The Effects of Essay Placement and Prompt Type on Performance on the New SAT - Research Report No. 2006-7

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Mason

A research report examines how essay placement and prompt type influence performance on the New SAT, focusing on overall effects and subgroup patterns. The study includes analyses by gender, race/ethnicity, language, and school characteristics, and extends to regression analyses for school variables. Findings are structured through results, discussion, and multiple tables, supported by appendices covering PSAT/NMSQT essay placement analyses, prompt type analyses, and sample essay prompts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Method

Participants

Test Materials

Results

Essay Placement Effects

Essay Prompt Type Effects

Regression Analyses for School Variables

Discussion

References

Appendix A: PSAT/NMSQT Essay Placement Analyses

Appendix B: PSAT/NMSQT Prompt Type Analyses

Appendix C: Sample Essay Prompts

Research Report No . 2006-7 The Effects of Essay Placement and Prompt Type on Performance on the New SAT ® Hyeon-Joo Oh and Michael E. Walker [www.collegeboard.com](www.collegeboard.com) College Board Research Report No. 2006-7 ETS RR-06-34 The Effects of Essay Placement and Prompt Type on Performance on the New SAT ® Hyeon-Joo Oh and Michael E. Walker The College Board, New York, 2007 Hyeon-Joo Ohis a psychometrician at Educational Testing Service. Michael E. Walker is a principal psychometrician at Educational Testing Service. Researchers are encouraged to freely express their professional judgment. Therefore, points of view or opinions stated in College Board Reports do not necessarily represent official College Board position or policy. The College Board: Connecting Students to College Success The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,200 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program®(AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns. For further information, [visit www.collegeboard.com](visit www.collegeboard.com). Additional copies of this report (item \#060481999) maybe obtained from College Board Publications, Box 886, New York, NY 10101-0886, 800 323-7155. The price is $15. Please include $4 for postage and handling. © 2007 The College Board. All rights reserved. College Board, Advanced Placement Program, AP, SAT, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. connect to college success and SAT Reasoning Test are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College [Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.com](Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.com). Printed in the United States of America. Acknowledgments The research reported in this paper is collaborative in every respect, and the order of authorship is alphabetical. We would like to thank Jill Allspach, Patricia Baron, Hunter Breland, Miriam Feigenbaum, Jinghua Liu, Rosemary Reshetar, Cathy Wendler, and David Wright for their helpful comments on this manuscript. Contents Abstract ..................................... 1 Introduction ................................. 1 Method ..................................... 2 Participants ............................... 2 Test Materials ............................. 2 Results ...................................... 3 Essay Placement Effects ..................... 3 Gender analyses ......................... 4 Race/ethnicity analyses .................... 5 Language analyses ....................... 6 School type analyses ...................... 7 School location analyses ................... 8 Essay Prompt Type Effects ................... 8 Gender analyses ......................... 8 Race/ethnicity analyses .................... 9 Language analyses ....................... 9 School type analyses ..................... 10 School location analyses .................. 10 Regression Analyses for School Variables ...... 10 Discussion .................................. 11 References .................................. 12 Appendix A: PSAT/NMSQT® Essay Placement Analyses ........................ 13 Appendix B

FAQs

What topics does the report investigate regarding the New SAT?

It studies how essay placement and essay prompt type affect performance on the New SAT.

Which participant or subgroup factors are analyzed in the results?

The report includes analyses by gender, race/ethnicity, language, and school type and location.

What additional materials are provided beyond the main text?

Appendix A covers PSAT/NMSQT essay placement analyses, Appendix B covers PSAT/NMSQT prompt type analyses, and Appendix C provides sample essay prompts.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Mason