Essay‑Less but Not Speech‑Less: Building a Writing Portfolio for the Digital SAT, GMAT Focus & LSAT (2025 Guide)

The newest wave of adaptive, computer‑based exams has one big thing in common: their traditional essay sections have vanished or changed shape. If you’re banking on the Digital SAT, GMAT Focus Edition, or the remote LSAT, you still need to convince admissions officers that you can write clearly and persuasively. That’s where a personal writing portfolio comes in.

Below is a deep‑dive roadmap—complete with exam‑by‑exam tactics, real examples, and a step‑by‑step timeline—to help you replace the lost “essay points” with a convincing body of work.

1. What happened to the essay sections?

Bottom line: two of the big three no longer measure writing at all; the LSAT still does, but outside the scored portion.

2. Why colleges and grad schools still care about writing

• Analytical depth beyond multiple‑choice reasoning
• Authentic voice (you can’t fake nuance with bullet points)
• Academic integrity—can you cite, structure, and argue ethically?

With fewer standardized essays, many programs now ask for supplemental writing samples, graded papers, or portfolios. MBA programs, for instance, added additional short‑answer prompts to compensate for the missing GMAT essay.

3. Portfolio ingredients that impress reviewers

Tip: If juggling multiple deadlines, you can always do my essay with expert guidance, then revise the draft yourself to showcase your voice.

4. Tailoring the portfolio to each exam

4.1 Digital SAT applicants

• Target audience: traditional undergraduate admissions.
• What colleges now request: a graded English or history essay, plus the Common App personal statement.
• Smart add‑on: a 500‑word “issue analysis” written under timed conditions—mirrors the old SAT essay rubric.

Running late? Our editors can polish drafts or let you focus on test prep while we handle complex citation checks—simply order essays and iterate from there.

4.2 GMAT Focus Edition candidates

MBA ad‑coms lost their 30‑minute AWA peek. Fill the gap by:

1. Uploading your best undergraduate term paper (business, econ, or philosophy all work).
2. Writing a 300‑word executive summary of that paper—shows you can distill arguments for busy readers.
3. Recording a 60‑second video synopsis. Many 2025 programs combine written and spoken storytelling.

Example: A finance applicant shared a 7‑page equity‑valuation report + a 270‑word abstract + a Loom clip. Kellogg’s ad‑com called the trio “a concise window into both thinking and communication style.”

4.3 LSAT writers

The LSAT writing sample still exists but is unscored. Admissions offices skim it to check consistency with your personal statement. Strengthen that impression:

• Portfolio must‑have: one additional argumentative essay on a legal topic (1 000 words).
• Practice drill: replicate LSAC’s prompt style—two equally weighted positions, choose one, argue in 35 minutes. Then do a 10‑minute self‑edit; include both versions in your dossier.

For research‑heavy J.D. programs, consider attaching a mini literature review; you can even buy research paper assistance for the data‑collection grind and focus on crafting the legal analysis.

5. Common pitfalls & how to dodge them

6. A 6‑week build‑out timeline

7. Final thoughts

Adaptive exams may have cut the essay, but great writing is still your loudest admissions megaphone. A curated portfolio shows depth, versatility, and authenticity—qualities multiple‑choice bubbles will never capture. Start early, iterate often, and let each piece echo the narrative you want schools to remember.

Questions about structuring or proofreading your portfolio? Our team reviews thousands of application essays yearly—reach out anytime to turn rough drafts into persuasive admissions gold.