Good ACT Composite But Low Writing

Test Preparation
1

Hi Everyone,

I received my scores from the ACT a while ago and was very happy to see that I received a 35 (36E, 33M, 36R, 35S). However, my writing score was recently released and I scored a dismal 23. This is somewhat confusing to me, as I have always been a really strong writer in school (8’s and 9’s on AP practice essays, winning essay contests, etc.). I’m planning on applying to high caliber schools like HYPS, Duke, Vandy, Columbia, and others, and I’m worried that this essay score will be a hinderance to my application. Should I retake? I would do it in a heartbeat normally, but given that Stanford and other schools require that all standardized tests be reported, I am hesitant, because I have taken the old SAT twice (Once in freshman year, once junior year), and the ACT once (the one I’m talking about right now). I am also going to take the new SAT so that I have a score to confirm my PSAT score for National merit. If I were to take the ACT again, that would be a grand total of 5 standardized tests, not including SAT II’s. So I guess my question is:

  1. Will my low essay score have an affect on my admissions to top school
  2. Is it worth retaking and
  3. Will having 5 standardized tests on my record be alarming for schools that require me to report every test.

All help is greatly appreciated!

2

1 - No
2 - No
3 - Depends but probably not.

3

You are not alone. The ACT writing scores have been a shock to many test takers and are the result of changes in the way the writing section is scored. Here’s some background on the issue.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/02/12/act-essay-scores-are-inexplicably-low-causing-uproar-among-college-bound-students/

http://blog.prepscholar.com/new-act-writing-score-low-wrong-late

4

@“Erin’s Dad” Ok, thank you for the input. I’m going to focus on EC’s and the new SAT from now on.