I have a composite score of 35, but my writing score is somehow 24?
The sub scores for the essay are 8,8,8,8. That clearly does not add up to 24.
I know ACT says that the sub domains do not necessarily add up to the total score, but the difference between a 32 and a 24 is just too large. What is wrong with the new ACT?
Not sure but 8 out of 12 is the same as 24 out of 36… However someone got 11,11,11,12 and they got a 31. There is some other calculation going on.
Anyone have a sense of how the new writing score is being used, and if the ELA score (English, reading and writing) is replacing the combined English and writing subscore? For those schools that superscore the ACT, how will they do this with the new Writing score? Will they look at the ELA or STEM scores?
I almost had a heart attack when I saw that I got a 25 essay with a 33 C, and would like as well to know how this will be used
Colleges will no doubt discount the writing score in the new format until everyone gets a handle on the new grading system. They will see your essay though.
C25 is 79th percentile.
25 on the Essay is 90th percentile.
The Essay scoring doesn’t make sense. The Essay scale seems very harsh. It will drag the ELA score down. I have to agree with the above poster: colleges might not look at the essay score until they know what to make of it.
I got a 34 Comp but 20 on the essay. I thought I did stellar, but apparently this is not so. Even more anxious about my app to Brown now.
A lot of schools are eliminating the requirement for the Writing portion of the ACT. I would not lose any sleep over it! @brookelr
Thank you! @TheWaffleMan149 I really just don’t want a weakness in the college application process, especially when decisions for acceptance can already be so arbitrary.
@brookelr No problem! I was in a similar situation as you (except I’m going ED to Penn instead of Brown). And I am even more sure that this is true since it came from my college counselor after I had a freak out about my writing score 
Wow congrats! Thanks for the help! I’m applying as a junior, so I don’t want admissions officers to view my essay score as an indicator that my writing skills aren’t developed enough for a rigorous university setting. When I saw that 20 today, I almost had a panic attack.
Absolutely not! It wouldn’t be fair for a school to judge your writing capabilities based on one 40 minute essay with a predetermined argument prompt. Some people write certain essays better than others. Some are better at fiction. All of these are things that you would not be able to discern from the ACT writing section. IMO, the essay should just be eliminated
8/12= 0.67
24/36=0.67
the math works
@TheWaffleMan149 Agreed! Thanks for all of the encouragement.
Having a heart attack over my son’s writing score with the new September ACT - composite 32, writing 14!!! He took the ACT in June and scored 27 on the writing. 14 is not even college ready. How is it that his initial composite score was 32 and then once the writing section posted it did not go down?
I do not like this score, his said his essay was pretty good and given his previous writing score, I am inclined to think an error was made. What should we do? Request a hand score?
@brookelr do not worry about the writing. It is out of your control.
@crhoads The writing score does not effect the composite score in any way. In my experience, hand scoring will not change anything.
@crhoads the essay does not affect your son’s 32, essay scores never do. But im sure there is an error. This essay is brand new and very different than the one before.
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THE ACT SUPERSCORES YOUR ESSAY AS WELL?
WHEN THE ACT SUPERSCORES YOUR ENLGISH, MATH ETC SCORES, DOES YOUR ESSAY GO INTO IT AS WELL?
eX. i got a 24 on my first essay, then a 26. they take the 26 right?