colleges that require act essay

Complete List: Which Colleges Require ACT Writing?

What Is the ACT Writing Test?

The ACT Writing Test is an optional section of the ACT exam that assesses a student's writing skills. It provides colleges and universities with an additional measure of a student's readiness for college-level writing assignments. The test consists of a single prompt that presents a specific issue or topic and requires students to take a position on it. Students are given 40 minutes to plan, write, and revise their response.

The ACT Writing Test evaluates a student's ability to analyze multiple perspectives, develop and support an argument, and effectively communicate ideas in a coherent and organized manner. It assesses critical thinking, reasoning, and persuasive writing skills. The essay is scored on a scale of 2-12 by two independent readers who evaluate the overall quality of the response, including its development, organization, and use of language.

While the ACT Writing Test is optional, many colleges and universities require or recommend it for admissions. Some schools use the writing score as part of their evaluation process, while others consider it as supplemental information. It is essential for students to check the requirements of the schools they are applying to in order to determine whether they should take the ACT Writing Test.

Preparing for the ACT Writing Test involves honing writing skills, familiarizing oneself with different types of prompts, and practicing writing under timed conditions. Students should develop their ability to construct a clear thesis statement, support it with relevant evidence and examples, and demonstrate strong reasoning and critical thinking skills.

Taking the ACT Writing Test can provide students with an opportunity to showcase their writing abilities and enhance their college applications. It allows them to demonstrate their proficiency in expressing ideas effectively and persuasively. By preparing adequately and practicing writing skills, students can perform well on the ACT Writing Test and present themselves as strong candidates to colleges and universities.

Why Do Some Schools Require ACT Writing?

Some schools require the ACT Writing Test as part of their admissions process for several reasons:

1. Writing Assessment: The ACT Writing Test provides colleges and universities with a standardized measure of a student's writing abilities. It allows admissions officers to evaluate a student's writing skills, including their ability to construct a well-organized essay, develop and support arguments, and convey ideas effectively. By assessing a student's writing proficiency, schools can better determine if the student is prepared for the rigors of college-level writing assignments.

2. Holistic Evaluation: Including the ACT Writing Test helps colleges and universities get a more comprehensive understanding of a student's academic abilities. It complements other components of the application, such as grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, providing a more well-rounded view of the applicant. Schools may consider the writing test to gain insights into a student's critical thinking, analytical skills, and ability to communicate effectively.

3. Writing-Intensive Programs: Some colleges and universities place a strong emphasis on writing skills and have writing-intensive programs or majors. For these institutions, the ACT Writing Test becomes an important tool for assessing a student's aptitude for written communication. Requiring the writing test helps ensure that admitted students are capable of meeting the demands of writing-intensive coursework and projects.

4. Standardized Comparison: The ACT Writing Test provides a standardized way to compare writing abilities across applicants. It offers a consistent measure of writing skills that is easily comparable across different schools and regions. By requiring the writing test, schools can use it as a common benchmark for evaluating applicants and making admission decisions.

It's important for students to research the requirements of the schools they are interested in to understand whether the ACT Writing Test is required or recommended. Some schools may consider the writing score as an important factor in their evaluation process, while others may place less emphasis on it. Understanding the expectations of each school will help students make informed decisions about whether to take the ACT Writing Test and how to best prepare for it.

What Kind of Colleges Require ACT Writing?

Several colleges and universities require the ACT Writing Test as part of their admissions process. These schools may have different reasons for including the writing section and vary in their emphasis on its importance. Here are some types of colleges that often require ACT Writing:

1. Highly Selective Colleges: Many highly selective colleges and universities, including Ivy League institutions, top-ranked private universities, and prestigious liberal arts colleges, often require ACT Writing. These schools receive a large number of applications and aim to holistically evaluate candidates, considering their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and writing abilities.

2. Writing-Intensive Programs: Colleges and universities with writing-intensive programs or majors often require the ACT Writing Test. These programs may include majors in English, creative writing, journalism, communications, or any field that emphasizes strong writing skills. Requiring the writing section helps these institutions assess a student's ability to meet the demands of writing-intensive coursework.

3. Honors Programs: Many colleges and universities have honors programs that offer advanced coursework, research opportunities, and a more challenging academic experience. These programs often require the ACT Writing Test to gauge a student's writing skills and intellectual capabilities. Demonstrating strong writing abilities is particularly important for admission to honors programs.

4. Scholarship Consideration: Some colleges and universities require the ACT Writing Test for scholarship consideration. Merit-based scholarships, especially those that focus on academic achievement or leadership, may use the writing score as a factor in awarding scholarships. Requiring the writing section allows these institutions to assess a student's overall potential and eligibility for financial aid.

5. State Universities: Some state universities, particularly flagship and highly competitive public institutions, may require the ACT Writing Test. These schools often have a large applicant pool and may use the writing section to differentiate between candidates who have similar academic profiles. Requiring the writing test helps these universities make more informed admission decisions.

It's important for students to check the specific requirements of each college or university they are interested in to determine whether ACT Writing is mandatory or recommended. College websites and admissions offices typically provide this information. Students should also consider their own writing abilities and goals when deciding whether to take the ACT Writing Test, as well as the potential benefits it may provide for their college applications.

Full List of Colleges That Require ACT Writing

While the ACT Writing Test is optional for most colleges and universities, there are some institutions that require or recommend it as part of their admissions process. Here is a list of colleges and universities that currently require ACT Writing:

1. University of California (UC) System: All nine campuses of the University of California system require ACT Writing. These campuses include UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced.

2. Claremont McKenna College: This private liberal arts college in California requires ACT Writing for admission.

3. Colorado School of Mines: ACT Writing is required for admission to this public research university specializing in engineering and applied science.

4. Georgia Institute of Technology: Georgia Tech requires ACT Writing for admission to its undergraduate programs.

5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: This public research university requires ACT Writing for admission.

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): MIT requires the ACT with Writing or the SAT with Essay for admission.

7. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan requires ACT Writing or SAT Essay for admission.

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: ACT Writing is required for admission to UNC-Chapel Hill.

9. University of Notre Dame: ACT Writing or SAT Essay is required for admission to Notre Dame.

10. University of Pennsylvania: The University of Pennsylvania requires ACT Writing or SAT with Essay for admission.

11. University of Virginia: ACT Writing or SAT with Essay is required for admission to the University of Virginia.

Please note that this list is subject to change, and it's essential for students to verify the requirements of each institution they are interested in as part of their college application process. Additionally, some colleges and universities may recommend ACT Writing but not require it. Students should check with individual institutions to understand their specific policies regarding ACT Writing.

In conclusion, while the ACT Writing Test is optional for most colleges and universities, there are some institutions that require or recommend it as part of their admissions process. It is important for students to research and understand the specific requirements of each college they are interested in to ensure they meet the necessary criteria. Adhering to the ACT Writing requirements can help students present a comprehensive application and increase their chances of admission to their desired institutions.

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Preparing for the ACT Test with Writing

About the act writing test.

The ACT writing test is a 40-minute essay test that measures your writing skills. The test consists of one writing prompt that will describe a complex issue and present three different perspectives on that issue.  It is a paper-and-pencil test. You will write your essay in pencil (no mechanical pencils or ink pens) on the lined pages of an answer folder that will be provided to you. The only exception is for approved students with diagnosed disabilities who cannot hand write the essay. (See Accommodations .) 

The ACT writing test complements the English and reading tests. The combined information from these tests tells postsecondary institutions about students’ understanding of the conventions of standard written English and their ability to produce a direct sample of writing. The writing test cannot be taken without first taking all four multiple-choice tests in the same session. 

You are asked to read the prompt and write an essay in which you develop your own perspective on the issue. Your essay should analyze the relationship between your perspective and one or more other perspectives. You may adopt a perspective from the prompt, partially or fully, or you may generate your own. Your score will not be affected by the point of view you take on the issue.

Some colleges require the ACT writing test. You should decide whether or not you should take it based on the requirements of the colleges you are applying to or considering.

Why the ACT Writing Test Is Optional 

Because postsecondary institutions have varying needs, we offer the ACT writing test as an option. 

