The Importance of the SAT Writing Section

<p>Before I start, I want to say that I'm not going to go into any specifics besides my SAT scores. This is a very generalized question and I'm mainly asking because I am interested and not to get specific advice for my situation.</p>

<p>I took the June 2013 test as my first SAT and scored 2130 for my composite (a score I am very happy with just for extra info). However, my writing score was a 790 (77 MC, 10 essay) and my composite cr+m was 1340 (I'll let you do the math).</p>

<p>My question is, if I were to stop with these scores--which I am probably not going to do--how would admissions officers view my writing score in relation to my reading and math scores? Is the writing score less important to admissions than the reading and math? What schools put the most emphasis on writing scores?</p>

<p>Does anyone else have writing scores that are significantly higher than their cr and math? If so how did it affect you in the admissions process or how do you plan to use it in admissions?</p>

<p>I heard that colleges give greater weight on CR+M score than W score.</p>

<p>Dunno if it is true. But I met 2 admission officers from 2 top schools. They said that CR+M combined score is more important. Because W is new.</p>

<p>CR > M > W.</p>

<p>Not sure which schools place heavy weight on the Writing section… CR and M are definitely more important, but CR > M.</p>

<p>why would you say cr>math?</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Actually, thinking about it now, It would really depend on where you are applying.</p>

<p>but the reason I said CR > M, is because I remember reading an article/book about an admissions officer at brown who said that critical reading is better at predicting college success over the rudimentary math section. </p>

<p>She later states something about 750 CR, 700M 700W > 650CR, 800M, 700W.</p>

<p>If I find the article, I’ll be sure to link you.</p>

<p>Writing is still disregarded in some schools for some reasons. Particularly if you google “university of chicago sat score” you’ll see, in the first page of the list, that the writing section is left blank.
As for CR vs M, you should know that in many Asian countries students have to endure a much tougher Math education than those in America. For example in my country students of grade 12 have to deal with derivation, integration and Cauchy-Schwarz inequality … My teacher calls a 750 M + 500 CR a “typical Asian score”. That’s why Math really does not reflect much at all…</p>

<p>Here is what really bugs me though. I feel like a 2130 with a 790 in writing but a 1340 cr+m isn’t worth as much as a 2080 with a 680 in writing and 1400 cr+m. I’m guessing this is because schools just don’t trust the subjectivity of the writing section yet. But isn’t the writing section also the hardest section to score above 780 on? And aren’t writing skills just as important to college success as reading and math if not more important than math? It bugs me, but I guess it’s the nature of the SAT and admissions right?</p>

<p>Is anyone else in a similar situation? I know a lot of people score significantly higher on the math than on the reading and writing, but has anyone scored 100+ points higher on the writing?</p>