When registering for the ACT, you have the option to include the Writing section. Many students decide to skip this section due to the additional time, cost, and effort required, and instead, they only take the regular ACT.
Although the Writing section adds complexity to the ACT, there are several factors to consider before deciding whether to include it. You wouldn’t want to find out later that your dream colleges require this section for admission.
Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding whether to take the ACT Writing section:
What is the purpose of the ACT Writing test?
The ACT Writing test evaluates your writing abilities and your preparedness for college-level writing.
As you progress through high school and take English classes, your writing skills should improve. The ACT Writing test assesses how much progress you have made since your freshman year.
Your ACT Writing score ranges from 2 to 12 and is based on your strengths in four areas: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use. A strong command of these skills will result in a high score, indicating that your writing skills are on par
An impressive score on this test can enhance your college application and significantly increase your chances of being accepted into competitive schools.
Which colleges require ACT Writing?
There are a few colleges and universities that require students to take the ACT Writing section as part of their application.
The ACT Writing section provides an opportunity for your application to stand out and demonstrates to admissions officers that you possess the necessary writing skills for college assignments. Unlike other application essays and writing samples, which allow ample time for planning, editing, and proofreading, the ACT Writing test has strict time constraints and provides a better indication of a student’s writing ability.
As of February 2021, there are only five schools that explicitly require ACT Writing for incoming freshmen:
- Soka University of America
- United States Military Academy- West Point
- University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
- University of Montana Western
- Wyoming Catholic College
Even though many colleges do not require the ACT Writing section, most still highly recommend that applicants complete it.
Even if your desired schools do not require the ACT Writing section, it is still worth considering, especially if you are aiming for highly selective colleges and universities.
Preparing for the ACT Writing test
To perform well on the ACT Writing test, you must demonstrate critical thinking skills, respond to the prompt, and write a well-structured essay within 40 minutes.
If you strive to achieve a perfect score of 12, you will need to develop a strong argument, provide evidence to support your claim, organize your essay effectively, and utilize a diverse range of sentence structures and vocabulary.
However, achieving these goals can be challenging, considering the time constraints of this section.
Working with a private tutor or enrolling in an ACT prep class can greatly improve your performance on the ACT Writing section. These resources can teach you essential strategies, such as writing more than a page and incorporating evidence into your body paragraphs, that will help you succeed on this test.
Prep Expert employs highly skilled instructors who have scored in the 99th percentile on their own standardized tests. They possess the expertise necessary to elevate your writing skills to the next level.
With Prep Expert’s ACT prep courses and private online tutoring, thousands of students have achieved the scores they needed to gain admission to competitive schools and earn substantial scholarship money.
Visit our website today to enroll in one of our ACT prep courses or sign up for private online ACT tutoring.
