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Even the best student writers can feel anxious when assigned a timed essay, but almost every student will eventually have to write one. The SAT, ACT, GRE and other high-stakes tests now require timed writing assignments, and even the brightest of students must learn that a different approach to writing is required to produce a top 10% timed essay.

There is only one way to get comfortable with writing timed essays: practice. Just like you need to practice your skills before a game or rehearse your lines before stepping out on stage, practicing writing timed essays before the "big day" will reduce your stress and help you produce a polished, high-scoring piece of writing. However, the "rules" of timed essays are a little different from other writing assignments, and to be successful and relaxed while writing a timed essay, you will need to think about the problem and manage your time differently than you would for other assignments.

A common pitfall is that students think that an essay that has lyrical language, a moving story, or skillful vocabulary will earn high marks. Typically, reviewers of timed essays have rubrics, which are essentially check-lists of scoring guidelines. A top-scoring timed essay will earn points from the rubric, not from the admiration of the reviewer. If the scoring guidelines are available, they should be read and memorized in advance, so that you can make sure to meet each requirement. The goal in a timed essay is to write a clear, ordered document that meets pre-established guidelines.

Just like writing any essay, you must read the prompt or question, craft an outline, write, and then proofread and edit. Typically, students are given between 20 and 45 minutes to produce a timed essay, so it is important to budget your time wisely for your assignment. While planning typically takes significant time, the key in a timed essay is to use the bulk of the time for writing, and using only about 25% of your time in planning your essay and proofreading.

Practice developing a thesis statement supported by at least three pieces of evidence and a conclusion statement. You can use sample SAT or other standardized test prompts from the internet, or if your timed essay is for a classroom test, you can use questions from exam study guide or questions from your textbook. Ideally, you want to be able to read a prompt and then brainstorm to craft your argument and major points within ten to fifteen percent of your total available writing time. However, you

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