still require standardized test scores, and millions of students across the country tackle this exam each year.
As you begin your college search, it’s important to understand the exact standardized test requirements of the colleges on your list. Some will be test-optional . Others require scores from the SAT or ACT. In addition, some will require that you submit scores from the optional essay portions of these tests. There may also be schools that require or recommend SAT Subject Tests. Knowing the exact testing policy at each school you’re considering will help you plan your test taking strategy, and begin test prep well in advance.
If you’re planning to take the SAT, you won’t want to miss this complete overview of what colleges require the SAT essay.
What is the SAT Essay? How is it Scored?
Before we dive into which schools require it, let’s take a closer look at what exactly the SAT essay is, and how it is scored.
On the SAT Essay, students are provided with a written argument that they must read and analyze. Students have 50 minutes to read the passage, plan the essay, and write their response. Most successful responses stick to the standard five-paragraph essay format. To see an example prompt and scoring rubric, check out the Essay Sample Questions on the College Board website.
It’s important to note here that the SAT Essay score is separate from your overall composite SAT score. It does not impact the score ranging from 400-1600 as reported on your score report. Instead of being included in your composite score, it is provided in addition to it.
The Essay is scored on a scale from 2-8 in three areas of evaluation—Reading, Analysis, and Writing. Each essay is reviewed by two scorers, and scores between 1-4 are awarded in each dimension. These scores are then added together so that you’ll receive three scores for the SAT Essay—one for each dimension—ranging from 2–8 points. A perfect score on the essay would be 8/8/8, but the mean score on the essay is a 5 for Reading and Writing, and 3 for Analysis. This means if you can achieve any score over 5/3/5, you have scored above average on the essay. For a more complete look at how the test is scored, don’t miss our post What is a Good SAT Essay Score?
Should I Take the SAT Essay?
First of all, the SAT essay is technically an optional section, so no, you are not required to take it. That being said, some colleges do require applicants to take the SAT with Essay. If you choose not to take the essay portion of the test, you will not be an eligible applicant for any of these schools.
The SAT Essay used to be required at many top colleges, but it has become optional at many schools. Now, among elite schools, only the University of California schools require the Essay. Other selective colleges like Duke University, Amherst College, and Colby College recommend the Essay, but it’s not required.
Take a look at the colleges on these lists, and see if there are any you plan to apply to. Also be sure to double-check on your schools’ webpages, as these policies can change.
If you think you might change your mind about which schools you want to apply to, you should take the SAT Essay to leave those doors open. This is why we generally recommend taking the essay, regardless of whether or not it’s required. After all, you can’t go back and just take the SAT Essay if you decide to change your mind and apply to a school that requires it—you’d have to retake the entire SAT.
Some colleges don’t require the essay, but do recommend it. In these cases, we always direct students to do what the college recommends.
That being said, there is currently no option to withhold your essay score if you do terribly on it. Your essay scores will always be reported with your other test scores from that day, even to colleges that don’t require them.
What Colleges Require the SAT with Essay?
There colleges request scores from the SAT with Essay in order to apply.
Schools that Require the SAT Essay:
- All of the University of California schools
- Benedictine University
- City University London
- Delaware State University
- DeSales University
- Dominican University of California
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
- Howard University
- John Wesley University
- Kentucky State University
- Martin Luther College
- Molloy College
- Schreiner University
- Soka University of America
- Southern California Institute of Architecture
- Texas A&M University—Galveston
- United States Military Academy (West Point)
- University of North Texas
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology
- Western Carolina University
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These schools do not require the SAT Essay, but do recommend that students submit it. At CollegeVine, our best advice is to always follow a college’s recommendations.