• Postsecondary institutions are making their own decisions about whether to require the results from the ACT writing test for admissions and/or course placement purposes. 
• Students will decide whether to take the writing test based on the requirements of the institutions they are considering. 

Practice Your Writing Skills 

Read. Write. Repeat. 

There are many ways to prepare for the ACT writing test that don't even include writing at all. Reading newspapers and magazines, listening to news analyses on television or radio, and participating in discussions and debates about issues and problems all help you build a foundation for your writing skills. These activities help you become more familiar with current issues, with different perspectives on those issues, and with strategies that skilled writers and speakers use to present their points of view. 

Of course, one of the best ways to prepare for the ACT writing test is to practice writing. But you don’t have to sit at a desk and fill a notebook with essays. Practice writing for different purposes, with different audiences in mind. The writing you do in your English classes will help you. Practice writing stories, poems, plays, editorials, reports, letters to the editor, a personal journal, or other kinds of writing that you do on your own—including, yes, essays. 

The ACT writing test asks you to explain your perspective on an issue in a convincing way, so writing opportunities such as editorials or letters to the editor of a newspaper are especially helpful. Practicing various types of writing will help make you a versatile writer able to adjust to different writing assignments. 

Finally, don’t forget you only have 40 minutes on test day. Get some practice writing within a time limit. This will not only give you an advantage on the test, but also will help you build skills that are important in college-level learning and in the world of work. 

Build Your Writing Skills 

Everyday ways to improve your writing 

You can strengthen your writing skills just about anywhere, anytime. Read below for some ideas to make writing, responding, and organizing your thoughts part of your daily routine:   

• Read and write frequently.  Read as much as you can from a variety of sources, including plays, essays, fiction, poetry, news stories, business writing, and magazine features. 
• Become familiar with current issues in society and develop your own opinions.  Think of arguments you would use to convince someone of your perspective. Taking speech and debate classes can help you think through issues and communicate them to others. 
• Practice writing in different formats and in as many real situations as possible.  Write letters to the editor, or letters to a company requesting information. 
• Try some writing in extracurricular activities.  School newspapers, yearbooks, and creative writing clubs offer opportunities to express ideas in writing. 
• Share your writing with others and get feedback.  Feedback helps you anticipate how readers might interpret your writing and what types of questions they might have. This can help you anticipate what a reader might want to know. 
• Learn to see writing as a process —brainstorming, planning, writing, and then editing. This applies to all writing activities. 
• Listen to the advice your English teacher gives you about your writing. 
• Strive for well-developed and well-organized writing  that uses precise, clear, and concise language. 
• Remember that everyone can improve their writing skills.  Confidence and skill will grow with the more writing you do. Practice and work lead to achievement. 

Tips for Taking the ACT Writing Test

Pace yourself.

The ACT writing test contains one question to be completed in 40 minutes. When asked to write a timed essay, most writers find it useful to do some planning before they write the essay and to do a final check of the essay when it is finished. It is unlikely that you will have time to draft, revise, and recopy your essay.

Before writing, carefully read and consider all prompt material. Be sure you understand the issue, its perspectives, and your essay task. The prewriting questions included with the prompt will help you analyze the perspectives and develop your own. Use these questions to think critically about the prompt and generate effective ideas in response. Ask yourself how your ideas and analysis can best be supported and organized in a written argument. Use the prewriting space in your test booklet to structure or outline your response.

Establish the focus of your essay by making clear your argument and its main ideas. Explain and illustrate your ideas with sound reasoning and meaningful examples. Discuss the significance of your ideas: what are the implications of what you have to say, and why is your argument important to consider? As you write, ask yourself if your logic is clear, you have supported your claims, and you have chosen precise words to communicate your ideas.

Review Your Essay

Take a few minutes before time is called to read over your essay. Correct any mistakes. If you find any words that are hard to read, recopy them. Make corrections and revisions neatly between the lines. Do not write in the margins. Your readers know you had only 40 minutes to compose and write your essay. Within that time limit, try to make your essay as polished as you can.

There are many ways to prepare for the ACT writing test. These include reading newspapers and magazines, listening to news analyses on television and radio, and participating in discussions and debates.

One of the best ways to prepare for the ACT writing test is to practice writing with different purposes for different audiences. The writing you do in your classes will help you. So will writing essays, stories, editorials, a personal journal, or other writing you do on your own.

It is also a good idea to practice writing within a time limit. Taking the practice ACT writing test will give you a sense of how much additional practice you may need. You might want to take the practice ACT writing test even if you do not plan to take the ACT with writing, because this will help build skills that are important in college-level learning and in the world of work.

Find more info about how the writing test is scored .

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Home » ACT® Test » The Role Of The ACT® Writing Section In College Admissions

The Role Of The ACT® Writing Section In College Admissions

• Last Updated: April 12, 2023

The ACT® Writing section is an optional component of the ACT. Students are provided a prompt regarding a current issue and various points of view regarding that prompt. They must then examine the different perspectives, formulate their own, and write a cohesive and organized essay. But if the ACT is optional, why take it? This article covers which colleges require the ACT Writing section and provides insights that will help you decide whether taking it is the right decision for you. 

Does the ACT Writing Matter?

If the admission requirements of your desired college(s) require an ACT writing score, then it matters. However, even if it isn’t required, it may make your application more competitive. The ACT Writing score indicates your ability to write clearly and concisely, and a good score may give your application an advantage over one without a writing score (all things being equal). This advantage may be more important if you’re majoring in the humanities, as it gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your academic potential and linguistic skill.

Check your desired college(s) admission requirements as there are many across the U.S. that require an ACT Writing score and ELA score. Furthermore, the writing section is mandated in some states, especially those that require you to take the ACT as part of your high school graduation.

How colleges use ACT Writing scores

Colleges may use your ACT Writing score in three ways:

As part of college admission requirements

Some colleges use ACT Writing scores to evaluate a student's writing, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

As a supplementary score to boost your college application

A high ACT Writing score may give you an advantage over those who took only the mandated sections of the ACT, especially if you plan on majoring in the humanities.

Course placement and academic advising

An ACT Writing score provides a benchmark that can help admissions officers gauge the appropriate course level for new students.

Which Colleges Require ACT Writing?

In response to the pandemic, most U.S. colleges, including Stanford and Harvard, have adopted the “test-optional” policy for the 2022-23 admission cycles. Colleges like Pomona and Tufts have even extended this policy into 2024. To date, only two colleges require an ACT Writing Test score for admission:

• Martin Luther College
• US Military Academy

Do Ivy League schools require ACT Writing?

As of February 2023, the eight Ivy League schools (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale) do not require you to submit your ACT Writing scores. Additionally, all of these schools have declared themselves as test-optional for the 2022–23 admission cycles.

Why are some colleges still accepting the ACT Writing essay?

Some colleges still require the ACT Writing section as a tool to evaluate a student’s academic potential, as writing requires students to exercise reason, think critically, develop their ideas, and persuade an audience. 

Does the requirement for the ACT Writing test vary by state or region?

At the high school level, ACT Writing test requirements vary by state. 

Are there any alternative tests or assessments that can be used instead of the ACT Writing test at colleges that require it?

The SAT’s optional essay section is an alternative to the ACT Writing Test.

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Colleges That Require ACT Writing | Which Schools Require ACT Writing

When you sign up for the ACT, you may notice that there is an optional Writing test that you can take. Many will skip out on the Writing section simply because it’s optional – why pay more to spend extra time on an already-3 hour long test? Before taking the easy road out, though, take the time to learn more about the section and think through different factors of if you should actually take it. It may be in a students’ interests to skip it if it is truly not needed in their college applications, but some colleges actually require that applicants submit their ACT Writing score. If it turns out that you are applying to one of these colleges, you’ll be in a pickle if you decided to skip the section!

This blog will provide a list of colleges that require applicants to submit their ACT Writing scores. I will also explain what exactly the ACT Writing test entails and several other factors you should consider before opting in or out of this section.

Why Do Some Schools Require ACT Writing?

While it definitely is not the norm, some schools require applicants to submit their ACT Writing scores. These scores are helpful for admissions officers to see how prepared you are in completing writing assignments in college. There is a large amount of essay-type homework and exams in college, especially if you are in a humanities major, so being able to write clearly, construct an argument, and provide evidence to support it is a major skill admissions officers are looking for in prospective students. 

