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Read the directions carefully, and then follow them. Look at the explanations for each correct answer when you use practice materials. Even if you got the question right, you may learn something from the explanation. Eliminate the choices you are sure are wrong when you are not sure of the answer. Make an educated guess from those that remain. Approaches to the Essay There are no short cuts to success on the SAT essay. You will not receive high scores on your essay just because it is long, or has five paragraphs, or uses literary examples. The high school and college teachers who score the SAT reward essays that insightfully develop a point of view with appropriate reasons and examples and use language skillfully. So what can you do to write a successful SAT essay? Read the entire assignment. Its all there to help you. Every essay assignment contains a short paragraph about the issue. Imagine that you are talking to the author of the paragraph about the issue. Would you argue with him or her, or agree? What other ideas or examples would you bring up? Answering these questions will help you develop your own point of view. Dont oversimplify. Developing your point of view doesnt mean coming up with as many examples as you can. Rushing to give multiple relevant examples can lead you to oversimplify a complex topic. An essay with one or two thoughtful, well-developed reasons or examples is more likely to get a high score than an essay with three short, simplistic examples. | 
