SAT Essay Guide 2025: What You Need to Know About Writing on the SAT

What Happened to the SAT Essay?

The Discontinuation of the SAT Essay

In January 2021, the College Board announced the discontinuation of the optional SAT Essay, with the last administration occurring in June 2021 for most students. This decision reflected several factors including declining student participation, increasing adoption of test-optional admissions policies by colleges, and the desire to streamline the SAT experience.

What Replaced the SAT Essay?

The digital SAT, launched in 2024, assesses writing skills through the Reading and Writing section—a combined 64-minute section with 54 questions testing reading comprehension, grammar, rhetoric, and analysis. Rather than producing extended written responses, students demonstrate writing proficiency through multiple-choice questions addressing grammar rules, sentence structure, rhetorical effectiveness, and appropriate word choice.

Historical Context: What the SAT Essay Was

The Old SAT Essay Format (2005-2021)

For students curious about what the SAT Essay entailed or for understanding historical score reports, here's what the now-discontinued component looked like:

How the Historical SAT Essay Was Scored

Two trained graders independently scored essays on three dimensions, with scores ranging from 2-8 on each dimension (total possible range 6-24 per dimension):

Current SAT Writing Assessment: Reading and Writing Section

How the Digital SAT Tests Writing Skills

The current digital SAT assesses writing proficiency through the Reading and Writing section, which integrates writing and language questions with reading comprehension in a streamlined format.

Writing Skills Tested on Current SAT

While the essay is gone, the SAT still thoroughly assesses writing competency through multiple-choice questions covering these essential writing domains:

Strategies for SAT Writing Success

Mastering Reading and Writing Questions

Success on the current SAT's writing assessment requires understanding grammar rules, recognizing effective writing principles, and efficiently analyzing short passages. These strategies help maximize your Reading and Writing section scores:

SAT Reading Tips for Better Writing Performance

Strong reading comprehension directly supports writing performance, as understanding passage context helps you identify appropriate grammar, transitions, and stylistic choices. Improve both skills simultaneously with our comprehensive SAT Reading Tips guide.

Writing for College Applications

College Application Essays vs. SAT Writing

While the SAT no longer includes an essay component, strong writing skills remain crucial for college admissions through application essays. Understanding the distinction between SAT writing assessment and college essays helps you prepare appropriately for both.

Do Colleges Still Care About Writing?

Absolutely. The elimination of the SAT Essay didn't reduce colleges' emphasis on writing ability—they simply evaluate it differently now. Colleges assess writing through:

• College Application Essays: Common App personal statement, supplemental essays specific to each college
• High School Transcripts: Grades in English and writing-intensive courses
• Teacher Recommendations: References to writing ability and analytical skills in recommendation letters
• Writing Samples: Some colleges request graded papers from high school courses
• SAT Reading and Writing Score: The 200-800 Reading and Writing section score demonstrates grammar and rhetoric competency

Comprehensive SAT Preparation Resources

Complete SAT Study Materials

Success on the current digital SAT requires mastering all sections including the integrated Reading and Writing assessment. Access comprehensive preparation resources covering all tested content:

Frequently Asked Questions About SAT Essay and Writing

Is there still an essay on the SAT?

No, there is no longer an essay component on the SAT. The College Board discontinued the optional SAT Essay in June 2021. Students taking the SAT in 2025 will not encounter any essay writing. The current digital SAT assesses writing skills through multiple-choice questions in the Reading and Writing section rather than through extended written responses. This 64-minute section tests grammar, rhetoric, and analytical reading through 54 questions about short passages.

How does the SAT test writing skills now?

The digital SAT tests writing through the integrated Reading and Writing section, which includes multiple-choice questions assessing Standard English Conventions (grammar, usage, punctuation), Expression of Ideas (rhetorical effectiveness, organization), and Craft and Structure (purpose, tone, style). Students answer questions about short passages (25-150 words), selecting answers that demonstrate understanding of effective writing principles. The section is adaptive, with second module difficulty adjusting based on first module performance. Scores range from 200-800 and contribute 50% to the total SAT score (400-1600).

Do colleges care that the SAT Essay is gone?

