Hi everyone!
So I’m a bit worried as I just got my ACT writing score back for the Sep. 10th test (first test with new scoring out of 12 for the writing) and I received a 10/12. I’m honestly not sure what that equates to on the 36 scale. On my April 2016 test (out of 36) I received a 29 on the writing portion. I’m a senior and sending my first application in about 2 weeks, and I’m a little worried about reporting my writing score now. If the 10/12 is higher than the 29/36, I’d be scared to report the 10 in fear of having colleges think that I got a 10/36, not out of 12. I’m not sure if colleges are updated on the new scoring or not, and I definitely would not want them thinking I got a 10/36 on it considering writing is one of my strongest areas.
Most of the counselors I’ve spoken to are well aware of the challenges with the writing section this past year or so, and are paying very little if any attention to it. Both scores are fine.
Both scores are good. But you may be overlooking the real issue: which ACT test are you going to submit? You cannot just report the writing score from a test but must send the whole test. Thus, your real decision is which one has the better composite and section scores, all of which are more important than any writing score. Also, there are some colleges that require you to send all test scores.
As to what colleges know, be aware the 12 point writing test scale was actually the one that existed for many years before last year. ACT flipped to the 36 point scale last year and it was an absolutte disaster both because it caused huge delays in getting scores out and it rescored many tests and the scores changed significantly. ACT came to its senses and switched back to the 12 point scale that all college are very familiar with starting with the September 2016 test.
@drusba Wait, really? I was under the impression that on the Common App you could just report your highest subscores and the date of the test (which is what I did). Then again my parents and I are both first-timers to the whole college thing (I’m an only) so I could be completely wrong!
^ That may be true of the Common App but you need to SEND your official scores from the ACT organization. You will have to send both full sets if you want to school to consider a mixed set of scores.
Yes, the application process to a college requires you typically to submit both an application and order official test scores sent to the college by the testing agency. It is actually those official scores from the testing agencies that colleges rely on to determine admission and not what you put in the application. Both ACT and SAT will send only complete test scores when you order them sent and do not allow you, for example, to send an essay score without also sending the composite and all the section scores from the same test.