The question on the CA says “Have you taken the ACT with writing”. The answer is yes. However, his writing score is not good (5 and 6). If you answer yes to this question, you have to put a writing score in.
Is it ethical/allowed to answer no if you don’t want to report your writing score? Or is this question moot because his official ACT report will be sent anyway, and have the writing score on it?
Finally…his 6 was on a test that was lower in all other sections. So should we send this report or not?
This is not a school that requires that all test scores be sent. Thanks!
OK good answer thanks @skieurope . Sounds like we are in a losing proposition…as I’m pretty sure all schools require an official report, so they are going to see that ACT writing score anyway.
Think we should send the ACT score where writing was 6, but section scores were lower? (My son was a very inconsistent ACT test taker). A writing score of 5 is 17th percentile, 6 is 38th percentile. Big jump but still both low.
Not really. The number of colleges that require or even recommend the essay portion is growing smaller by the minute, and while I did not crossreference every school on your son’s list, none of his reaches require.
I’d send the highest composite unless there is a test with higher subsection scores and the college considers highest section score across dates.
Thanks, so much. BUT…since he’s already taken it, we have to report it. Right? Because it’s going to be on the report of the sitting that we want to send, for the section scores.
And now, another question! You’re being super helpful thank you…as we fight through this on a school day off…There is a question that says “What is your highest combined English/Writing score” and the options are from 1-36…so it must not be asking for the addition of English Section plus writing score. Reddit says put the writing score, and the higher options are from old versions. True? Put the writing score of 6? This is a confusing question. THANK YOU @skieurope
For students who have taken the ACT with Writing test, they should report their Writing score in the field on the Common App that asks for the “Highest Combined English/Writing or Writing Subject Score.”
The Common App question is written to accommodate for changes in how ACT has reported Writing scores over the past several years:
Prior to Sept 2015: ACT reported Combined English/Writing (1-36 scale) and a Writing subscore (2-12 range)
Sept 2015 - June 2016: ACT reported a Writing score (1-36 range)
We want to be inclusive of all applicants, regardless of when they took the test. Any applicant who has a question can refer to the FAQs within the application or reach out to our Solutions Center 24/7/365 at appsupport@commonapp.net.
We appreciate you raising the question and will look into ways to help clarify the language in the application.
To be clear, he does not have to self report any of his scores on the application itself. Which score reports he sends are up to him, unless the college(s) require all scores.
Keeps in mind that more and more colleges are now allowing self reporting of scores in lieu of score reports, and are only requiring official reports if he’s admitted and desires to attend, so that helps from a money perspective. But TBH, I would not get worked up about the essay score. If he/you find it easier to self report, do it. It’s not going to be why he gets rejected, if that happens.