<p>Alright so I finally improved my ACT from a 25 to a 31 composite (E:30 M:33 R:30 S:30). I'm so proud of myself and absolutely LOVE this composite score....but I received a 7 on the essay. If I had to pick today, I'd be applying for computer engineering at Uni of Ill. in U-C.</p>
<p>So:
Is a 7 a bad score and should I retake?
Or should I request my essay to be rescored in hopes that I may receive an 8? please help</p>
<p>from my experiences with the SAT, the rescore verification doesn’t really help; it seems like a way for the test makers to get extra money really. i’m pretty sure the essay is weighted the least in your admissions, but im not positive so i can’t really give you advice to whether or not you should take it again just for the essay. congrats on the score improvement though, that really is awesome im hoping for an improvement too!</p>
<p>My d had an 8 on her essay 33 comp. I had it rescored. They raised it to a 10. It was worth it! She is also considering U of I. I would try to rescore it before you take it again.</p>
<p>You don’t have to retake it. Everyone from my school ALWAYS gets 8s on their essays. One random cheerleader who isn’t very smart got a 9. They all got into the U of I fine; my friend even got into Northwestern.</p>
<p>I don’t think a 7 is a particularly bad score… it’s just very, very average. I got a 7 on my essay as well (32 Composite), and I’m going to re-take. I didn’t feel very strongly about my essay in the first place (expected around an 8), so I don’t know that getting my mediocre essay re-graded will do much good. To be honest, if you feel like you deserve a few more points, go ahead and pay the $30 for them to score your essay again. If nothing changes, pay the extra $47 for another test with writing. I, personally, will take this summer to try and increase my composite to around a 34… and I’ll definitely do some practice essays this time.</p>
<p>As long as your essay score is consistent with the rest of your application. If you were applying as an English major, then maybe you should consider retaking it. But you’re not, so it’s fine.</p>