Minutes a day n e w y o r k

L E S S O N   S U M M A R Y
Essay exams are stressful. You have to come up with a well-written
piece under a strict time restraint in a room crowded with other stu-
dents. How can you alleviate some of that stress and walk into the test-
ing room with confidence? The answer is preparation.
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Ty p e s   o f   E x a m s
Spend time learning the general features of the essay you’ll be taking. Understand the topics and what scorers will
be looking for. Study the instructions for your essay carefully (they’re all online)—think of how much time you’ll
save during the exam if you don’t have to read them. Finally, visit the test website to get the most up-to-date infor-
mation about topics and any changes made to the tests.
ACT
The ACT Plus Writing Test is optional. Some schools require the test, so check with those you plan on applying
to before you make your decision to register for it. The essay is written in response to a prompt concerning an issue
of relevance to high school students. You’ll need to take a stand on that topic, support your point of view, and pres-
ent a counterargument.
Here’s a sample prompt:
In an effort to reduce juvenile violence and crime, many towns have chosen to enforce curfews on minors under the
age of eighteen. These curfews make it illegal for any minor to loiter, wander, stroll, or play in public streets, highways,
roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, or other public places between the hours of 10:00 
P
.
M
. and 5:00 
A
.
M
. These curfews
also make it illegal for parents or legal guardians to allow minors to congregate in certain public places unsupervised.
Those who support these curfews believe they would reduce community problems such as violence, graffiti, and drugs,
and would force parents and guardians to take responsibility for their children’s whereabouts. Those who oppose cur-
fews for minors claim these laws violate the Fourteenth Amendment rights of life and privilege for U.S. citizens. They
also believe that such curfews stereotype minors by presupposing that citizens under the age of eighteen are the only
people who commit crimes.
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you
may present a different point of view on this topic. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.
Two trained readers will score your essay on a scale of 1–6; the highest possible score is a 12, and the lowest
is a 2. Those readers will evaluate how well you:
■
supported your position
■
maintained focus on the topic
■
developed and organized your position logically
■
supported your ideas
■
adhered to the rules of standard written English
For the latest information about the test, check www.act.org.
GED
The General Educational Development test contains a 45-minute writing section in which test takers must
develop an expository essay that includes personal observations, knowledge, and experience. The typical GED essay
is about 250 words in length, written on your choice of five topics. A list of possible topics, as well as some test-