My son rising junior will be taking act this year. He says act essays are optional. Not sure whether to concentrate on practicing essays or no? Could someone guide us?
Thanks
If he plans on applying to top colleges, many of them will require the ACT with writing
The ACT offers two options: the ACT without writing, and the ACT with writing. The majority of colleges (especially competitive colleges) require the ACT with writing. I would most definitely sign up to take the ACT with writing. It costs more to take the ACT with writing (by ~$20), but it is worth it. I’d suggest practicing the essays. Essays on the ACT are straightforward and to-the-point, so I would try to get a feel for them before the test. (They are different from the SAT essays in that the SAT essays are broader.)
The ACT essay is optional for the test taker.
To almost every college your student is likely to apply, the ACT is not accepted without the essay. Pick a couple of colleges in which your student has expressed interest and check their websites to confirm for yourself, and point out to your student the folly of not doing so.
It depends on the college. If he has a set list and none of them require writing, skip it. Otherwise, take it.
The essay section is really there to prove that the student has some competency in written expression, and it isnt difficult for most students. My son practiced very little on this section and scored a 4 twice.
Most selective colleges require the essay. I do wonder if those which require an essay as part of the admission process might not occasionally check for similarity in writing style between the ACT essay, which they know to be written by the applicant, and any essay turned in that was written at “home.”