Schools that Recommend the SAT Essay:
- Abilene Christian University
- Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Allegheny College
- Amherst College
- Art Institute of Houston
- Augsburg University
- Austin College
- Caldwell University
- California State University, Northridge
- Central Connecticut State University
- Central Michigan University
- Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
- Coastal Carolina University
- Colby College
- College of Wooster
- Colorado School of Mines
- Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
- Corban University
- Cornerstone University
- Dallas Christian College
- Duke University
- Eastern Illinois University
- Eastern Nazarene College
- Easternn University
- Endicott College
- Five Towns College
- Gallaudet University
- George Washington University
- Georgia Highlands College
- Greenville University
- Gwynedd Mercy University
- High Point University
- Hofstra University
- Holy Family University
- Husson University
- Indiana University South Bend
- Indiana University Southeast
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico: Barranquitas Campus
- Juilliard School
- Keiser University (West Palm Beach)
- Lehigh University
- Madonna University
- Manhattan College
- Marymount California University
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy
- McMurry University
- Mercy College
- Modern College of Design
- Montana Tech of the University of Montana
- Morehouse College
- Mount Saint Mary College
- Mount St. Joseph University
- National-Louis University
- New Jersey City University
- Nichols College
- North Park University
- Occidental College
- Ohio University
- Oregon State University
- Purdue University Northwest
- Randall University
- Randolph-Macon College
- Reading Area Community College
- Rowan University
- Rutgers University—Camden Campus
- Rutgers University—Newark Campus
- Saint Michael’s College
- Sciences Po
- Seton Hill University
- Shiloh University
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
- Silver Lake College of the Holy Family
- Southern Illinois University of Carbondale
- Southern Oregon University
- Spring Hill College
- Sul Ross State University
- SUNY Farmingdale State College
- SUNY University at Stony Brook
- Tarleton State University
- Texas A&M International University
- Texas A&M University
- Texas State University
- The King’s College
- United States Air Force Academy
- University of Evansville
- University of La Verne
- University of Mary Hardin—Baylor
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Minnesota: Twin Cities
- University of New England
- University of Northwestern—St. Paul
- University of the Virgin Islands
- University of Toledo
- University of Washington Bothell
- VanderCook College of Music
- Virginia Union University
- Wabash College
- Webb Institute
- Webber International University
- Wesleyan College
- William Jewell College
If any of the schools you are considering appear on either of the lists above, we recommend taking the SAT with Essay. In fact, we recommend that most, if not all, students take the SAT essay since it leaves more doors open in your college search. However, if you’re absolutely sure you won’t be applying to colleges that require or recommend the SAT with Essay, you can skip it.
Regardless, as you consider which colleges to add to your list, you’ll want to be certain you know what colleges require the SAT essay so that you can plan ahead for this part of your test.
For help figuring out which schools might be a great fit for you, don’t miss our customized and innovative Chancing Engine and School List Generator . Here, we use a proprietary algorithm backed by over 100,000 data points to develop a school list based on your real admissions chances and preferences.
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Should I Take the SAT Essay? How to Decide
New SAT , SAT Essay
The SAT underwent some major revisions in 2016, and one of the biggest changes is that its previously required essay is now optional. This can be confusing for some students and parents. Should you take the essay? Will colleges require the essay or not? Will taking the essay make your application stronger?
Read on for answers to all these questions. This guide will explain what the SAT essay is, what the pros and cons of taking it are, and how you can make the best choice for you.
UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered
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In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.
While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.
What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.
What Is the SAT Essay?
The SAT essay is one of the sections of the SAT. After being required since its inception, the College Board has now decided to make the essay optional. This is similar to the ACT, whose essay has always been optional.
During this section, students will be given 50 minutes to write an essay. The essay for the new SAT is very different than it was for the previous version of the SAT. You can read all about the changes to the SAT here , but, as a brief overview, the essay will give you a passage by an author who is taking a stance on an issue. Your job will be to analyze how the author built that argument.
If you choose to take the essay, it will be its own section of the SAT, and the score you get on the essay will be separate from your score on the rest of the exam. Your main SAT score will be out of 1600 while your essay will be graded across three different categories: Reading, Analysis, and Writing. For each area, your essay will be given a score from 2-8.
Below is a sample prompt from one of the official practice tests released by the College Board. Here you can read the entire prompt, including the passages you would need to analyze.
Do Colleges Require the SAT Essay Now That It's Optional?
So, the College Board has now made the essay an optional part of the SAT, but does that change how colleges view the essay (or if they even view it at all)? Kind of. Some schools that used the essays before no longer require them now that both the ACT and SAT have made the essays optional, but other schools continue to require the SAT essay.
Each school makes this decision individually, so there are no patterns to follow to try and guess who will require the essay and who won’t. Even top schools like the Ivy League are divided on whether to require the essay or not.
This can make things confusing if you’re applying to college soon and don’t know if you should take the SAT essay or not. The following sections of this guide will explain the benefits and drawbacks of taking the essay and walk you through different scenarios so you can make an informed decision.
The #1 Consideration: Do Any of the Schools You're Interested in Require the Essay?
The absolute most important factor, the factor that matters more than anything else in the rest of this guide, is if any of the schools you’re applying to or thinking of applying to require the SAT essay.
The best way to get this information is to Google “[school name] SAT essay requirement,” look directly on each school’s admission webpage, or check out our list of the schools that require the SAT essay.