Though students also submit multiple essays and can provide a writing sample with their application to showcase this skill, they may not be the most helpful to an admissions officers. With these types of essays and writing samples, a student may have had months to plan, write, and edit it, with potentially multiple stages of peer-review and teacher feedback. 

The ACT Writing test, however, provides a writing sample from a student under a strict time limit and without any outside feedback or edits. Though this is understandably a raw piece of work, it is helpful for admissions counselors to gauge a student’s writing ability.

Thus, some schools will require the ACT Writing test, while most keep it as an optional score students can submit. A good Writing test score can strengthen an application, especially if a student is applying for a humanities program. So even if the schools you are applying to do not require the test, based on your situation, you should highly consider taking it, especially if you are applying to top schools where every little stat can help your application stand out.

Features Of The ACT Writing Section

You can opt-in to take the Writing section at the end of the all of the other sections of the ACT. The test is treated like an add-on to the overall ACT, so to take it, you will have to pay an additional $25. The Writing section is 40 minutes long, and it can be taken after every ACT offered across the US.

Note that you cannot take the Writing section on its own! It has to accompany a full ACT test, so you cannot just walk into a testing center just to write the essay.

What Is Being Tested

The ACT overall tests fundamental skills you learned throughout high school that are crucial to succeed in college. In other words, your score is supposedly a reflection of your “preparedness” for college-level work. As the name suggests, the Writing section tests your writing skills. This does not just mean your ability to write and construct clear and grammatically-correct sentences (your grammar is tested in the English section anyway), but also your ability to create a persuasive argument backed up by evidence.

Test Format & Structure

The ACT Writing test will provide you with a prompt outlining an issue. The issue could range across many possible topics. An example could include one tackling the issue of automation, and balancing its implications as a sign of progress versus replacing humans with machines. The prompt will then provide you with three different perspectives on the issue. For the automation prompt, the three perspectives could be:

• We lose our humanity when we replace people with machines.
• Machines can do certain tasks better than humans and is more efficient and prosperous for our world overall.
• This issue raises important questions about what humans are or can be and pushes humans and machines toward new, unimagined possibilities.

Your task will be to consider the three perspectives, and then develop your own unique essay either expanding on one of the perspectives or putting forth your own line of argument. You are required to, however, mention and consider one of the given perspectives in your essay. If you are developing your own argument, you can explore how your stance compares with the given perspective.

While there is not an explicit word limit or minimum, your response should be around 400 words and fit within the pages given to you in the test. Students can generally hand-write about 150 words per page, so your response will be at least three pages long. Though it can be tempting to write more, consider the time and space limit. You will also want to leave some time to edit and proof-read your work. Though some have noticed a correlation between higher scores and a longer response, you still want to balance quality and quantity. Writing more will not automatically get you a higher score; it has to further showcase your skills and strength in writing.

How It Is Graded

The ACT Writing test is scored on a scale of 2 to 12, with 12 being the highest possible score you could get. The average score on the Writing test is between a 6 and 7.

Note that your Writing score is not factored into your total ACT composite score. Your ACT composite score will be the combination of your English, Reading, Math, and Science scores, while your Writing score will be presented to colleges as something separate. Your score report will also present an English Language Arts (ELA) score, which is a combination of your essay, English, and Reading scores.

Unlike the rest of the ACT, which is graded by a scantron machine, the Writing test is actually reviewed by two human graders. They follow a specifically designed scoring rubric, where they will each grade your essay from a 1 to 6 scale in four domain s. Then, the scores from each of the graders are added together to give a final score ranging from 2 to 12. If there is a huge disparity between each grader, a third grader will be consulted.

The four domains on the rubric are: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. It is extremely important to keep all of these domains in mind when you are writing your essay. As formulaic as it sounds, this is how you will be graded so you will want to write to reach these targets. Remember, the ACT Writing test is a chance to prove to colleges that you have the basic fundamentals of writing down. Your essay does not need to be something you will necessarily cherish and look back on in years to come (in fact, you’ll probably forget about it once you leave the testing room!).

Here is the rubric with descriptions of the four domains:

What Makes A Good ACT Writing Score

Because the average ACT writing score is a 6 or 7, a score above an 8 is considered a “good” score. If, however, you are aiming for top, selective colleges a score above a 10 will put you in the competitive range of your fellow applicants. 

You can also consider your ACT Writing score based on its percentile. For example, if you scored in the 99th percentile, your score is higher than 99% of all other test takers. This is an extremely difficult achievement and will position you well to apply to top, selective colleges. A score in the 50th percentile will put you among the average test takers and still position you well to apply to a wide spread of universities.

These judgements, however, are still somewhat subjective. These would be considered what is a good ACT score in general , but you will want to determine what is a good ACT score for you. This will ultimately depend on your own score goals and colleges you are applying to . A good way to judge this is to research the colleges you are applying to and see what the average ACT Writing score is of their admitted students. Colleges will often post these stats on their website. Taking a practice Writing test will also help you gauge your abilities and determine how much you can feasibly improve within the time you have.

Do All Colleges Require ACT Writing?

Now then, what kinds of colleges actually require ACT Writing? Are there some colleges where it is optional to submit your score, but highly recommended? Keep reading to find out what kinds of schools require you to submit the score, and which ones you should consider submitting the score to, even if it is optional.

Top Colleges

It may come as a surprise to many, but most top schools in the nation actually do not require you to submit your ACT Writing score. Recently, top schools like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford have dropped their ACT Writing requirement. In fact, none of the Ivy Leagues currently require the test. Many top public universities, like the University of Florida and the University of Michigan, have also dropped the ACT Writing requirement, while schools in the University of California system have stopped requiring submitting test scores in general.

These schools have stopped requiring these scores because they want to focus on other parts of the application. Admissions officers believe that components like your grades in humanities subjects like English and History can tell them more about the strength of students’ writing skills. Nevertheless, they will still consider your ACT writing score in your application if you submit it – it just won’t have as big as an impact as other factors.

Schools With Humanities Programs

Similar to top schools, colleges and universities with strong and prestigious humanities programs also do not require submitting your ACT Writing score. You might expect Pepperdine University and George Washington University, schools with robust journalism programs, to require them, but they are still optional to submit. Same goes with Georgetown and the College of Holy Cross in Massachusetts, which offer well-known English degrees. Hamilton College in New York, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Iowa, and Colorado College, which all have great writing programs, similarly do not require the test.

Even smaller liberal arts colleges, which often have class requirements that are heavy on writing, do not require the test, including Amherst, Wellesley, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, Pomona, Haverford, and Davidson College.

Technical And Science Schools

If schools with a strong humanities focus do not require the ACT, it is not a surprise that most technical and science schools do not require you to submit an ACT Writing score. Though schools like Caltech, MIT, and the University of Michigan will care about your writing ability (it is just as important to be able to communicate your scientific findings!), the ACT Writing will not be a huge factor in your application.

What Schools Require ACT Writing?

So then, if many of the nation’s top schools and even schools with a focus on writing do not require the ACT Writing test, why take it? While there are a few, there are still several select colleges and universities that require the test.

Schools that require you to submit your ACT Writing score include:

• Martin Luther College
• Molloy College
• Soka University of America
• University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
• University of Montana Western
• West Point – US Military Academy
• Wyoming Catholic College
• Yellowstone Christian College

If you are applying to any of these schools, or are even thinking of applying, you should take the ACT Writing test! It is better to have the score, rather than realize later that you need it and have to retake the entire ACT just to have it.

Should You Take The ACT Writing Test?

Now that you know what the ACT Writing test entails, what it shows about you to admissions counselors, and which schools require it, you can make a decision on whether or not its the right decision for you to take the test. It will all depend on your own goals and situation, but there are several factors everyone can consider when making this decision. Check out our full guide for all the factors you should consider when weighing whether or not to take the ACT Writing Test.

• Do any of the schools you are applying to require you to submit an ACT Writing score?

If the answer is yes, then you should definitely take the test. If you are not sure about your college list and are considering applying to schools that require the score, the safest bet would be to take the test. If you have no interest whatsoever in any of the schools that require the test, you should consider several other factors, like the ones described below, before making your decision.

