Writing a Sample SSAT Essay: Focus on the Subject Matter

Writing a Sample SSAT Essay: Focus on the Subject MatterIn order to really understand how to write a SSAT sample essay, it's important to realize that there are many components to a standardized test and each of them has its own objectives. Knowing which components you should focus on and which you should take a pass or fail attitude with is the first step to a great essay.First, the SSAT is not a college entrance examination. While there are a lot of different components, the primary objective of the exam is to see if you have enough knowledge in various areas of the curriculum to be prepared for college level study. This means that you will not need to be exceptional in every area of your schoolwork, but you should know enough about the subject matter to be able to demonstrate your abilities.This first part is obviously the most difficult and requires some previous high school academic work. Take some time to review this prior to writing the essay. The subject might have been one o f those classes that you were responsible for, or it could be something that you took the time to do in your spare time. Take some time to determine whether you are really prepared to tackle the material or if you simply don't understand it.The second step in writing a SSAT sample essay is to look at the specific areas of the exam that you want to highlight. You can review all of your previous work to make sure that you know what's going on in the course. Many students will use their portfolio to give a real world example of their abilities.Depending on the subject that you choose to highlight, you may find that you have absolutely no idea about the subject or even if you fully understand it, it's a little bit out of your comfort zone and you're not sure what to do. This is when your portfolio can come in handy.Most likely you will have had some extra hands-on experience with the subject, especially in the higher grades when you did more than just study and take tests. If you can wr ite an essay with relevant examples and then present your ideas clearly and concisely, you will appear more knowledgeable than the average student. If you take the time to present yourself as knowledgeable, the essay will reflect this impression and you'll make the test much easier to pass.It's also important to remember that the exam is not an essay contest, so don't feel pressured to come up with the best essay possible. Just take some time to make sure that you actually know the subject. You will be surprised at how easy it is to get into a rut when you don't take the time to really look at your specific subject matter.If you follow these suggestions, you should be able to write a good essay and not have any problems with your score or on any other topic for that matter. Keep in mind that the essay is one component of the overall test and therefore it's one you should focus on. Otherwise, it will make the test much harder to pass.