No, colleges don't mind that the SAT Essay was discontinued because very few were using it in admissions decisions even when it was available. Most selective colleges evaluate writing ability through college application essays, high school transcripts showing grades in writing-intensive courses, teacher recommendations discussing analytical and writing skills, and sometimes supplemental writing samples or graded papers. The SAT Reading and Writing section score (200-800) still provides evidence of grammar and rhetoric competency. Colleges adjusted quickly to the essay's elimination since it had limited predictive value for college writing success.

How was the old SAT Essay scored?

The discontinued SAT Essay (2005-2021) was scored by two independent graders on three dimensions: Reading (comprehension and use of textual evidence), Analysis (examination of argumentative techniques), and Writing (cohesiveness, organization, language precision, conventions). Each grader assigned scores of 1-4 per dimension, with two graders' scores combined for totals of 2-8 per dimension. The three dimension scores were reported separately (e.g., Reading 6, Analysis 7, Writing 8) and did not affect the main SAT score of 400-1600. Essay scores appeared on score reports but carried little weight in college admissions decisions.

Should I take the ACT instead if I'm a good essay writer?

The ACT also eliminated its essay component—the ACT Writing Test became optional in 2015 and very few colleges require it now. Neither the SAT nor ACT currently emphasizes essay writing in their standard formats. If you're a strong writer, showcase this ability through college application essays, which carry far more weight in admissions than standardized test essays ever did. Focus SAT/ACT prep on the actual tested content rather than choosing based on discontinued essay components. Your writing skills will matter most in your personal statement and supplemental essays.

How can I prepare for SAT writing questions?

Prepare for SAT Reading and Writing section questions by: studying grammar rules systematically (subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, punctuation, parallel structure), practicing with official College Board materials to understand question formats, reading quality writing to internalize effective style and rhetoric, learning to identify concise and clear expressions, understanding transition words and organizational patterns, and taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions. Focus on recognizing both grammatical correctness and rhetorical effectiveness. Work through 4-6 complete practice tests, reviewing every mistake to understand error patterns and improve accuracy.

The Future of SAT Writing Assessment

Why Multiple-Choice Writing Assessment Makes Sense

The College Board's decision to assess writing through multiple-choice questions rather than essays reflects educational research and practical testing realities. Multiple-choice writing questions can efficiently test grammar, rhetoric, and stylistic understanding in ways that closely correlate with college writing success. They eliminate scoring subjectivity inherent in essay grading, provide immediate automated scoring, reduce testing time and student fatigue, and allow broader content sampling across multiple passages and question types.

What Students Should Focus On

Rather than wondering about the discontinued SAT Essay, current test-takers should concentrate efforts on mastering the actual content of the digital SAT: Reading and Writing multiple-choice questions and Math problem-solving. Writing skills remain important for college success, but they're best demonstrated through college application essays developed with time for reflection, revision, and feedback rather than timed standardized test essays.

Making the Most of Your SAT Preparation

Integrated Approach to Reading and Writing

Success on the current SAT's combined Reading and Writing section requires understanding how reading comprehension and writing proficiency interconnect. Strong readers recognize effective writing techniques, while skilled writers understand how to comprehend complex passages efficiently. Develop both skill sets simultaneously rather than treating them as separate domains.

Practice with short passages matching the digital SAT format—25 to 150 words with focused questions. Learn to quickly identify main ideas, understand context for vocabulary and grammar questions, and recognize organizational patterns. The adaptive testing format rewards accuracy, so focus on precision over speed initially, building efficiency through repeated practice.

Beyond the Test: Writing for Life and College

While SAT writing assessment focuses on technical proficiency, remember that writing serves purposes beyond standardized testing. Effective writing communicates ideas clearly, persuades audiences, analyzes complex topics, and expresses personal experiences meaningfully. The writing skills you develop for college applications—authentic voice, compelling narratives, insightful analysis—matter more for long-term success than any standardized test component ever could.

Approach SAT preparation as one element of comprehensive writing development. Master grammar and rhetoric for the test, but also read widely, write regularly, seek feedback from teachers and peers, and develop your unique perspective and style. These broader writing competencies serve you far beyond test day, supporting success throughout college and professional careers.