• Will the ACT Writing score complement your application? 

The purpose of the ACT Writing test is to showcase a student’s writing skills and preparedness for college-level essays and writing assignments. Like many other test scores, you can use this score to accentuate a part of your application, or make up for something that is lacking. If your application conveys you as a budding journalist that has won numerous writing awards, a high Writing score can further cement your narrative. On the other hand, if you are more inclined to Math and Science and have struggled in school with English and humanities subjects, taking the ACT Writing test and scoring high can somewhat make up for it. 

Keep in mind, though, that admissions committees in different colleges will weigh your Writing score differently, and many have expressed that it makes a small and marginal difference to your application. These small differences, however, add up when you are applying to top schools. It is up to you! Based on your situation and goals, weigh out the cons of taking the test (like time and money) with how much you think the test will really benefit your application.

• Do you have enough time and bandwidth to prepare for the ACT Writing test?

There are several drawbacks to taking the test that some students may not expect. One of them is the cost. The ACT Writing test incurs an additional $25 fee on top of the already-expensive ACT test fee. Plus any resources or private tutoring sessions that you might pay for to prepare for the test and the money you invest in taking the ACT… it adds up. If you qualify for the ACT fee waiver program, though, you have the choice to take the ACT Writing test for free.

Another consideration students should keep in mind is that preparing and taking the ACT Writing test is additional time and effort on your part. Though you are young and full of energy, time and effort are finite resources. The time you spend preparing for the ACT Writing test could be additional hours improving your Reading or Math scores, which are weighed heavier in your applications. If the test only brings you a marginal benefit, it may be a wiser decision to spend your time and effort in other parts of your application that could grant you significantly greater gains.

Tips To Improve Your ACT Writing Score

If you have decided to take the ACT Writing test, here are several tips to set you up for the most success:

Tip #1: Follow A Clear Structure

One of the major areas you are being graded on in the ACT Writing test is your organization. The way you structure your essay is imperative to conveying a strong argument and making it easily read and understood by graders. In general, you should organize your essay in the following format:

• Introduction: Introduce what view you are taking and, if necessary, the provided perspective that you are taking into account. Do not spend too long crafting the perfect first sentence – in fact, it is better in this case to get straight to the point since you have limited time and space. Definitely avoid making this section too rambly and long, as well.
• Thesis statement: This is the most important part of your essay. Clearly state your view and give an outline of the line of argument you will take. You do not have to go into too much detail (that’s for later), but give a general sense how you will support your argument.
• Discuss the correlation between different perspectives. If you posited your own unique argument, make sure to discuss the relationship between it and one of the provided perspectives! It is one of the directions in the prompt, and the graders will surely be expecting your essay to have this.
• Explain your reasoning and use evidence or examples. This part is where you can argue for your position. Make sure you choose the strongest pieces of evidence. Examples can help flesh out a point and make it more believable. It is recommended to stick to one point or perspective per paragraph so that it is easier to organize for you and easier to follow and understand for the reader.

While you can add your own flair and personality within these sections, make sure that you have these foundational blocks in place.

Tip #2: Practice Writing Timed Essays

Practicing writing timed essays is one of the most effective ways you can study for the ACT Writing test. Being able to simulate what you will experience in the testing room is the best way to prepare. You can do this by practicing writing timed essays to example prompts, which can be found online. In these sessions, get used to writing under pressure and planning out your time . You should get a feel for how long it takes for you to think and plan out your essay, actually write the essay, and review and edit it at the end.

One thing that students often forget is that the ACT Writing test is hand-written! It may have been a while since you have last hand-written an essay, since most writing assignments these days are often typed out on a computer. Use this time to practice your handwriting so that it is clear, legible, and a reasonable size (handwriting that is too large can lead to running out of space). You can also get used to the feel of writing for a long period of time – you don’t want a hand cramp to mess up your score on test day!

Tip #3: Read more

This is an underrated tip to improve on the ACT Writing test. While it may seem somewhat unrelated to the test itself, reading more and reading widely can generally help you become a better writer. Exposing yourself to different writing styles and formats can give you ideas on how to improve your own writing organization and style. Reading also lends people to larger vocabularies, so you can explain your ideas in more concise and precise ways. You do not have to read intensely to pick up these benefits. Skimming the news every morning or dedicating half an hour everyday to reading a book can add up to a lot of hours over time.

For a more complete list of tips, check out our article: “ACT Writing Tips To Ace Your Essay.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Do colleges require act writing.

Most colleges do not require you to submit an ACT Writing test score. In fact, it is an optional part of your application in many top schools like Harvard and Yale and even among schools that have strong humanities and writing programs, like Georgetown and the University of Iowa. While your Writing score can showcase the strength of your writing skills, it will likely not have a huge impact on your admissions decision in these schools. There are, however, still several schools that require submitting an ACT Writing score.

Which Schools Require ACT Writing?

Schools that require you to submit your ACT Writing score include: Martin Luther College, Molloy College, Soka University of America, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, University of Montana Western, West Point – US Military Academy, Wyoming Catholic College, and Yellowstone Christian College.

Prepare For The ACT Writing Test With SoFlo Tutors

Are you planning to take the ACT Writing Test? Or, are you looking to improve your skills in general to ace the English and Reading sections? SoFlo Tutors can help you out. Our tutors create tailored study plans for all of their students based on their target score, strengths and weaknesses identified from a diagnostic test, and testing date. They work one-on-one with each student to provide time-tested strategies and skills that have allowed hundreds of previous students reach their target scores and get into their dream colleges. All of our tutors attend top universities around the nation and scored in the 99th percentile on their ACT. Our tutors schedule to sessions to your availability and our costs start at $60/hour. Check out our tutoring services to book a session today!

About The Author

Andie Pinga is an expert SoFlo tutor and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Anthropology. She scored a 35 on her ACT and enjoys rock climbing and playing the guitar.

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ACT Writing and SAT Essay Requirements

On january 19th, 2021, college board announced that they will no longer administer the sat subject tests in the u.s. and that the essay would be retired. read our blog post  to understand what this means in the near term and what the college board has in store for students down the road., our articles on subject tests and the sat essay will remain on our site for reference purposes as colleges and students transition to a revised testing landscape. as an admission tool, students should consider the essay as canceled. compass recommends our students forgo the sat and act optional essays on future exams..

The SAT Essay and ACT Writing continue to pose a conundrum for students. While College Board and ACT have made these components optional, a small number of colleges continue to require or recommend them. Compass believes that students should no longer take the SAT Essay or ACT Writing unless they are applying to (or thinking about applying to) one of the few colleges that still requires the essay. Students who have already taken the essay should not be overly concerned about scores. One reason the essay is fading away is that the scores simply aren’t that accurate or useful. Colleges never really found a use for them, and the essays created an unnecessary obstacle for some applicants.

Rather than worrying about an essay score that is mostly ignored by colleges, Compass believes students should spend their time strengthening the more valuable pieces of their academic portfolio: high school GPA and, more specifically, success in rigorous courses like APs. Compass offers AP and academic tutoring in over 50 subjects to help students stay on pace with their coursework. Our team of subject specific expert tutors will guide the program from start to finish. We also offer a Study Skills and Organizational Coaching program to provide students with the tools they need to excel in the classroom.

The following table of popular colleges provides a wide range of institutions and policies.

Colleges with essay optional policies often do not specify whether submitted essay scores will be used for admission. When the college explicitly states that scores will not be evaluated, we have listed the policy as “Not Considered.” “Optional” should not be interpreted as meaning that the college uses submitted scores. We recommend contacting the school if you have specific questions.

ACT and SAT Essay Requirements - Class of 2019 and Beyond

* In response to COVID-19, these schools have announced temporary test optional or test blind policies, which also effects their essay requirements and recommendations. Please check with the individual schools for more information.

** University of Montana Western has students submit ACT Writing in order to satisfy English proficiency requirements.

Post a comment or send an email to [email protected] with questions or recommended changes.

Related posts:

ACT Writing scores have gone through multiple changes. To try to clear things up, Compass has published ACT Writing Scores Explained . A similar analysis for the SAT is also available.

Our College Profiles page  provides SAT and ACT scores for some of the most competitive colleges in the country.