Find this information for every school you plan on applying to, even schools you’re not sure you want to apply to, but are considering. If even one school you’re interested in requires the SAT essay, then you should take it, regardless of any other factors. There is no way to take just the SAT essay by itself, so if you take the SAT without the essay and then, later on, realize you need an essay score for a school you’re applying to, you will have to retake the entire test.
So, if a school you’re interested in requires the SAT essay, your choice is clear: take the essay when you take the SAT. However, what if the schools you’re interested in don’t require the essay? If that’s the case, you have some other factors to consider. Read on!
Benefits of Taking the SAT Essay
If none of the schools you’re thinking of applying to require the SAT essay, why would you want to take it? The two main reasons are explained below.
#1: You're Covered for All Schools
Taking the SAT essay means that, no matter which schools you end up applying to, you will absolutely have all their SAT requirements met. If you decide to apply to a new school that requires the SAT essay, that won’t be a problem because you’ll already have taken it.
If you already are absolutely certain about which schools you’re applying to and none of them require the essay, then this may not be a big deal to you. However, if you have a tentative list of schools, and you’ve been adding a school or removing a school from that list occasionally, you may want to be better safe than sorry and take the SAT essay, just in case.
Taking the SAT essay means you have all your bases covered, no matter which schools you end up applying to.
#2: A Good Score May Boost Your Application Slightly
While it’s highly unlikely that your SAT essay will be the deciding factor of your college application, there are some cases where it can give you a small leg up on the competition. This is the case if a school recommends, but doesn’t require the essay, and that school is particularly competitive.
Having a strong SAT essay score to submit may strengthen your application a bit, especially if you are trying to show strong English/writing skills.
Drawbacks to Taking the SAT Essay
There are also costs to taking the SAT essay; here are three of the most common:
#1: It's Another Section to Study For
If you choose to take the essay, that means you have an entire extra SAT section to study and prepare for. If you already feel like you have a ton of SAT prep to do or have doubts about staying motivated, adding on more work can make you feel stressed and end up hurting your scores in the other SAT sections.
#2: It Makes the Exam Longer
Taking the essay will, obviously, increase the total time you spend taking the SAT. You’re given 50 minutes to write the essay, and, including time needed for students not taking the essay to leave and things to get settled, that will add about an hour to the test, increasing your total SAT test time from about three hours to four hours.
If you struggle with keeping focused or staying on your A game during long exams (and, let’s be honest, it’s not hard to lose concentration after several hours of answering SAT questions), adding an additional hour of test time can reduce your test-taking endurance and make you feel tired and distracted during the essay, likely making it hard for you to get your best score.
#3: The Essay Costs Extra
Taking the SAT with the essay will also cost you a bit more money. Taking the SAT without the essay costs $46, but if you choose to take the essay, it costs $14 extra, raising the total cost of the SAT to $60.
However, if you're eligible for an SAT fee waiver, the waiver also applies to this section of the exam, so you still won't have to pay anything if you choose to take the essay.
Taking the essay likely means the cost of taking the SAT will be slightly higher for you.
Should You Take the SAT Essay? Five Scenarios to Help You Decide
Now you know what the SAT essay is and the pros and cons of taking it. So, what should you decide? Five scenarios are listed below; find the one that applies to your situation and follow the advice in order to make the best decision for you.
Scenario 1: You're planning on applying to at least one school that requires the essay
As mentioned above, if even one school you’re thinking about applying to requires the SAT essay, you should take it in order to avoid retaking the entire SAT again at a later date because you need an essay score.
Scenario 2: None of the schools you're applying to look at essay scores
If none of the schools you’re thinking about applying to even look at SAT essay scores, then you shouldn’t take it. Even if you get a perfect score, if the schools don’t consider essay scores, then taking it will have no benefits for you.
Scenario 3: The schools you're applying to don't require the SAT essay and aren't highly competitive
In this case, you don’t need to take the SAT essay, unless you’re trying to make up for weak writing skills in other parts of your application.
Scenario 4: The schools you're applying to recommend the SAT essay and are more competitive
For this scenario, you should take the SAT essay in order to give your application an extra boost, unless you really think you’d perform poorly or preparing for and taking the essay would cause your scores in other sections to decline.
Scenario 5: You aren't sure where you're going to apply yet
If you’re not sure which schools you want to apply to, then you should take the SAT essay, just to be safe. This way you’re covered no matter where you end up applying to college.
If the thought of figuring out which colleges to apply to has you as confused as this blue panda, your safest option is to take the SAT essay.
Because of the College Board’s recent decision to make the SAT essay optional, students are now faced with the decision of whether they should take it or not. The best way to decide is to learn the essay policy for each of the colleges you're interested in applying to. Some schools will still require the essay, some won’t even look at an applicant’s essay scores, and other schools don’t require the essay but will look at your score if you do take it.
