The person who grades your essay will not devote a lot of time to figuring out your writing skills. Luckily, there are a few basic tricks to getting them to think you know what you’re doing:
The first paragraph should be your best. This paragraph will receive the most complete attention, and if it is good will create the impression that you’re a solid essay writer and can be “trusted” to carry through strongly to the end. The rest of your essay will probably be just skimmed.
Write a longer essay. Longer essays appear to be more complete and well developed.
Break each new idea in your essay into a new paragraph. Use good transitional phrases to let your ideas flow smoothly from one point to the next. Remember, you are arguing a point, not just blurting out unconnected verbiage.
Three good examples illustrating your point are best. But two or one are ok, so long as they are GOOD ones. You must make a serious effort to demonstrate how EACH of your examples are related to the original topic.
The basic format to use is: 1st paragraph – introduction clearly stating your position and summarizing the examples you will use or points you will make; 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. paragraphs – each new point/example is introduced/explained in its own paragraph and tied explicitly to how it advances your main argument; last paragraph – summarizes the main point your essay made, and perhaps introduces exceptions or further extensions of your argument to other scenarios.
SAT Prep Plan: SAT Tips 