Score choice and superscoring policies can be found for more than 400 popular colleges and universities.

Subject Test requirements continue to evolve, so Compass keeps an up-to-date list.

Updated 6/24/2020

About Art Sawyer

Art graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was the top-ranked liberal arts student in his class. Art pioneered the one-on-one approach to test prep in California in 1989 and co-founded Compass Education Group in 2004 in order to bring the best ideas and tutors into students' homes and computers. Although he has attained perfect scores on all flavors of the SAT and ACT, he is routinely beaten in backgammon.

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Hi Art, Hope you are staying safe. Son is sophomore who will be taking the September ACT. He is not a great writer, does not like writing, and does not want to take the writing portion. He likely will score in the 33-35 range and apply to a variety of schools (a couple top [sub-10% acceptance rate] privates and top publics, as well as some less competitive universities and colleges). Not applying to any UC schools. Do you think lacking the writing score — which likely would be average — will hurt him? Put another way, would doing the writing help him at schools where it is “optional” assuming his score is not great but not terrible? Thanks. ST

ST, If colleges were completely honest, they would admit that the Writing test is dead. Some won’t state it so bluntly because it sounds like writing is not important. I don’t think there will be any colleges that care about your son’s Writing score by the time he applies. He should pass on it in September.

Thanks Art — appreciate the great advice here and on this web site generally!

If I’m understanding correctly, the only students who need to be taking the writing/essay exams are those applying to the first 9 schools on your list that are “required” or “recommended”? In this wild west post-Covid era of college testing where it seems the only constant thing is change, it is hard to understand why anyone would still take the essay portion if they aren’t applying to any of those 9 schools. We are in CA so it used to be needed for the UC’s but as you noted even that has changed. So now post-Covid, do you still advise most of your students to take the writing exams, or feel that there is “more upside than downside” to taking them? My 11th grader previously did the SAT w/essay and scored 760 R&W, 650 M, and 4/4/5 on the essay. He’ll be retaking it to improve his math score, or possibly switching over to the ACT since SAT isn’t offered this summer (He was scheduled for the March exam that was cancelled the day before, so we are re-evaluating our options). Thanks very much for your insight.

BSS, I’d go even a step further and say that — except for students applying to West Point — the essay can finally be retired. I’m not sad to see it go!

Given that your son is already considering the ACT, I’d recommend looking at July ACT and August SAT dates. Not that he needs to take both, but the strategy is a hedge against cancellations. Registration for some students just opened up for the SAT dates, but it sounds like your student will need to wait until registration goes wider on June 3.

Duke: “Recommended” Duke website: “We do not require the optional essay.” https://admissions.duke.edu/apply/ I don’t see anywhere that they recommend it.

Also, on your Subject Test page: Duke: “Recommended Strongly ” Duke website: “We do not require Subject Tests.” I see nothing that would indicate it is “Recommended Strongly”. https://admissions.duke.edu/apply/

Caltech – “Optional” Caltech website – “Caltech also does not require the SAT Essay or ACT Writing exam sections. These sections will not be considered in the application review process.” http://admissions.divisions.caltech.edu/apply/first-yearfreshman-applicants/standardized-tests

I believe the vast, vast majority of the colleges you list as “Optional” similarly don’t even consider a writing score.

Thanks for reaching out! And thank you, in particular, for the Duke update. Just a few weeks ago we checked their site and they still had Subject Tests listed as recommended strongly with the “or ACT” twist. We’ve updated the Subject Test page to reflect that. We still have Duke listed as recommending the essay because of this: https://today.duke.edu/2018/07/duke-makes-sat-essay-act-writing-test-optional-applicants (this announcement is from almost two years ago, but we haven’t heard anything to specifically counter it.)

We recognize that the essay is becoming increasingly less relevant in admissions, and we have plans to revisit this list and put the “Optional” schools in better context.

Hello Mr. Sawyer, I have an SAT score of 1510 and my essay score is 5/4/6 should I consider taking the SAT again to improve the essay score if I plan to apply to the top universities such as Harvard, Yale and Duke.

Mazin, You should not repeat the SAT just because of your Essay score. You may have seen the news yesterday that College Board is phasing out the Essay. It is simply no longer a concern.

Mr. Sawyer, what are you thoughts on the ACT writing (essay). Do you expect it to follow suit and discontinue it like the SAT essay?

Marjorie, My first thought is that — ACT’s decision aside — students should not take the Writing test. It is disappearing for good reason — it’s just not very good or useful.

ACT will make a business decision, just as College Board did — although not necessarily with the same immediate result. ACT may want to retain the fees it is receiving for the Writing test. It may also try to wait just long enough not to seem that it is following College Board’s lead. ACT typically implements changes during its school calendar year of Sept – July. I would not be surprised to see the essay discontinued after the summer administrations.

Mr. Sawyer-Wanting some advice. My junior just took the ACT and scored a 33 composite with a 35 in English and a 34 in reading. Our school had recommended the writing test so he took it and bombed it with a 6/12. He has taken all honors and AP English classes offered and done excellent. GPA is 3.95 unweighted. I wonder if his horrible handwriting played a role but now he is stuck with a 6 on writing. Should he retake the test just to improve that score? If so does he take it with writing again or simply try to score a 33 without writing and submit that score. He’s looking at Carleton, Pomona, Grinnell along with some others.

Sarah, One of the reasons the essay has been abandoned is just how fluky the results can be. I would not recommend retesting only to raise his Writing score.

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Colleges that Require the ACT Writing Test

Learn Which Colleges and Universities Require the ACT With Writing

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If you're trying to decide whether you should take the ACT with Writing or just the regular ACT, the list below can help you make your decision. It includes all of the colleges and universities in the 50 United States that require the ACT writing section, listed by state.

Realize, however, that there are hundreds of colleges that recommend the ACT Plus Writing without requiring it. So unless you know for sure that the schools you're applying to don't care about the writing section, it may be wise to spend the extra half an hour and $16.00 to take the ACT Plus Writing.

Note that the number of colleges requiring the ACT with Writing continues to decrease since the SAT dropped the required writing section from its exam in March of 2016. Some schools had required the ACT Writing Test to put the SAT and ACT on equal footing, but now that writing is optional for the SAT, many schools have decided to make it optional for both exams.

Schools Requiring the ACT Writing Test

The schools on the list were identified using ACT's search tool. Colleges change their requirements frequently, so be sure to double-check with the schools for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Click on a school's name here to get more information including acceptance rates and typical ACT and SAT scores for admitted students.

• California Institute of Technology
• Chapman University
• Claremont McKenna College
• Golden State Baptist College
• Harvey Mudd College
• Occidental College
• Patten University
• Scripps College
• Soka University of America
• Stanford University
• University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley)
• University of California at Davis (UC Davis)
• University of California at Irvine (UC Irvine)
• University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
• University of California at Merced (UCM)
• University of California at Riverside (UCR)
• University of California at San Diego (UCSD)
• University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB)
• University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC)
• University of La Verne
• University of San Diego
• Westmont College

Connecticut

• United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA)
• Yale University
• Delaware State University

District of Columbia

• Florida A&M (FAMU)
• Florida Atlantic University
• Florida International University (FIU)
• Trinity Baptist College
• Georgia Southern University
• Morris Brown College
• Ogeechee Technical College
• Oxford College of Emory University
• University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Bible Missionary Institute
• MacCormac College
• Olive-Harvey College
• St. Joseph College Seminary
• VanderCook College of Music
• Fairhaven College
• Indiana University East
• Louisville Bible College
• Simmons College of Kentucky
• Washington Adventist University

Massachusetts

• Harvard University
• Springfield College
• Wellesley College
• College for Creative Studies
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Mississippi

• Urshan College
• University of Montana Western

New Hampshire

• Dartmouth College
• Seton Hall University
• Barnard College - Columbia University
• Concordia College - New York
• CUNY - John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Five Towns College
• List College - Jewish Theological Seminary
• Molloy College
• Pratt Institute
• Siena College
• SUNY College - Old Westbury
• SUNY Maritime College
• University at Buffalo - SUNY
• United States Military Academy - West Point
• Vassar College

North Carolina

• Duke University
• Elizabeth City State University
• Elon University
• Fayetteville State University
• North Carolina Central University (NCCU)
• Queens University of Charlotte
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts
• Western Carolina University
• Winston-Salem State University

North Dakota

• God’s Bible School and College
• Lake Erie College
• East Central University
• Lane Community College
• Oregon State University
• Portland State University

Pennsylvania

• Arcadia University
• Lafayette College
• Muhlenberg College
• University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
• York College of Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

• Rhode Island College
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

South Carolina

• University of South Carolina - Columbia (USC)

South Dakota

• Southwest Tennessee Community College
• Cedar Valley College
• Hardin-Simmons University
• Paul Quinn College
• Southwest School of Art
• St. Edward's University
• Stephen F. Austin State University
• Tarleton State University
• University of Dallas
• University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)
• University of Washington Tacoma

West Virginia

• West Virginia University Institute of Technology
• West Virginia University
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• Sam Houston State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Slippery Rock University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• University of Texas at San Antonio: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Willamette University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Harvey Mudd College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

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Which Colleges Require ACT Writing?

