Hi. my child got a 35C and now a 6 on writing. the ELA is 29. Most of the schools they are applying DO NOT require the writing, but I know that you can’t separate the 2 sections. If they send in the ACT test from the Sept date with the 35C, the writing goes with it. So, if this is the case and the school says it does NOT require writing…don’t they still see it? This is unfortunately bad news and now we don’t know what to do…retake entire test? Thanks for honest answers…
If your child is a senior, send the test and be done with testing. I don’t think it will hurt at schools that do not use the writing section. But of course, love your safety schools, too.
He is not a senior. But really if schools are true to not requiring writing or looking at it, why retake a 35. If it goes down then what, send a lower composite and high writing?
If you know for certain that none of his schools require the writing section, I agree that you are done testing.
If you retake to get a higher writing and get a lower composite (slightly lower, say 33 or 34 instead of 35) but are happier with the writing test, just send both scores.
You can absolutely be done with testing with a 35. Rumor has it that even schools that require the writing section do not weight it very heavily at all.
well there are a few that want it. I have read so many conflicting things…and some say that even though schools don’t want it, they see it. And if it comes down to 2 applicants well, who knows. Some say that schools compare it against the common app essays and supplemental…to see if this kid got a 6 how does his common apps compare. It is just sad that a 40 minute writing sample is weighted like this… We have things to think about.
I don’t think that those section composites matter all that much (STEM/ELA). Somebody in admissions will input the four main numerical scores only and a 35 is excellent.
It is commonly known that both SAT and ACT essay sections are graded according to a rubric and are graded very, very quickly. It’s not the best way to assess quality writing. I wouldn’t worry about it, especially for schools that don’t require the writing.
Alternately, if you’re really concerned, your child could try the SAT - I found the writing exercise to make more sense and to actually test a college-relevant skill - can the student analyze a passage?
My child did both tests with writing and did somewhat better on the SAT. For both, she looked on line to get tips about how to write the essay from test prep websites and they served her well.
My son has the exact same scores and we are not worrying about it. From everything I have seen no one really cares much about the ACT essay section. Do a good job of the application essay. They will put more stock in that.