Some colleges say they don’t require the writing part on the new SAT or ACT. If I take it with writing, will it be considered or ignored? I am worried that I will take it just in case some college I become interested in will require it, but I am worried that if I do bad, then they might look down on that.
A number of schools require either the ACT with writing or the SAT with at least 2 Subject Tests.
Schools that don’t require the ACT with writing will ignore the writing score. In any event, the writing portion does not affect your composite score. This is from the ACT website:
“Taking the writing test does not affect your subject area scores or your Composite score. However, without a writing test score, no English Language Arts (ELA) score will be reported.”
The English Language Arts score reflects the English (grammar), reading, and writing subtest scores; the STEM score reflects the Math and Science scores. Neither are particularly important, as colleges mostly looks at the composite and the individual subtest scores.
Thank you!