24. 10 Tips for a Perfect Essay Score
06/02/20 • 40 min
Most standardized tests have an essay component, and in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast we're going to cover the 10 most important things you should do when crafting your essay response to ensure that you get a high score on test day -- perhaps even a perfect one!
We start by explaining what the graders are looking for. Once you know the components of a high-scoring essay, you can craft your strategy for writing an effective essay yourself. Knowing is half the battle, as they say.
Then we go through 10 tips for helping you get a perfect essay score and discuss:
- The importance of understanding the question prompt and answering all aspects of it (with examples);
- What you should do during the first 5 minutes before you start writing;
- The role of a clear thesis sentence and where it should appear in your essay;
- How to organize your essay for maximum effectiveness;
- Where you should pull your supporting examples from (for both the Issue Essay and Argument Essay) for the main body paragraphs of your essay;
- How long your essay should ideally be;
- Things you can do to improve your "fluency of language" so that your essay reads well;
- And more!
Whether you're naturally a strong writer or not, there are a lot of things you can do to write an essay that the readers will find favor with on test day. By the end of this episode, you'll know what they are and how to implement them. Enjoy!
FROM THE MAILBAG
Be sure to listen all the way to the end of the show where we answer the following question from one of our listeners:
"Is it better to go through the Official Guide first or start by going through a coaching program like yours?"
RESOURCES
Here are direct links to the resources mentioned in this episode that will help you prepare for the Analytical Writing (Essay) portion of your exam:
- Score-level examples of a sample Issue Essay task
- Pool of sample Issue Essay prompts for you to practice
- Score-level examples of a sample Argument Essay task
- Pool of sample Argument Essay prompts for you to practice
- GRE Analytical Writing Course (relevant for exams other than the GRE as well)
- Additional comprehensive prep courses to help you prepare for all aspects of your standardized test
- Improve your overall writing: The Little Red Writing Book, by Brandon Royal
- Improve your grammar: The Little Gold Grammar Book, by Brandon Royal
A DOSE OF MOTIVATION
"The scariest moment is always just before you start." — Stephen King
Connect with Us
- Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
- Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
- Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].
Most standardized tests have an essay component, and in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast we're going to cover the 10 most important things you should do when crafting your essay response to ensure that you get a high score on test day -- perhaps even a perfect one!
We start by explaining what the graders are looking for. Once you know the components of a high-scoring essay, you can craft your strategy for writing an effective essay yourself. Knowing is half the battle, as they say.
Then we go through 10 tips for helping you get a perfect essay score and discuss:
- The importance of understanding the question prompt and answering all aspects of it (with examples);
- What you should do during the first 5 minutes before you start writing;
- The role of a clear thesis sentence and where it should appear in your essay;
- How to organize your essay for maximum effectiveness;
- Where you should pull your supporting examples from (for both the Issue Essay and Argument Essay) for the main body paragraphs of your essay;
- How long your essay should ideally be;
- Things you can do to improve your "fluency of language" so that your essay reads well;
- And more!
Whether you're naturally a strong writer or not, there are a lot of things you can do to write an essay that the readers will find favor with on test day. By the end of this episode, you'll know what they are and how to implement them. Enjoy!
FROM THE MAILBAG
Be sure to listen all the way to the end of the show where we answer the following question from one of our listeners:
"Is it better to go through the Official Guide first or start by going through a coaching program like yours?"
RESOURCES
Here are direct links to the resources mentioned in this episode that will help you prepare for the Analytical Writing (Essay) portion of your exam:
- Score-level examples of a sample Issue Essay task
- Pool of sample Issue Essay prompts for you to practice
- Score-level examples of a sample Argument Essay task
- Pool of sample Argument Essay prompts for you to practice
- GRE Analytical Writing Course (relevant for exams other than the GRE as well)
- Additional comprehensive prep courses to help you prepare for all aspects of your standardized test
- Improve your overall writing: The Little Red Writing Book, by Brandon Royal
- Improve your grammar: The Little Gold Grammar Book, by Brandon Royal
A DOSE OF MOTIVATION
"The scariest moment is always just before you start." — Stephen King
Connect with Us
- Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
- Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
- Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].
