Question 1Multiple choice
Which piece of evidence, if added after sentence 12, would best support the writer’s claim in that sentence?
The TSIA2 essay
The essay is part of ELAR. You read a short passage and a question, then write a 300- to 600-word essay that takes a position and supports it. It is scored from 1 to 8, and ELAR needs a 5 or higher.
| Length | 300 to 600 words |
|---|---|
| Score | 1 to 8, by an automated scoring system |
| Needed for ELAR | 5 or higher |
| Session | Started and finished in one session |
What the prompt looks like
One prompt is chosen at random. It has a short passage on a general issue and an assignment question, such as whether people are free to make their own choices. The prompts need no special knowledge, and the position you take does not affect your score.
The six qualities it is scored on
- Purpose and Focus: a unified essay that clearly addresses the issue.
- Organization and Structure: ideas in a logical order, connected from paragraph to paragraph.
- Development and Support: reasons and examples that develop each idea.
- Sentence Variety and Style: control of vocabulary, voice and sentence structure.
- Mechanical Conventions: Standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- Critical Thinking: a clear point of view and reasoned links between ideas.
How it is scored
An automated system compares your essay with at least 500 essays scored by two expert readers and places it with the essays it most resembles. A 5 means adequate mastery of on-demand essay writing; an 8 means clear and consistent mastery.
An essay that is too short to be scored, off the topic or not in English gets a zero. You may not use a dictionary; you may ask the proctor for scratch paper to plan.
A plan that works
- Answer the question in your first paragraph in one clear sentence.
- Give two or three body paragraphs, each with one reason and a specific example from your reading, studies or experience.
- Explain how each example supports your position; do not just tell a story.
- Close by restating your position and why it holds. Leave a few minutes to fix errors.
Try 2 questions
Texas and Its State Tree
(1) In 1919, the Texas Legislature named the pecan the official state tree. (2) The choice made sense. (3) Pecan trees grow naturally along rivers and creeks across much of Texas, and their nuts have fed people in the region for a very long time.
(4) The pecan is a kind of hickory, a group of trees known for hard wood and edible nuts. (5) A healthy pecan tree can grow more than 100 feet tall. (6) It can keep producing nuts for over a century. (7) Each spring, the wind carries pollen from tree to tree. (8) In the fall, the green husks around the nuts split open, and the nuts drop to the ground.
(9) Pecan growers know that a tree rarely produces the same amount every year. (10) A tree that bears a heavy crop one fall often bears a light crop the next, scientists call this pattern alternate bearing. (11) To even out the harvest, growers thin the nuts in heavy years and give their trees steady water and nutrients.
(12) Pecans have long been an important food in the region. (13) Today, Texas is one of the leading pecan-producing states, and pecans appear in everything from pies to pralines. (14) Walnuts and almonds are also popular in baking.
Question 2Multiple choice
In context, which of the following is the best way to revise and combine sentences 5 and 6 (reproduced below)?
(5) A healthy pecan tree can grow more than 100 feet tall. (6) It can keep producing nuts for over a century.
Next step
College Board: TSIA2 essay guide with scored sample essays (PDF)
Questions people ask
What score do I need on the TSIA2 essay?
A 5 or higher, together with an ELAR CRC score of 945 or higher, or an ELAR Diagnostic level of 5 or 6.
How long should the TSIA2 essay be?
300 to 600 words, in several paragraphs.
Can I retake only the essay?
After your first ELAR sitting, you need to retake only the part you did not pass, so an essay-only retest is possible. Your college's testing center explains how.