When you sign up for the ACT, you can choose to take an optional Writing section. Because this section requires extra time, money, and effort, many students decide to opt out of this section and just stick with the regular ACT.

While this section does make the ACT more challenging, there are many factors you should consider before you decide whether or not you are going to sign up for the ACT with the Writing section. The last thing you want is to pass on taking the ACT Writing section only to find out that the top schools on your list of dream colleges require this test for admittance.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind when you’re deciding if you want to take the ACT Writing section:

What does the ACT Writing test measure?

The ACT Writing test measures how well you are able to write and how prepared you are to handle college-level writing.

Throughout your high school career, your writing skills should continue to improve with each English class you take. The ACT Writing test will determine how well your writing skills have developed since your freshman year.

Your ACT Writing score, which will fall on a scale from 2-12, is based on your strengths in four areas: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use. If you have a strong command of these skills, you will score highly on this section and demonstrate that your writing skills are up to par.

Because of this, earning a high score on this test will make your application look more impressive to college admissions officers, and it can significantly boost your chances of getting into a competitive school.

Which schools require ACT Writing?

There are a handful of colleges and universities that require students to take the ACT Writing section if they apply to their school.

The ACT Writing section of the exam is a good way to help your application stand out, and it shows admissions officers that you have what it takes to do well with writing assignments in college. Furthermore, unlike other application essays and writing samples, which offer students plenty of time to plan, edit, peer-review, and proofread, the ACT Writing test has a strict time limit and gives admissions officers a better idea of a student’s writing ability.

As of February 2021, there are only five schools that explicitly require ACT writing for incoming freshmen students:

• Soka University of America
• United States Military Academy- West Point
• University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
• University of Montana Western
• Wyoming Catholic College

However, even though many colleges do not require applicants to take this section, most institutions still highly recommend that applications complete the ACT Writing test.

Even if the schools on your list don’t require the ACT Writing section, you should still consider taking this test, especially if you are trying to get into highly selective colleges and universities.

Preparing for the ACT Writing test

In order to do well on the ACT Writing test, you will need to demonstrate your ability to think critically about the presented prompt and provide a well-written essay within 40 minutes.

If you want to receive a 12 on your essay, you will need to be able to craft a strong argument that picks a specific side, provide reasoning and evidence to support your claim, organize your essay so that it is easy to follow, and use varied sentence structure and strong vocabulary.

This is often easier said than done, especially considering the time constraint of this section.

One of the best ways to help prepare for the ACT Writing section is to work with a private tutor or take an ACT prep class . These resources can help you learn key strategies, like writing more than a page and integrating evidence into your body paragraphs, that will help you do well on this test.

Prep Expert only hires expert instructors, so you know that you’ll be in good hands. Every tutor and instructor scored in the 99th percentile on their own standardized tests, and they have the expertise necessary to help take your writing skills to the next level.

Prep Expert has helped thousands of students earn the scores they need to get into competitive schools and earn countless dollars in scholarship money.

Enroll in one of our ACT prep courses or sign up for private, online ACT tutoring today when you visit our website .

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Colleges That Require the SAT Essay (2020): A Complete List

The SAT essay has been through a lot of changes in recent years. In the new SAT, it exists as a separate section from the rest of the sections. You may have heard that not all schools require it, even the ones that require standardized test scores. Why is that? Also, just because it isn’t required, does that mean you don’t have to do it? And what’s a good essay score, anyway?

First, a few things about the SAT and ACT optional essays:

• The essay portion is scored completely separately from the Math and Reading sections (or, in the case of the ACT, the Math, Reading, and Science sections). That means your total score is not affected by your SAT Essay or ACT Essay (Writing) score.
• The SAT Essay is graded by two College Board readers who each give it a score between 1 and 4 on three different aspects: reading, analysis, and writing. That means the highest possible SAT Essay grade is an 8|8|8. The ACT Writing section is also scored by two readers, each out of 6 (for a high score of 12).
• You have the choice to take the SAT and ACT with or without the essay. If you opt to take the essay version, the test is slightly longer and slightly more expensive.

Second, the most important thing you can take away from this post is: don’t assume you need to take the SAT or ACT with the essay ! The number of schools that require it is low, and fewer and fewer schools are even recommending it. In recent years, schools like the California Institute of Technology, Claremont McKenna College, and the University of Michigan have all stopped asking for it. Princeton University started asking for a graded paper instead.

In short? Unless you know you’re going to score well, based on past experience or a diagnostic test, or you’re applying to certain schools, reconsider if preparing for the ACT/SAT Essay is a good use of your test prep time or if you should just skip it altogether.

Which Schools Want to See the SAT Essay/ACT Writing?

A very small number of schools outright require the SAT Essay or ACT Writing. They are:

• All of the University of California schools
• The United States Military Academy
• University of Montana-Western
• Martin Luther College
• Soka University of America

That’s it! Of course, the University of California system is huge and includes heavy hitters like Berkeley, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and more. If you’re considering applying to any of these schools, you’ll need to take the SAT Essay. Otherwise, unless these remaining schools are on your list, you don’t explicitly need to take the essay as part of the SAT.

However, in college admissions, required isn’t the end of the line. A good number of additional schools recommend the SAT Essay. For these schools, you won’t be automatically turned away without the essay, but it’ll help your chances to have it present.

You might be surprised to learn that most of the very top schools – Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, etc. – are not terribly interested in the SAT Essay, even though they care quite a bit about your overall SAT score (or ACT score). That’s in part because highly selective schools ask high school applicants for extensive essays, which they use to evaluate applicant’s proficiency with written English.

The colleges and universities that recommend the SAT Essay are:

• Abilene Christian University
• Austin College
• Berry College
• Chapman University
• Colby College
• Concordia College-Moorhead
• Duke University
• Michigan State University
• Oregon State University
• Simmons University
• Stanford University
• Stony Brook University-SUNY
• Taylor University
• University at Buffalo-SUNY
• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

If any of these schools are on your list, you should seriously consider including the essay in your SAT or ACT test prep plans. Still, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Should You Take the SAT or ACT Essay?

While you could, of course, make your decision about taking the SAT Essay based on the schools to which you know you’re applying, the majority of students take the SAT or ACT before they’ve finalized their college lists. For that reason, you may need to decide whether to take the essay without knowing whether you’re planning to apply to any of the above schools.

So, if you’re signing up for the SAT or ACT soon, consider the following:

Advantages of Taking the SAT Essay or ACT Writing

The biggest advantage to taking the SAT Essay is that you cover all your bases. If you decide to apply to any of the schools on the required or recommended lists, you won’t have to go back and take it again or risk rejection for not having taken it.

Similarly, the SAT Essay can provide another data point for admissions officers about the strength of your academic profile and application—if you do well. An above-average essay or writing score can help prove your writing abilities to colleges.

On the flip side, not taking the SAT Essay at all will limit the number of schools to which you can apply and be a competitive applicant. While many selective schools do not care about the essay, some do, and they’re always looking for a reason to reject applicants. Not having an essay score could sink your application at Duke or Stanford.