Previous Episode
23. Should You Hire an Admissions Consultant? with Barbara Coward
Applying to top graduate and business schools is a competitive affair, with qualified applicants from around the world vying for just a handful of spots each year. The difference between getting accepted and not comes down to your ability to highlight your personal, academic, and professional assets in a way that sets you apart from the pack. While some candidates choose to do that on their own, many turn to admissions consultants for help.
Is working with an admissions consultant right for you?
That's what we explore in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast with the help of Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360° Admissions Consulting. Barbara worked as an application reader at Johns Hopkins University before starting her consulting practice, so she has experience in the industry from both side.
Specifically, we discuss:
- One of the biggest mistakes candidates make on their applications that they don’t realize
- Which aspect(s) of the application have the greatest opportunity to “move the needle” in a positive direction for you
- The real role of an admissions consultant
- How you can know if you'd benefit from working with an admissions consultant
- How many consultants you should interview and key questions you should ask to make sure you hire someone who is a good fit for you
- What separates good admissions consultants from bad ones
- AIGAC, and what it says about an admissions consultant who is part of that organization
- What admissions officers think about candidates who work with consultants
- The ROI of hiring an admissions consultant (even if you don't get in to your top-choice school)
- And more!
You'll also hear my interviews with two students who used admissions consultants when applying to graduate / business school. They share their first-hand accounts of why they decided to hire a consultant, how they chose who to work with, the main benefit they feel like they received, and whether they ultimately think it was worth it.
Working with an admissions consultant isn't for everyone... but it might be for you. After listening to this episode, you'll have a better idea if it is. Enjoy!
RESOURCES
- Learn more about Barbara's admissions firm, MBA 360° Admissions Consulting
- Get free admissions resources and stay connected via Barbara's LinkedIn Page
- AIGAC Graduate Admissions Consultants & Affiliate Member Directory
- Questions to ask a consultant
A DOSE OF MOTIVATION
"I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum potential." -- Robert Nardelli
Connect with Us
- Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
- Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
- Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].
Next Episode
25. How to Find the Motivation to Study
Motivation is a key component of success on your standardized test because if it's lacking, you won't put in the necessary work to prepare effectively and your score will suffer on test day. Unfortunately, a lot of students struggle with motivation and consequently they have a hard time getting the score they need.
Perhaps that's you.
So where does motivation come from and how can you get it back if you've lost it? That's the question we tackle in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast. Specifically, we explore:
- The four (4) reasons people lose motivation and what you can do to get it back
- Why getting into a good school may not be enough of a motivator for you
- The importance of having a powerful "WHY" and how to tap into it for sustained motivation
- The difference between Internal and External motivation, and which is more important for driving long-term success
- The power of habits for taking motivation out of the equation altogether
- A simple action you can take right now to increase your daily motivation
- And more!
If you're just beginning your test prep journey and your motivation is still high, that's awesome! But being aware of some of these "motivation pitfalls" can help you avoid them in the future. And if your motivation is lacking, I'm confident that you'll have clear direction on how to get it back after listening to this episode... and that you'll be motivated to do so.
RESOURCES
- Podcast episode #2: 5 Proven Study Habits for a Higher Score on Test Day
- Daily motivation: Download the "Motivate" app
- Comments? Questions? Contact Us
A DOSE OF MOTIVATION
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” -- Jim Ryun
* Did you like what you heard? Please leave us a written review. Doing so helps others find us who are looking to dominate their own test. We appreciate the support and thank you for listening!
Connect with Us
- Get more free content on the DTP YouTube Channel
- Register for a comprehensive prep course (GMAT Exam, Executive Assessment, GRE, LSAT, SAT)
- Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].
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