The number of students hitting the coveted perfect score on the SAT has plummeted (1,000 last year; 238 this year) after the addition of an essay to the college entrance exam, according to the New York Times.
It’s no secret that student writing has declined, although I’m not sure anyone has pinpointed any one major cause. But for students preparing for this test, below are three keys to a better score:
- Longer essays (two pages is the limit) tend to receive higher scores;
- Penmanship counts: essays written in cursive received slightly higher scores;
- Write in third-person: the lowest performing students almost always write in first person, and first person essays score lower.
Speculating on the cause of less-developed writing abilities leads one to wonder about the changes in curriculum: has the material covered in K-12 indeed been added to so often, that it is now “a mile wide and an inch deep?”
Lastly, the essay is only about one-fourth of the writing score; performing well on the 49 grammar and usage questions is critical. For any student preparing for this test, the Harbrace College Handbook is still considered the ultimate authority on mastering the written word.
If you’ll permit a little fatherly boast, our daughter got a 800 on the writing portion of the SATs. Public schooled all the way.
“Speculating on the cause of less-devoped [sic] writing abilities . . . ”
Heh. Speaking of less-developed writing ability.
Just kidding.
Ack… fixed the typo, thanks.
Congratulations on your daughter’s perfect score; doubtless, genetics and parental coaching on the importance of studies (over many years) had some influence.
Public schools can (and do) produce outstanding results, but work best when coupled with parents’ encouragement and participation. Your family is a fine example.
” . . . doubtless, genetics and parental coaching on the importance of studies (over many years) had some influence.”
Well, her overall SAT performance (780 reading, 760 math, 800 writing) is my strongest evidence yet for non-paternity.
The “mile wide and an inch deep” part nails it, I think. With so much being added to the curriculum every year, something has to give.
I’ve never considered myself to be an exemplary writer, but when I have classmates ask me to proof-read their papers, and they are horrendous I’m just amazed at what is passable writing these days.
Yeah, I don’t like that whole thing about ‘cursive’… what does handwriting, in 2006, have to do with any measure of ability, intelligence, or skill?