CBEST Writing: Personal Experience and Expository Essays
What the Writing section requires
You will write two timed essays: one personal experience essay and one expository essay that explains or analyzes an issue. Both are scored on clear focus, organization, development with specific details, sentence variety, and grammar, usage, and mechanics. The personal essay should narrate a real or plausible experience that directly answers the prompt and reflects on its significance. The expository essay should state a thesis, support it with reasons and examples, and address the prompt without drifting.
Traps to avoid
- Ignoring the prompt mode: a personal-experience prompt is not an argument essay; an expository prompt does not want a fictional story.
- Vague generalities: “It was a learning experience” is weak without specific details.
- Overlong introductions: get to the thesis or story quickly.
- Mechanical errors: apostrophes, comma splices, tense shifts, and pronoun agreement are easy to fix in a final pass.
- No clear organization: each paragraph should develop one idea and connect with transitions.
Rule of thumb
Spend about 5 minutes planning, 20 minutes writing, and 5 minutes revising. Write a one-sentence thesis or focus statement before drafting, and make every paragraph support it.
Worked example
Weak thesis: “Technology is important.” Stronger thesis: “Although smartphones can distract students, schools should teach responsible use because digital tools are now central to work and civic life.” The stronger version takes a position and gives the essay a clear direction.