webhead7

On my part there was certainly a healthy degree of heart-pounding anxiety. And yes, in scrolling down the list of questions your mind races through its groggy (in my case) mental index to come up with responses, all the while it's on high alert for grammar, style, spelling and facts of what you're tapping out on the keyboard. I thought it was fun. Definately a challenge. People say you can't really study for it. That's true; it's open-ended questions - nothing like the sample test found online. But it never hurts to run through old Strunk & White or AP Style refreshers, and some past NYT stories. All that helped. I did goof up a couple of my facts - so badly I just had to laugh at myself. I wonder how much weight is given to the test in the overall evaulation of an applicant's package? Also, if this is a pass-fail test or if receives an actual point-valued grade. Anyone know?

Yes I'm serious! Can't hurt; might help.

I'm taking it this sat too. I've studied stuff like AP Style Book, Strunk & White, and bought Time mag year in review. Also reviewing world atlas and trying to famaliarize myself with names of global leaders, etc. They ask you to do 2 timed writings. The op ed concerns me. Not so much the writing part as command of facts I'll know only from memory. I'm an older applicant so am taking extra Ginko to help with the memory part! Hey - good luck and let me know how it goes?

Hi - I'm also scheduled to take the writing test for Columbia and saw your question here. Wonder if you'd seen the 2003 Practice Test - you can Google it. Seems there are 2 writing drills. One's a 15 minute typical news story, and one's a news analysis piece. There's also a punctuation test and then an identification quiz on names, etc in the news. Good luck! I'm sure it's been updated since 2003 so I'm trying to study up for the ID stuff and news analysis issues - not knowing which they'll ask about. If you're a news junkie, you should be fine! - webhead7