Be prepared for what's coming. You will have 25 minutes to write a two-page essay. You cannot go over your time and you cannot write more than two pages.
After you read the topic, decide whether you agree or disagree with the topic. You should write an essay that's persuasive about one side or the other. Take a side and write a good thesis.
Think of good concrete examples from books, history, news or your personal life that will support your thesis. Do not give hypothetical examples.
Write in good handwriting. Although the College Board claims that the SAT essay score will not be influenced by the handwriting, studies show that people tend to score a neatly written essay higher than one written in messy handwriting.
Write at least four or five paragraphs, usually with an introduction, a body consisting of two or three paragraphs, and a conclusion. Also write at least a page and a half. Longer essays tend to score higher than shorter ones. Finish your essay. A finished four-paragraph essay will score higher than an unfinished four-paragraph essay.
If you have extra time, go back and reread it to make sure that you did not make grammar, spelling or punctuation mistakes.