Hi guys. On the September ACT I scored a 35 (35 on english and math, 34 on reading and science). I thought I did great, but then I received my writing score. A 24!!! The new system of grading doesn’t combine your english and essay score together, but rather has multiple sections for grading the essay. I got an 8 on the essay. However, I am confident that I am a great writer. I got a 5 on the AP Lit exam and my personal statement is pretty good. I feel like this may have to do with how rushed the scores were to come in for early action deadlines. Will colleges be understanding? Especially ivies :(. Thank you for the input.
Same here man. I got the same writing score, but my composite is a 34. I’m really concerned about it
@anotherdude Maybe if everyone did bad, colleges will understand or realize something is wrong?? Idk 
Perhaps the new system grades more harshly, I’m not sure.
My daughter, too! She has a 35 (36 on Science, 35s on everything else) and a 24 on writing. She’s a Junior and was thrilled to be done. She hasn’t decided if she is retaking it. Her counselor said that if she got a 5 on the English AP(good news for you @loser123456) that she thought that score would compensate. Is it better to devote her time to grades and ECs since she already has a 35 or spend some of her precious time bringing up that writing score?
My son got AP credit for writing from his AP Language and Composition score, but got a 620 on the SAT Writing.
I just don’t think the equivocal type questions they ask on standardized tests are meaningful.
I also think it matters what major a student is targeting.
Question: Is ACT using a new scoring method? By my calculations, the average of your scores would be 31.75, so wouldn’t you have gotten a 32 instead of a 35? Is writing no longer factored into the composite score? EDIT: It also seems like that would be the case with everyone else who posted in this thread, so I’m even more confused.
Regardless, a 35 (and a 32!) is an outstanding score, and I’ve heard schools in general look more at the composite than individual scores so you should be fine.
You probably didn’t write how the ACT is graded on. Did you look at the rubric before you took the test? I was taking diagnostics and getting my essays graded in the 20s, despite a high composite score. Then I looked at the rubric before taking the test, and got a 36 on the essay. It’s less about how well you write and more about catering exactly to their grading system.
@niceokay Yeah I had a test prep company grade my ACT essays and I always got 12s… I thought it was really strange. However, it is what it is and I’ll be okay.
@bosnian Yeah, the new system has four writing grades, equal to a total of 36. Rather than averaging english and essay scores, it’s just a writing score.
@bwaygirl1 Well you still have time so I’m sure if your daughter did well one time, she will again. I would consider taking it again. As for me, I don’t have any more time haha. But it’s okay, an 8 isn’t terrible. Nevertheless, I’m sure other writing scores and essays can make up for it.
Should I send my SAT to compensate for lowish writing/english on the ACT?
@anBoa122 depends, if your sat’s are higher than your act using a conversion chart then yes
@loser123456 Some people say my SAT/ACT scores are similar, but the M+CR on the SAT is much lower than the ACT converted. I have a low CR score on the SAT that I did much better on in the ACT too.
Since you did better on the ACTs no doubt you should send them in @anBoa122
However, you can also send both scores if you feel like it would give admissions a more full picture.
I would ask your guidance counselor.
@loser123456 Thanks for the good advice!