Disadvantages of Taking the SAT Essay or ACT Writing

The biggest potential downside to taking the SAT Essay is that you might not score well, and colleges that don’t require or recommend the essay will have a piece of information that doesn’t show you in your best light. Given that most schools don’t want the essay, having a poor SAT Essay score can be a risk that isn’t worth taking.

Another disadvantage to taking the essay or writing portion is that you’ll be in the room longer. Fortunately, both sections come at the end of their respective tests, so it won’t tire you out for the rest of the test, but knowing that you’re going to be there an extra hour can affect students’ performance on the sections that matter most.

Similarly, another advantage to not taking the Essay portion is not having to prepare for it! College Board and ACT readers are looking for very specific elements, so you’ll need to spend time preparing, just as you would for the other sections. That’s time that might be better spent on the rest of the test, schoolwork, or extracurricular activities.

Who Should Take the SAT with Essay?

Those are the big-picture considerations for whether to take the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but it’s also worth thinking about the specifics of your college application. Much like decisions about the SAT Subject Tests, it’s important to consider your unique application. Are you someone who should definitely take the SAT with essay? Probably? Or definitely not?

Do the colleges you’re interested in require the SAT Essay?

If you’re interested in any of the above colleges that have an SAT or ACT essay requirement, you should take it. It won’t be the most important factor in your application, but not having it will be a huge red flag to these schools that you’re not serious about them because you didn’t take the time to read and understand their requirements.

Do the colleges you’re interested in recommend the SAT Essay?

Require is easy; recommend is a bit more complicated. When it comes to college admissions, it’s best to take colleges at their word. So, while schools like Michigan State may not turn you away with no SAT Essay score, they’ll be disappointed you don’t have it, unless you have a compelling reason like financial hardship. Duke University in particular has dropped numerous hints that they frown upon applications without the essay section.

Note that even some test-optional schools, like Coby, recommend the SAT or ACT essay. Of course, these schools are test-optional, so you don’t need to submit any standardized test essay at all. But because they care so much about writing skills, they want to see the essay; otherwise, even if you have a very high score, they may be insufficiently impressed.

Are you applying to any scholarships that require an SAT with Essay?

On top of that, colleges may not be the only thing you’re applying to this year! Because standardized tests play a big role in many scholarships – both offered by colleges and by external institutions – you should always check to see if any scholarships for which you’re planning to apply require you to submit SAT Essay or ACT Writing score reports.

Will the SAT Essay enhance your application?

Lastly, if you’re someone who excels in writing and feels comfortable with the SAT Essay, you might decide that taking it will boost your application! Although the essay won’t be factored into your total SAT score, it may still make a positive impact if you struggle in other areas. For some students, a writing test is something they definitely want colleges to see!

Final Thoughts

The most important thing to keep in mind about the writing sections of the SAT and ACT is that you need to do what’s best for your college goals and strategy. Remember that you don’t need to do the Essay section at every test date, so it may be that you want to take a first pass at the test and decide about the essay later. Or, you may know that it’s going to be required by one or more of your colleges, so you want to get a jump right away.

At the end of the day, wherever you’re applying, the SAT Essay or ACT Writing is just one part of your application, one that seems to hold less importance every year. While it’s important to take all parts of the process seriously, this isn’t one of the ones worth stressing about.

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Are you taking the ACT with Writing? No need to stress! The ACT essay follows a predictable format, which means you can practice and prepare beforehand. Take a look at a sample ACT writing prompt and learn five key steps to penning a high-scoring essay.

Keep in mind: The ACT writing essay is optional. Currently, only 27 colleges and universities require the ACT with Writing. You can see the complete list  here . If there is any chance that you might apply to one of those schools, you should register for the ACT with Writing. Not sure where you will apply? You should strongly consider signing up for the essay and keep your options open.

ACT with Writing: Sample Prompt

This example writing prompt comes straight from our book ACT Prep :

Education and the Workplace

Many colleges and universities have cut their humanities departments, and high schools have started to shift their attention much more definitively toward STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and away from ELA (English, Language Arts). Representatives from both school boards and government organizations suggest that the move toward STEM is necessary in helping students to participate in a meaningful way in the American workplace. Given the urgency of this debate for the future of education and society as a whole, it is worth examining the potential consequences of this shift in how students are educated in the United States.

Read and carefully consider these perspectives. Each suggests a particular way of thinking about the shift in American education.

Write a unified, coherent essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives on the issue of how schools should balance STEM and ELA subjects. In your essay, be sure to:

• analyze and evaluate the perspectives given
• state and develop your own perspective on the issue
• explain the relationship between your perspective and those given

Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of the others, in partial agreement, or wholly different. Whatever the case, support your ideas with logical reasoning and detailed, persuasive examples.

How to Write the ACT Essay

Your job is to write an essay in which you take some sort of position on the prompt, all while assessing the three perspectives provided in the boxes. Find a way to anchor your essay with a unique perspective of your own that can be defended and debated, and you are already in the upper echelon of scorers.

Step 1: Work the Prompt

What in the prompt requires you to weigh in? Why is this issue still the subject of debate and not a done deal?

Step 2: Work the Perspectives

Typically, the three perspectives will be split: one for , one against , and one in the middle . Your goal in Step 2 is to figure out where each perspective stands and then identify at least one shortcoming of each perspective. For the example above, ask yourself: 

• What does each perspective consider?
• What does each perspective overlook?

Read More: What's a Good ACT Score?

Step 3: Generate Your Own Perspective

Now it's time to come up with your own perspective! If you merely restate one of the three given perspectives, you won’t be able to get into the highest scoring ranges. You’ll draw from each of the perspectives, and you may side with one of them, but your perspective should have something unique about it.

Step 4: Put It All Together

Now that you have your ideas in order, here's a blueprint for how to organize the ACT essay. This blueprint works no matter what your prompt is.

Step 5: (If There's Time): Proofread

Spend one or two minutes on proofreading your essay if you have time. You’re looking for big, glaring errors. If you find one, erase it completely or cross it out neatly. Though neatness doesn’t necessarily affect your grade, it does make for a happy grader.

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College Reality Check

ACT: All You Need to Know to Pass the Test

Formerly standing for American College Test, the ACT is a college entrance exam that high school students usually take in their junior year in preparation for the college application season.

The ACT is a standardized test used by some postsecondary institutions as an entrance exam. It is designed to measure a student’s college readiness, which is necessary for academic success in the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. The ACT is administered to around 1.3 million high school teens every year.

If you are a high schooler who is preparing for your college career, continue reading this post.

Is the ACT Important for College Admissions?

When applying to colleges with a test-required admissions policy, the ACT serves as one of those college admissions tests.

As a matter of fact, it may still be a good idea to take it when applying to test-optional colleges as test scores sometimes serve as a tie-breaker between 2 equally promising applicants or increase the appeal of an otherwise mediocre application.

The only time the ACT is critical in the college admissions process is if the high school teener is planning on applying to test-required colleges where the submission of test scores is mandatory.

Do You Have to Take the ACT?

Taking the ACT is a must if students are attending high schools where sitting for the said standardized test score is a requirement for graduation. Students who are applying to test-required colleges must also take the ACT or the SAT. Otherwise, it’s up to the high schooler completely whether or not he will register for the ACT.

As far as applying to test-optional colleges goes, college-bound students should determine whether taking the ACT could help increase their admissions chances by demonstrating their readiness for higher education.

Read Also: 13 College Entrance Exams And When To Take Them

Can Colleges See How Many Times You Took the ACT?

Colleges and universities cannot see how many times an applicant took the ACT. The only time their admissions officers can have an idea of how many times an aspirant sat for the ACT is by means of the number of scores that he or she will submit. It’s important to note, however, that some institutions require applicants to submit all ACT scores.

The picture above contains a list of some colleges that require the reporting of all ACT scores from all test dates.

What is on the ACT?

Based on the ACT website itself, the ACT consists of 4 tests, each one having multiple-choice questions. There are a total of 215 questions, with 1 additional essay prompt for test-takers who opt to take the Writing section, which is optional.

How Many Sections are on the ACT?

The 4 sections of the ACT are English, Math, Reading and Science sections. Among the said sections, the English section has the most number of questions, although the Math section has the longest allotted time for completion. On the other hand, both the Reading and Science sections have the same number of questions and length of time.

