Writing

It is optional. You write one argumentative essay in 40 minutes. Many colleges do not require it, but some recommend or require it, so check each school.

A brief description of a debatable, contemporary issue, followed by three different perspectives on that issue.

Develop and support your OWN perspective on the issue, and analyze the relationship between your perspective and at least one of the three given perspectives. You may agree with one, partly agree, or take a wholly new position.

No. You may agree fully with one, partially agree, blend ideas, or argue an entirely original position. What matters is that your perspective is clear and that you engage with the given ones.

Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions.

Two trained readers each rate all four domains on a 1-6 scale. Their domain scores are combined into a final reported score on a 2-12 scale.