Writing Samples
Some schools will ask for a writing sample from you. The way they collect samples varies. Sometimes it’s a component of the standardized placement test, such as the ACT Writing Exam. Some colleges have English instructors administer the college exam during a freshman composition session. And other schools may schedule dates when students meet – in a classroom, lecture hall, or other area that accommodates a lot of students – to write their test. Sometimes schools expect students to pass a writing exam at some point before they graduate, but we’re talking here about beginnings, not exits. Freshman writing exams are usually administered during the first week or month of the first semester.
These writing tests are almost always in the form of an essay. It’s not something for which you can study – at least as far as content – because they don’t test your knowledge of a subject. What they do assess is the clarity of your expression, your ability to organize your ideas in a cohesive essay, and the level of skills in grammar, syntax, and punctuation. So reviewing the organizing principles of an essay and brushing up on rules for relatively error-free writing is definitely well worth your time. Oh, and remember that you have to make a point! No essay is complete unless your thesis – your main or controlling idea – is expressed at the beginning and reinforced at the end.
The length of writing samples is usually expected to be about five or six paragraphs. Test administrators will be very clear on the requirements, so read and/or listen to the instructions carefully.