SSAT Writing Practice Worksheet - 20

Instructions

• You have 25 minutes to complete one writing sample from the two prompts provided.
• Choose either the creative prompt or the essay prompt based on which allows you to showcase your strongest writing.
• Schools use your writing sample to assess your ability to organize ideas clearly, develop thoughts with specific details, and demonstrate command of written English.
• Write neatly and legibly if handwriting; plan to leave time for a brief review to catch errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Your response will be sent to schools unscored, so focus on presenting your authentic voice and best effort.

Prompts

Prompt A

The antique compass in my grandmother's attic began spinning wildly, and suddenly the room around me started to fade. When my vision cleared, I found myself standing in...

Prompt B

People often say, "Honesty is the best policy." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your position with specific reasons and examples from your experience, reading, or observation.

Model Answers

Model Answer - Prompt A

The antique compass in my grandmother's attic began spinning wildly, and suddenly the room around me started to fade. When my vision cleared, I found myself standing in the middle of a bustling medieval marketplace, surrounded by merchants hawking cloth and spices. My modern jeans and sneakers drew curious stares from villagers in rough wool tunics. Panic surged through me as I clutched the still-spinning compass. A elderly woman selling herbs noticed my distress and beckoned me to her stall. Despite the language barrier-her words sounded like a strange mixture of English and something far older-I understood her gestures. She pointed at the compass, then at the sun's position in the sky, making a circular motion with her weathered hands. I realized she was telling me the compass would return me home, but only at a specific time. With hours to wait, I explored this vanished world. I watched blacksmiths hammer iron, children play with wooden hoops, and musicians perform on instruments I'd only seen in history books. The smell of bread baking in outdoor ovens mixed with the less pleasant odors of a world without plumbing. As the sun reached the position the herb woman had indicated, I stood in the exact spot where I'd arrived. The compass began spinning again, faster and faster. The marketplace blurred and dissolved. Moments later, I was back in the dusty attic, the compass now still in my hand. I descended the stairs with a secret no one would believe, but a profound appreciation for the modern world-and the mysteries still hidden in forgotten corners.

Model Answer - Prompt B

While honesty is generally admirable, I disagree that it is always the best policy in every situation. Life presents complex circumstances where absolute honesty can cause unnecessary harm, and where compassion and wisdom must temper truth-telling. Consider a friend who has worked tirelessly on an art project that you find aesthetically unappealing. Brutal honesty-"Your painting is terrible"-would crush their spirit without offering constructive value. Instead, finding genuine positive elements to praise while gently suggesting areas for growth demonstrates both integrity and kindness. This nuanced approach maintains trust while protecting their confidence. Furthermore, certain social situations call for discretion rather than complete candor. When my aunt asked if I liked the sweater she'd knitted me-a garish orange creation with uneven sleeves-I focused on the thoughtfulness of her gift rather than its appearance. Her feelings mattered more than my aesthetic preferences, and my gratitude for her effort was genuinely honest, even if my fashion assessment remained unspoken. History also provides examples where deception served a moral purpose. During World War II, people who hid refugees from persecution lied to protect innocent lives. In such extreme cases, honesty would have been complicit in evil. However, I believe dishonesty should be rare and motivated by genuine compassion or moral necessity, never by self-interest or convenience. Habitual lying destroys relationships and personal integrity. The key is developing the wisdom to distinguish between situations requiring complete transparency and those where discretion, tact, or protective silence serves a higher good. Honesty should be our default, but not our absolute rule in every circumstance.

Tips

1. Choose quickly and confidently. Spend no more than one minute deciding between prompts. Select the one that immediately sparks ideas or connects to experiences you can describe vividly.
2. Plan before writing. Use two to three minutes to jot a brief outline with your main points or plot events. This roadmap prevents rambling and ensures your response has clear direction and structure.
3. Start with a hook. Your opening sentence should immediately engage the reader-begin with action, dialogue, a thought-provoking statement, or a vivid detail rather than generic setup.
4. Use specific, concrete details. Replace vague descriptions with precise nouns, active verbs, and sensory details. Write "the oak door creaked open" instead of "the door opened," or cite "my robotics team" instead of "a group I was in."
5. Vary sentence structure. Mix short, punchy sentences with longer, more complex ones. Avoid starting every sentence the same way. This rhythm makes your writing more sophisticated and engaging.
6. Leave three minutes for revision. Reread your work to catch spelling errors, missing words, unclear sentences, and punctuation mistakes. Even minor corrections improve the overall impression.
7. Conclude with purpose. End with a sentence that provides closure-reflect on what you learned, reinforce your main argument, or show how your character has changed. Avoid simply stopping or adding "The End."
8. Write legibly and maintain consistent quality. If your handwriting becomes rushed and messy, slow down slightly. Readers should be able to read every word easily, and your final paragraph should be as strong as your first.