<p>Alright, I took the June ACT (I was a sophomore at the time). I got an 11 on the writing section and am pleased enough with the score that I don't want to mess with it. I got a 29 composite, which is unusually low for me, so I plan to take the October or December test. Do I need to retake the writing again, too?</p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure about this, but I want to say "yes." Most colleges don't mix and match the sections of the ACT, and take "one sittings" only, this including the writing portion.</p>
<p>My son is in the same situation, only he's a rising senior. If he retakes without the writing and makes a 30 next time, does this mean colleges won't look at the 30 because there's not a writing score attached?</p>
<p>All you would be doing is sending both scores to the schools...the one with the highest composite AND the one that includes the writing. My understanding is that you do not have to have the writing with the same test for it to be considered.</p>
<p>Thanks, I hope you're right.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Most colleges don't mix and match the sections of the ACT, and take "one sittings" only, this including the writing portion.
[/quote]
They won't mix & match to create a new composite, but the writing score isn't included in the composite. There is no reason to believe that any college won't take a composite from one sitting and writing scores from another.</p>
<p>I e-mailed Clemson University admissions yesterday, since they're on my son's college list, & received this reply:</p>
<p>Unfortunately we can not mix and match ACT scores. For his ACT score to be valid, he must take the writing portion each time he takes the ACT and we will take the highest composite score that he makes. </p>
<p>Please feel free to call or e-mail me if I can be of further assistance and Go Tigers! </p>
<p>Jennifer G. Setzler
Admissions Counselor
Clemson University </p>
<p>Very interesting. I also e-mailed UVA's admissions & am still waiting for a reply. </p>
<p>This is something all ACT test takers need to be aware of. If you improve your composite on a retest, but don't retake the writing, not all colleges will consider the new composite! </p>
<p>Somehow it doesn't seem right that students who take the SAT test need only take the writing test once, but ACT test takers have to take the writing every time. (And also pay $14 for each writing test!!)</p>
<p>I'm sorry..but I still don't think Clemson's response is representative of schools as a whole. I agree with Mrs. Ferguson. My impression was that as long as you submit the test from the test date you want included as your writing score AND, if you have a higher composite score from a separate test, you should submit BOTH score reports. That is what I am having my son do. He got an 11 in writing at the December 2005 sitting and is not retaking - but is going to also submit his score report from the June test, which was his highest composite. I believe schools simply don't mix and match subsections to make a new composite score.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Somehow it doesn't seem right that students who take the SAT test need only take the writing test once, but ACT test takers have to take the writing every time. (And also pay $14 for each writing test!!)
[/quote]
Um, SAT-takers don't even have the option of not taking (and not paying for) the writing test, even if they aren't applying to any schools that require it. At least ACT gives you the choice.</p>
<p>kimu,
If the schools you will apply to are like Clemson and only consider the highest composite accompanied by a writing score, you should take the writing test when you retake it.</p>
<p>If the schools you will apply to are not like Clemson and will consider writing and composite scores from different sittings, it won't hurt to take the writing test again because you can still submit your 11 even if you don't do as well on writing next time.</p>
<p>If you were only a sophomore, go for a 12!</p>
<p>how much science does a person need to know in order to get a good score on the science part of the ACT? In what subjects as well. CAn someone pst what is needed in order to get a good score on the science section. Thank you.</p>
<p>No science knowlege is needed. Just know how to read a graph.</p>
<p>Science is graph reading and critical thinking. The curve is amazing, too. I made a 30 in science and randomly marked 6 or 7 answers.</p>
<p>Science tries o confuse you by using alot of long confusing words. Just try and see through them.</p>
<p>Mrs. Ferguson, I am very impressed with your knowledge on the ACT test. How do you know so much about it?</p>
<p>This might be a bit specific, but does anybody know what UW Madison's policy is on this matter? </p>
<p>And thanks for all the input :)</p>
<p>Go here: <a href="http://actrs19.act.org/app3/writPrefRM/%5B/url%5D">http://actrs19.act.org/app3/writPrefRM/</a></p>
<p>Type in whatever school you need and you get what colleges do with writing.</p>
<p>The UW-Madison</a> website says they require writing, and:
"On the ACT, we will take the highest ACT Assessment score (out of a possible 36) and the highest ACT Writing Test result, whether or not they were achieved during the same sitting."</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Tangy, that link is no help at all to the question at hand. We wanna know if, when writing is writing is required, if it can come from a different sitting than the highest composite score.</p>