<p>My S, a junior, got a 35 Composite first time taking the ACT (35M, 34 R, 34E, 36S), but only an 8 on his essay, with a combined R/W score of 31. He has trouble with writing legibly and at length and is accustomed to using the keyboard. </p>
<p>My questions:
1) Should he retake the ACT to try to raise his essay score, but risk getting a lower composite? (He is aiming for Stanford)</p>
<p>2) Does penmanship affect the readers' assessment of the writing?</p>
<p>My daughter has the same problem- her handwriting is illegible and her composite on practice tests is very good. When she slows down she can write neatly. The tutor said that she needs to sacrifice essay quality/content for neater handwriting. He said that if the reader does not understand the handwriting they will not try to decipher it. I think your son’s 35 is great. I would focus on the rest of the " package."</p>
<p>He actually told me that top students tend to get lower essay scores because they have a lot to say and they can’t handle the time constraints, and this makes for very sloppy handwriting.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t waste too much time on the the writing score, as long as you met the sort of “mendoza line” of an 8 (86th percentile). Look at several of the highly selective college’s common data set and you will find that the mid 50% of their writing scores is 8-10.</p>
<p>My understanding from the college advisors I have spoken with is that it doesn’t really come into play that much-- except as a red flag if you do really poorly.</p>
<p>Update to my previous post–since you said your son was aiming for Stanford. From the Stanford 2012 Common Data Set:</p>
<hr>
<p>If your institution will make use of the ACT in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants for Fall 2014, please indicate which one of the following applies: </p>
<p>ACT with Writing component required</p>
<p>Please indicate how your institution will use the SAT or ACT essay component:
Stanford is not using essay component. </p>
<hr>
<p>So even though they require the ACT with writing, they state they do not use the essay component for admissions.</p>
<p>Hope this helps-good luck to your son!</p>
<p>I don’t think that handwriting is much of a problem.</p>
<p>Mine is simply abysmal, but the ACT writers still gave me an 11.</p>