Use these school policies to help decide whether you should take the essay. Remember, if you end up needing to submit an essay score, you will have to retake the entire SAT, so make sure you have accurate and up-to-date information for each school you are thinking of applying to.
What's Next?
Have you decided to take the essay and want to know how to start studying? We have a step-by-step guide that explains how to write a great SAT essay.
Want more examples of sample prompts? Here are all of the real SAT essay prompts that have been released by the College Board.
Are you aiming for a perfect SAT essay score? Check out our guide on how to get a perfect 8/8/8 on the SAT essay.
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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.
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Which Colleges Require the SAT Essay?
Tests can be intimidating. And for some students, adding a timed essay is downright terrifying. So as you sign up for the SAT, it’s easy to look at that optional essay and say “fuh-getta-bout-it.”
I mean, who in their right mind would willingly sit for a fifty-minute essay?—Well, maybe you.
Before you immediately say no—or yes—to the optional essay portion, you need to consider which colleges require the SAT essay. Your decision will depend upon where you plan to continue your education.
Table of Contents
Why Some Colleges Have Dropped Essay
Several colleges have dropped the SAT essay as a requirement. One of the main factors behind this decision is concern about creating financial hardship or extra stress for students. Many school districts are providing in-school testing for high school students free of charge. But it does not always include the essay section. This means students who want to take the essay may need to sign up and pay for it on their own.
If your high school does not offer the essay portion as part of testing, you can visit the College Board registration page to find a testing center. Registering for the SAT essay portion is an additional $17. The SAT costs $47.50 with an allotted time of 3 hours. If you choose to add the essay, you will pay $64.50 and be given an additional fifty- minute session to end the day. There are fee waivers available for students who qualify due to financial hardship.
Should You Take the SAT Essay?
There are some schools that will not consider the SAT essay with your application. California Institute of Technology and Georgetown University are two well-known schools that have recently announced your essay will not be considered with your application—they won’t even look at it. However, as grandma always said—don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In other words, you may want to leave your options open by writing that essay.
If you decide not to take the SAT essay you are limiting the schools that you can apply to. Yes, many schools have dropped the requirement. But if you decide not to take the essay, you limit your college options. Even if the schools on your current college list don’t require it, things can change. Finding the right college is a process. You may discover your ideal school does require the essay.
Several schools that no longer require the SAT either recommend it or make it optional and will consider it with your application. If a school recommends the essay, they are politely telling you that it will be a factor in your application. Schools that consider the essay optional or even those that say it is not required still look for evidence of your academic abilities.
Most colleges, even those that have dropped the essay requirement, have stressed that evaluating writing skills continues to be an important part of their selection process. They will seek a writing sample in some form. The SAT essay is a good opportunity to display your writing skills. And, because the prompt and format is always the same, you have opportunities to practice so you go into it well-prepared .
Top College SAT Essay Requirements
In the chart below, I have compiled a list of the top-ranked U.S. colleges and their SAT essay requirements. If you don’t see your school here, check the College Board SAT Policies page. Remember that colleges and universities often re-evaluate and make changes to their policies. Use this as a guide, but always check your prospective school’s admissions page for the most updated requirements.
As you look at which colleges require the SAT essay, it is clear that many of the top schools have dropped the requirement. But essays continue to be considered if you submit them with your application. My best advice—and your least limiting option—is to sign up, prepare for, and take the essay portion. It is a well-spent $17 and fifty minutes of your time when compared to your future.
- https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-09-10/colleges-drop-sat-act-essay-what-students-should-know
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- http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/examination-requirement/index.html
- https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/first-year/testing
- https://www.amherst.edu/admission/apply/firstyear
- https://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/our-process/test-optional-policy/index.html
- https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/contact/faq
- https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/application-overview
- https://admissions.northwestern.edu/faqs/high-school-courses/
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- https://www.hmc.edu/admission/apply/first-year-students/application-materials/
- https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/standardized-testing-policy
- https://apply.jhu.edu/standardized-test-information/
- https://www.cmc.edu/admission/first-year-application-instructions
- https://westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission
- https://admission.rice.edu/policies/standardized-testing
- https://www.bates.edu/admission/optional-testing/
- https://admission.usc.edu/apply/first-year-students/#/checklist
- https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php#fndtn-panel1-Steps-for
- https://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/quickguide/
- https://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/first-year-students/sat-and-act-tests/
- https://admission.virginia.edu/admission/testing
- https://admissions.wustl.edu/apply_site/Pages/Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx
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