AP Essay Word Count: Shoot for 800 words in 40 minutes (roughly 3.5 pages)

More words do not necessarily earn an essay a higher score, but fewer words will usually earn a lower score (as you cannot adequately develop your idea). 

Here are some guidelines. A word count less than or equal to

• 200 words will usually not score higher than a 3. 
• 400 words will usually not score higher than a 5. 
• 550 words will usually not score higher than a 7. 
• 750 words will usually not score higher than a 8.
• 800 words will usually not score higher than a 9.

• The most a student usually writes is 1,100 words on one essay. 
• You should shoot for 800 words...really landing in the 700's somewhere.  For most of you, that's three full pages.    
• I have seen one essay of 450 words that earned an 8...but that was Neo from The Matrix...and he offered a bribe.