The significance of the SAT® Essay has changed over time, influencing updates to college admissions policies. In 2021, the College Board® announced the discontinuation of the optional SAT® Essay section after first introducing it in 2016. Despite this, a few states still include it in the SAT School Day program for skills assessment within their educational systems. Given its limited availability, no colleges currently require the SAT Essay and do not consider it in their admissions processes.
Does The SAT Essay Matter?
The SAT Essay holds significance primarily for high schools that choose to administer it. This section does not influence admissions decisions since colleges do not require or recommend submitting essay scores. For detailed insights into the format, syllabus, difficulty, and scoring of the essay section, refer to the College Board’s SAT School Day Student Guide on the SAT Optional Essay.
Benefits of the SAT essay
While most colleges do not consider the SAT Essay in their admissions process, students who opt to take it can still use it to showcase their writing abilities at the high school level:
- Highlight your writing and rhetorical skills:
It offers a chance to demonstrate your writing prowess and stand out among your peers. - Display your college and career readiness:
Your essay score showcases essential writing skills and critical thinking, reflecting your potential for success in future academic pursuits.
Why Don't Colleges Emphasize the SAT Essay Anymore?
Previously, the SAT Essay served as a tool for colleges to assess applicants' writing and critical thinking abilities, contributing to predictions of their success in college-level coursework. However, due to its limited administration, the SAT Essay no longer plays a significant role in the admissions process. Applicants seeking to showcase their writing skills are encouraged to focus on the personal statement and other parts of their applications. Additionally, the ACT Writing section and AP exam free-response questions offer widely recognized platforms to demonstrate writing proficiency against a broad peer group.
Do Ivy League schools require the SAT essay?
Ivy League schools do not require you to take the SAT essay. The same goes for other premier institutions like Stanford, Caltech, MIT, and NYU.
References
- What Is the SAT Essay?. (February 28, 2024). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved March 06, 2024, from https://blog.collegeboard.org/what-sat-essay
- What were SAT Subject Tests?. (February 23, 2024). Collegeboard.org. Retrieved February 16, 2024, from https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blog.collegeboard.org/January-2021-sat-subject-test-and-essay-faq%23:~:text%3DWe%2527ve%2520also%2520discontinued%2520the%2520optional%2520SAT%2520Essay&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1673527315503476&usg=AOvVaw33Sv5cozqeG1NI3jqjduH4
- SAT School Day Student Guide. (2024, February 1). College Board. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/sat-school-day-student-guide.pdf
