Even though I flunk the January PCAT, I did fairly well on the writing section of the test. I got 3/3 on both the conventions of language and problem solving. My tips/advices would be:
1) Read the topic prompt carefully and underline the main words
2) Rephrase the topic prompt so you understand it in your own words (this is when your knowledge of understanding the topic on another level comes in)
3) Make an outline in a given page (no score page) with Intro, Thesis (included in Intro), Body (2 or 3 Main Points with Problem Solving 1 & Problem Solving 2), Conclusion (Rephrase only a little bit of the thesis, 3 main points, and your own opinion)
4) When you start writing an Intro: Start talking about the problem given in the topic prompt, then come up with a solution or two in the thesis...For body, start out with an opening sentence talking about the first solution, then topic sentence about what to do to solve (at least 2 topic sentences), then write support sentence with examples, then have closing sentence at the end of the paragraph talking again about what you mentioned in the opening sentence...Do the same thing for 2nd solution...
5) Manage your time wisely and keep going going and going, don't stop...AND don't spend too much time on the Outline, that's what i did and i ran out of time quick
6) For both of my essays, when I was told that there's only 5 minutes left, what I did was stopped right away on what I was writing in the body parts, and jumped to conclusion right away...it's very important because you wanna be "complete" to get the good score...
7) Before the test, practice writing the essays at home on a scrap paper with topics given from PCAT study guides
8) I know just like everyone else, first time i take the test i feel super nervous on the writings and don't know what kind of topic prompts are on there, considering myself an Asian who fail the teacher's cbest writing section...but you guys, hang in there you can do it...just be clear on what you're writing and always stick to the "correct" answers to the topic prompt...don't gear elsewhere...
Note: if you have problems with spelling, practice spelling with words you know u'll most likely have problems spelling on...and if you have problem with grammars, i'd suggest that you practice writing a complete sentence. There is a list of words out there with Even though, Therefore, In addition, Because of...find that list and practice writing with them...
1) Read the topic prompt carefully and underline the main words
2) Rephrase the topic prompt so you understand it in your own words (this is when your knowledge of understanding the topic on another level comes in)
3) Make an outline in a given page (no score page) with Intro, Thesis (included in Intro), Body (2 or 3 Main Points with Problem Solving 1 & Problem Solving 2), Conclusion (Rephrase only a little bit of the thesis, 3 main points, and your own opinion)
4) When you start writing an Intro: Start talking about the problem given in the topic prompt, then come up with a solution or two in the thesis...For body, start out with an opening sentence talking about the first solution, then topic sentence about what to do to solve (at least 2 topic sentences), then write support sentence with examples, then have closing sentence at the end of the paragraph talking again about what you mentioned in the opening sentence...Do the same thing for 2nd solution...
5) Manage your time wisely and keep going going and going, don't stop...AND don't spend too much time on the Outline, that's what i did and i ran out of time quick
6) For both of my essays, when I was told that there's only 5 minutes left, what I did was stopped right away on what I was writing in the body parts, and jumped to conclusion right away...it's very important because you wanna be "complete" to get the good score...
7) Before the test, practice writing the essays at home on a scrap paper with topics given from PCAT study guides
8) I know just like everyone else, first time i take the test i feel super nervous on the writings and don't know what kind of topic prompts are on there, considering myself an Asian who fail the teacher's cbest writing section...but you guys, hang in there you can do it...just be clear on what you're writing and always stick to the "correct" answers to the topic prompt...don't gear elsewhere...
Note: if you have problems with spelling, practice spelling with words you know u'll most likely have problems spelling on...and if you have problem with grammars, i'd suggest that you practice writing a complete sentence. There is a list of words out there with Even though, Therefore, In addition, Because of...find that list and practice writing with them...
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