Being forced to do the ACT w/o writing

<p>I took the state required ACT last year and got a 35. We were not allowed to take the writing section. Unfortunately, most of my potential school require the writing section. Especially considering the fact that I was forced, and that the writing on the ACT does not factor into a composite score, do you think the colleges I will apply to will use the 35 if my next sitting is lower?The schools on my list that require writing are Rice, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, and Georgetown. Thanks!</p>

<p>Maybe someone on the forum knows the answer to this, but I would check w/each school to be sure.
So they made everyone take the ACT but did not let anyone do the writing portion? Sounds pretty gestapo-like and wacky - makes me glad I'm not still in high school.</p>

<p>I've e-mailed the schools, but none of them really answered (I'll prolly ask during the on-campus interviews). Yeah, the deal was it was 2 days of testing, the ACT on one day and the Prairie State Exam the next. It's not on a regular ACT test date, it's in the middle of the week, and every junior in IL has to do it. And, of course, no writing, though they are contemplating making the writing mandatory for next year, or so I've heard. The Prairie State part was a joke, there is a science knowledge part, some simple middle school math, and reading for comprehension, all at about a 6th grade level. They do something similar (and equally compulsory) in Colorado.</p>

<p>Hey, I had the same dilemma. I got 35 on the state testing too, and I took the test with writing in June, and I got 35 again (with better scores in individual sections).</p>

<p>Good to hear it. For all 3 of us kids at the school who might actually have to take the writing, it is like "man that score better not be a fluke". As a result I am going to find myself studying like mad after getting a 35 lol. But hey, if it gets me a 36 with writing, that'd be orgasmic.</p>

<p>
[quote]
So they made everyone take the ACT but did not let anyone do the writing portion? Sounds pretty gestapo-like and wacky - makes me glad I'm not still in high school.

[/quote]
This test was during the school day and the state paid for it. Of course all IL students are free to take the ACT with writing on their own time.</p>

<p>From Yale's website:
"Yale is one of the schools that require the ACT Writing Test, so be sure to register for the ACT Assessment Plus Writing if it is available. (For example, the Writing Test is currently not available outside the United States.) If the Writing Test is not available, Yale will accept the ACT alone."
Maybe they won't make you take it again if you explain the situation.</p>

<p>Dartmouth's website:
"What if I have taken the ACT without writing and the ACT with writing? Which scores will you use?
Consistent with our intent to evaluate our applicants’ best performance, we will consider each applicant’s best composite score, and - where available - their writing score."</p>

<p>Rice:
"If you take the same test more than once, we will use the standardized test scores that best enhance your application." Vague enough? Harvard says something similar. Georgetown doesn't require writing.</p>

<p>If some of the schools you're applying to require writing, you're going to have to retake it. So I would just retake it, and then worry about whether schools will consider the composite score without writing if you don't do as well.</p>

<p>If i take the ACt test just to send ti to colleges and i already took the SAT reasoing test (the new one), do i have to take the ACT with writing? And if i do take the ACT with writing, is tat extra section during the same session as the session?</p>

<p>Wow, thanks Mrs. Ferguson. For some reason I guess I've never been able to find such info, except for the ones I knew were fairly vague. And to theworld: Yes, you do have to take the ACT writing. And yes, it comes right after the 4 other subtests.</p>

<p>drummer,
Some of those admissions websites really suck. Can't find anything.</p>

<p>theworld,
For the ACT, the writing section is optional. Some colleges require a writing score, but your SAT scores will satisfy that requirement. A few colleges, though, will not accept ACT scores without writing, even if you submit a writing score from a different sitting or from the SAT.</p>