<p>Hi, my daughter is taking the ACT on March 4th (Utah test date). However, the Writing portion of the test isn't offered in this session and many of the schools she's applying to (Columbia, Princeton...) require the ACT plus Writing. This is fine, she can take the test again on a day that offers it; she's planning on it.
My question is: will this test still be considered in the admissions process even though it doesn't include the Writing portion? I'm worried that she won't do as well the second time she takes the test (with Writing) and I want her first scores to count in case her scores for English Math and Science are better the first time around.
Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>For the majority of schools, the ACT without writing will not count…</p>
<p>I’m not sure why they don’t just make the writing portion mandatory. </p>
<p>You’ll have to check with each school. Some will accept the high scores…IF…there is another test with the essay.</p>
<p>It will be up to the school. I saw some schools require the writing score from the same ACT test. Nevertheless, there are also schools that look at the composite ACT and writing score separately (e.g. Stanford).</p>
<p>Thanks. So should she send this ACT score to all the colleges she is applying to anyways?</p>
<p>As you have to pay separately for each ACT test sent to colleges, I would hold off and see how she does on this test vs. the next one with writing. If all her individual section scores are higher on the 2nd test, you may not need to spend the money having the first test sent.</p>
<p>She gets to send it to 4 schools for free… would you still send this one or is there no point?</p>
<p>I am going to be doing the same thing as your daughter probably. I’ll be taking the ACT first time in April, which does not include the writing portion. I’m going to take it a second time just to do the writing, but I wouldn’t worry too much about getting a lower score the second time around. Most colleges will take the highest ACT score you have, even if you may be asked to send them all. The writing portion is considered completely separate from the ACT composite.</p>
<p>
When my kids applied to college, they each took the SAT and ACT once. Both test companies offered the 4 free tests with registration, but my kids declined. Their thinking was “What if I bomb the test? Do I want colleges to see that score – especially colleges that do not superscore.” Not sending the free scores allowed my kids to control what scores colleges got to see. The same is true for your daughter.</p>
<p>My advice: Because this test is WITHOUT writing, colleges that require the test WITH writing will not use it. (Some might use it, but only with another test with writing – so at this point it’s a waste to send it those schools.) If money is tight, have your daughter send the 4 free test results to schools that accept the test WITHOUT writing, otherwise I would pass on using the 4-free option.</p>
<p>
Unless things have changed over the last 4 years, ultra selective colleges (HYPSM et al) will use the highest ACT composite score. But, unlike the SAT, they will not use the highest individual section scores for the ACT to create a superscored ACT.</p>
<p>I live in a rural area. I had the same problem. Drove quite a distance for the ACT w/ writing. Spent the evening in a hotel room… I made them study…they were non too pleased…although I am glad I did, it was their second time around and they scored higher. </p>
<p>First, send the score only to the schools that would actually use that score. Second, choose safety schools and schools that want all scores for free reports if you are not sure how it turns out. In most cases, schools would only consider your best scores anyway. You should not worry about it at all.</p>