<p>I know the writing is scored separately and does not count toward the composite, but how does the combined english/writing score affect the score, if so at all? what is the point of it if it doesn't count in the composite?? can someone please clarify? thanks!</p>
<p>It doesn’t.</p>
<p>Essay is almost like a little extra. I don’t think colleges take note of it much, as long as it is decent. The SAT requires an essay and so I think the ACT guys were trying to make it more “official” in a sense by implementing the essay. To clarify the essay is scored out of 12 and is added to your english score to create a separate subsection score from your other scores. This score does not affect your composite.</p>
<p>^Does it really matter? Can colleges even see your essay score?</p>
<p>Although the writing score does not affect the composite, it does matter, and the colleges do see it. For one thing, the official conversion from ACT to SAT is to convert the composite to SAT CR+M, and the English/Writing to SAT Writing. For example, ACT composite 35 = SAT CR+M 1560, and ACT English/Writing 34 = SAT Writing 770. So, a student with those ACT scores would have an equivalent SAT score of 2330. Of course, not every college uses this official method, but the point is they do see your essay score.</p>
<p>By the way, yes, the ACT English score seems to be “counted twice” in the SAT conversion, but that’s just how it is.</p>