Across the different forums one finds different advice from admission consultants regarding word limits for essays. In several forum posts by consultants I have read that when a word limit is specified applicants should not exceed the limit. I have also read forums posts by the same consultants that state it is acceptable to exceed word limits so long as the overage is less than 10% of the word limit.

So, is it acceptbale to exceed word limitations by a small number of words (ie: less than 10%) or not?