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Introduction to the Essay

Kat Thomson
Lesson by Kat Thomson
Magoosh Expert
Summary
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the ACT Essay section, offering strategic advice for efficient preparation and key insights into the essay's format, scoring, and practice recommendations.
  • The ACT Essay is an optional section, scored separately on a 2-12 scale, with most scores clustering around 6-8.
  • Effective preparation involves understanding the essay format, which is argumentative, and focuses on defending a position on a social issue.
  • Key recommendations include focusing on planning the essay, crafting a strong thesis, and how to impress graders.
  • A structured preparation plan is outlined for both a four-hour comprehensive prep and a two-hour quick prep, emphasizing the importance of practice and feedback.
  • The guide encourages immediate action towards preparation, suggesting printing materials or engaging with example prompts as initial steps.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to the ACT Essay
01:17
Understanding the Essay Format and Scoring
06:56
Key Lessons for Essay Preparation
08:05
How to Prep in 2-4 Hours
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