Ok, so, here’s the deal. I took the old SAT, did relatively well overall, but didn’t perform as well in math as I would have liked. Since the test changed, and because I’ve heard differing thoughts on the new SAT, I decided to play it safe by taking the ACT instead.
However, I was curious, do I really need to take the ACT Writing. I’ve heard the section changed, so I won’t have as much prep material, and, if possible, I would prefer to not take it. I know that a majority of the schools I would like to apply to ask for the writing section, but what if I’m submitting SAT scores (with writing) in addition to the ACT? Would I still need to take the ACT writing?
I think schools have specific ACT or SAT requirements - do not combine ACT with SAT writing - but certainly SAT with writing (and any required SAT subject tests would be evaluated. Many schools are eliminating or discounting the writing scores bc of all the recent test changes. Suggestion – pick 3 of the top tier / most selective schools you might be interested in and lookup heir policies – try to meet the requirements of the schools you are most interested in and believe you are a match for. Some helpful info is here but not 100% current most likely: http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/act-writing-and-sat-essay-requirements/
While some schools, as noted, are requiring that students must take the writing section of standardized tests, there is no evidence that the writing score is actually being used as a significant element in student applications. Neither the SAT nor ACT essay sections are scored by actual writing instructors qualified to assess college-level writing skills. Their “graders” are essentially minimum-wage drones with bachelors’ degrees, working off of unreliable grading rubrics. The result has been shoddy, inconsistent scoring.
So take the test if required…but don’t lose sleep over the score that comes back.
It sounds like you already have an SAT score that you intend to submit, which will meet any school’s standardized testing requirement. Since the ACT will just be an additional (not required) score, where you are looking to show better math competency, I wouldn’t bother with the writing section.
There are many colleges that require the writing section if you submit ACT. Moreover, submitting the SAT with writing and the ACT w/o writing to those schools is not an option if you want the college to rely on your ACT test score to determine admission, since the more likely result will be that they will use only the SAT to determine admission in that situation. In fact, unless the college to which you are applying expressly states on its site that it will use the ACT w/o writing if you submit an SAT with writing, you should assume otherwise, unless you want to risk having the college completely ignore your ACT scores.
You mention that you heard the ACT writing section changed and that you therefore will not have enough time to prepare for it. The ACT writng section of the test itself has not changed. All that is changing is the method of grading it. ACT flipped to a method of putting it on the 36 scale last September when before then you had just a 12 scale. That 36 scale method turned out to be a disaster so now it is going back to the 2 to 12 scale.