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The essay is always the first question on the SAT. Students are given 25 minutes to respond to the question by writing an essay in longhand on the answer sheet, using a No. 2 pencil. The essay measures a student's ability to:
• Develop a point of view on an issue presented in an excerpt
• Support a point of view using reasoning and examples from their reading, studies, experience, or observations
• Follow the conventions of Standard Written English
Students are given a prompt or assignment, which is a short (no more than 80 words long) quotation or statement on an issue that is carefully selected to:
• Enable students to react and respond quickly in a variety of ways
What is Along with an essay what other material will be covered in the writing section?