is it okay to use British spelling in essays?

<p>Being from Singapore, a former British colony, I spell some words differently. Usually I have to consciously watch out for things like where I write normally write -ise (something my American English teachers tolerate), and then erase them in order them into change it into -ize's and so forth. However, is it something I should actually have to worry about on both the SAT and the ACT?</p>

<p>i write everything with the british spellings, including the ACT and SAT essays. I got a 10 on ACT and 11 on SAT so i guess it was okay, acceptable at least</p>

<p>It's acceptable. I wrote mine all in British spelling.</p>

<p>Well, have there been perfect scores in British spelling?</p>

<p>I got 12/12.</p>

<p>Okay, I feel better then. </p>

<p>Does it depend on the marker?</p>

<p>Are there misguided American teachers who would penalise for using British spelling?</p>

<p>No, I don't think they would penalize for British spelling. I can't find the source right now but I remember hearing somewhere (probably from my tutor) that both modes of spelling are acceptable (or was that for the AP lit exam?). But anyway, I can tell you with high confidence that they would not penalize you; after all, both forms ARE accepted as legitimate English spelling. Don't fret it. =)</p>

<p>i always think its funny when some teachers "correct" british spellings as if they're wrong</p>

<p>My friends think I'm a pretentious ass, but I've yet to be graded down for colouring my language.</p>

<p>I'm not sure what type of spelling to use, since I don't have a magic faerie to tell me. I'll have to ask my fellow CCers, they are like great neighbours, and CC is my favourite site. Has anyone taken the test and tried this? Perhaps they could have the honour of telling us. I'm not going to pass judgement on this arguement. I'm not the SAT encylycopaedia.
I think this whole conversation is bollocks.</p>

<p>;)</p>

<p>I just realised that halfway through restructuring a sentence in my title post, I mucked up what I meant to say too.</p>

<p>Mortification++</p>