The fear and mystery surrounding the SAT Writing section is overblown. It’s new, they say. But actually, it isn’t. It’s just an old test put in a new place. All of the multiple-choice question types are derived from the PSAT, which nearly everyone studying for the SAT has already taken. And the entire section, including the essay, is really just a slightly shorter version of the SAT II Writing test that many students have had to take for years. Most colleges require students to take the SAT II Writing test in order to apply, but once the new SAT launches, the SAT II Writing test will be discontinued forever. So the big scary new Writing section is really just a recycled rehash of other standardized tests. That should help put your panic in check.