Okay so I just got back my ACT scores. I got 34 Comp, 35 Math, 35 Writing, 33 Reading, and 32 Science. I don’t know how this happened (seriously, I thought my essay was awesome) but I got a 20 on the Writing (and 2 6’s and 2 8’s for the subscores). This really doesn’t make sense to me, because on the SAT writing I got a 9 and a Writing score of 780. I’m applying to Brown this fall, so I don’t believe I’ll have time to retake the ACT. I’m submitting both my SAT and ACT scores. How badly will my ACT score hurt me? My common app essay is stellar.
I think each school looks at the writing differently. I tried to find out how the different schools look at writing but I was called for spamming by CC (what?!?!). Anyhow, have you tried calling admissions? On the Brown website is states that for the next application cycle the writing score will not be used. Therefore I would assume Brown does not enter the writing into the equation heavily even now and will focus more on the Brown specific essays. For Brown I wouldn’t worry about retests but Im unsure for other schools. (BTW the writing scores are the least accurate indicator of school readiness and half of the Ivies are making the writing optional in the next application cycle-which does little to help you now 
Thank you so much for your response! This definitely eased my mental breakdown. I’m currently a junior applying for graduating early, so if I don’t get in this year it’s not the end of the world, but Brown is still my top-choice school. If I called admissions, what should I say/ask? My Brown specific essays are pretty darn good, if I do say so myself, and I’ve spent 3-4 months rigorously working on them.
IF you don’t feel the outstanding 34 comp on your ACT accurately reflects your abilities, you don’t have to submit them.
brookelr-sent you a message.
Similar experience with a talented friend of my son. He sore a 32 composite with a 34 English. Brought home a 20 on the writing. Straight 7s. Seemed incongruent to say the least.
Hang in there. You’ll be fine at Brown. They’ll probably give your essays a bit more scrutiny, but it sounds like you’re ready for that.
Thanks!
My daughter also took Sept ACT. She got a 35 Composite and 35s on both English and reading. She got a 24 on the writing with 8s in each subsection. She is also concerned. Did you take the AP Lang exam last year? Her counselor is wondering if a 5 on AP English language will balance that 24. She is a Jr so could retake but was thrilled to be done when she got the 35 on the composite. I have seen in another post this weekend a kid who had a 33 composite and a 24 on writing. What is going on with this new scoring system?
I posted this on another thread, but I think it’s worth repeating here. I spoke to ACT reps about the writing scores. Apparently, in preparation for the new essay, the ACT established composite scores that were very low historically - for example, if you got 11 on each writing rubric, your composite would be a 31, whereas for previous tests as well as the ACT sample test, that would have gotten you a composite of 34. I have no idea why they did this, or what they were thinking, but I am assuming that schools will discount the writing composites and will just look at the raw scores if they look at anything.
@midatlmom thanks for re-posting here-i did not see it in another post. I am also confused on the scores. with a 36 composite, how will a 23 writing impact admissions? And will these scores have validity and reliability?
according to this article, http://www.browndailyherald.com/2015/10/21/test-essay-scores-optional-for-class-of-2021-onwards/,
“The Office of Admission will no longer require applicants to submit the essay portions of the SAT or ACT, starting in fall 2016 with applicants to the class of 2021, according to its website. The decision follows the College Board’s announcement that the essay section of the SAT will be optional from March 2016 onwards.”
My guess is that even though this policy isn’t active this year, admissions will not care that much about your essay score. IOW, if the only weak part of your app is that score, I doubt Brown will reject you solely because of that one low score.
As I have said, I don’t believe most schools will look at the writing composite - it is truly out of whack with the actual subscores. I think that some schools will look at the subscores, but I don’t know how seriously they will take them, given that this was a new type of essay. I think that 8s across the board would be fine and that 1 7 and 3 8s would not raise any concerns, but I’m just speculating.