As mentioned earlier, there is an optional Writing section that students may or may not choose to take.

How Many Questions is the ACT?

The ACT has a total number of questions amounting to 215. Among the various sections, the English section has the most number of questions (75). Both the Reading section and the Science section, meanwhile, have the least number of questions (40). All questions are multiple-choice questions, with the exception of the optional Writing section.

Here’s a table that shows the number of questions each section of the ACT has:

What Kind of Math is on the ACT?

According to ACT itself, the Math section of the ACT covers math topics that can be grouped into the following categories: number and quantity, algebra, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. Of all the various sections of the ACT, it’s the Math section that takes the longest to complete — test-takers are given a total of 60 minutes to do so.

Let’s take a quick look at the various components of the ACT’s Math section:

• Number and quantity – knowledge of real and complex number systems
• Algebra – use of linear, polynomial, radical and other equations
• Functions – knowledge of function definition, notation, representation, and application
• Geometry – knowledge of shapes and solids as well as composition of objects
• Statistics and probability – application and analysis of data collection methods and others

Is There Science on the ACT?

Unlike the SAT, the ACT has a Science section. The said section is 35 minutes long and, as mentioned earlier, consists of a total of 40 questions. There are several passages on actual scientific scenarios, each of them followed by multiple-choice questions.

Needless to say, the Science section of the ACT can be hard for students who are unfamiliar with the scientific method.

It’s also important for test-takers to have strong reading and comprehension skills to ace the ACT’s Science section.

Is There Writing on the ACT?

There is a Writing section of the ACT. Since it’s an optional section, however, students who are sitting for the ACT may or may not opt to undergo it. The optional Writing section is given after all the other sections of the ACT. There is only 1 essay prompt available, which describes a general issue and is presented in 3 different perspectives.

Students who choose to take the Writing section need not have any special knowledge or experience to answer it.

What is the ACT Science Reasoning Test?

The ACT Science Reasoning Test, simply put, is the official name of the Science section of the ACT. This particular area of the college entrance examination is designed to assess the ability of test-takers to understand scientific information and interpret data as well as put them into application.

Some of the topics covered include biology, chemistry and physics.

Something that the ACT has that the SAT doesn’t is a Science section. It’s for this reason why some high school students who are very good in hard and soft science may prefer taking the ACT rather than the SAT.

How Does the ACT Work?

The ACT is a standardized test that consists of 4 sections and 1 optional Writing section. It consists of 215 multiple-choice questions and 1 essay prompt in the Writing section. Test-takers are given a total of 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete the entire test, with an additional 40 minutes for students who choose to take the Writing section.

What Does the ACT Measure?

The ACT is designed to measure skills that are of utmost importance for success in postsecondary education as well as honed as students work on their respective college degrees. In the college admissions process, the ACT is used by admissions officers to determine just how ready an applicant is to take on college-level coursework.

Especially where a holistic review is practiced, the ACT is not the only factor considered when deciding whether or not an applicant should be accepted. Similarly, the ACT has zero influence on admissions at test-blind institutions.

Is the ACT Multiple Choice

The ACT consists of multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with 4 or 5 answer options that test-takers can choose from. On the other hand, the SAT has some write-in questions that require a response from the students, particularly in the Math section, although the vast majority of SAT questions are multiple-choice kinds.

Of course, the optional Writing section of the ACT requires test-takers to provide an answer rather than choose it.

Is ACT a Standardized Test?

The ACT is a standardized test given that all students from various high schools need to answer the same questions. In addition, they are graded in a similar manner, using a scale score that goes from 1 to 36.

However, institutions of higher education that include the ACT in the admissions process may see ACT scores differently.

Because both the ACT and SAT are standardized tests that measure pretty much the same knowledge and skills among college-bound high schoolers, both are accepted by colleges — one is not preferred over the other.

When Do You Take the ACT Test?

Most high schoolers take the ACT for the very first time in the spring of their junior year. Such is the recommendation as some of the topics in the Math section of the ACT are not covered until that time. Students who find it necessary to retake the ACT commonly do so in the fall of their senior year of high school.

The ACT is administered 7 times a year: September, October, December, February, April, June and July. The standardized test score can be taken by a student only 12 times.

How to Guess on the ACT

Using the process of elimination is the best way to guess on the ACT. This entails looking for the wrong answers instead of the correct ones. Spotting 2 incorrect answers and getting rid of them increases a student’s chance of answering correctly by as much as 50% if there are 4 answer options and by as much as 60% if there are 5 answer options.

On the ACT, answering incorrectly will not cause a test-taker to face a point-deduction penalty. This is why he or she should make a guess instead of leaving a question unanswered when absolutely clueless.

How Long is the ACT?

The ACT takes 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete. The optional Writing section, meanwhile, is 40 minutes long, which means that students who opt to take it will take 3 hours and 35 minutes to complete the standardized test. There is a 10-minute break between the Math (2nd test) and the Reading (3rd test) sections and a 5-minute break before the Writing section.

Here’s a table showing the length of each section of the ACT:

How Does ACT Scoring Work?

Test-takers get a point for every correct answer — there is no penalty in the form of a point deduction for guessing or getting the wrong answer. The total number of questions answered correctly on all sections of the ACT is the raw score of the student. Afterward, the said raw score is converted into a scale score that ranges from 1 to 36.

In scoring the optional Writing section, 2 individuals evaluate the work, giving it a combined score on a scale of 2 to 12.

What is a Good ACT Score?

Generally speaking, a good ACT score is any score that’s better than the scores of 75% of all test-takers. This means that the score is in the top 25th percentile. However, a score above the median score is also considered a good score.

Just about any ACT composite score that’s similar to the scores of students admitted to one’s top-choice school is good as well.

Facts About the ACT

The ACT costs $68, which includes everything from the examination to the score reports. On the other hand, taking the optional Writing section causes the cost of the ACT to increase to $93.

Let’s talk about a few other facts every student looking to take the ACT might want to know about.

History of the ACT

It was in 1959 when the ACT was first administered. Prior to the said date, the SAT was the only standardized test used by many colleges and universities as an entrance exam. The ACT came into being as more and more colleges were established and more and more students wanted to pursue higher education.

Since the ACT was established, the non-profit organization that created it expanded its services and programs. For instance, it also offered training and assessment services that go past the college admissions realm.

In 2005, in the same year that the SAT came up with a mandatory Essay section, the ACT introduced a Writing section.

While the SAT made the Essay section optional in 2016 and abolished it altogether in 2021, the Writing section of the ACT is still around, and test-takers may still choose to take it or not.

Who Created the ACT?

While the ACT is created by ACT, which shares the name with the standardized test, it’s designed by Everett Franklin Lindquist. An education professor at the University of Iowa, Lindquist created the ACT based on personal achievement and practical reasoning.

Needless to say, the ACT was created to become a direct competitor to the SAT.

Originally, Lindquist included a Social Studies section in the ACT. However, in 1989, the said section was replaced by the Reading section, which included a social studies component.

What is ACT, Inc.?

ACT, Inc., which is also oftentimes simply referred to as ACT, is the creator and administrator of the ACT, the standardized test. It was founded in 1959 in Iowa the same year that the college entrance exam was created. ACT, Inc. was co-founded by the designer of the ACT himself, Everett Franklin Lindquist.

How Many People Take the ACT?

Almost 1.3 million students took the ACT in 2022, according to a US News report. In the same year, 1.7 million students took the SAT, which makes it more popular than the ACT. In 2021, based on another report by Forbes, the number of students who sat for the standardized test declined by 22% from the previous year.

Despite the fact that fewer students take the ACT than the SAT, colleges have no preference between them.

What is the ACT Designed to Predict?

The ACT is a standardized test designed to predict a student’s ability to reap academic success in college. That’s because it’s composed of questions that establish their skill levels in areas that are integral components of college-level coursework.

Some of the skills measured by the ACT are especially important for introductory courses.

However, some research says that the GPA is a much better predictor of college success than the ACT or SAT.

Is the Fifth Section on the ACT Scored?

The fifth section of the ACT isn’t scored. So, in other words, a test-taker’s score in the said section will not affect his or her ACT composite score. Similar to the fifth section of the SAT, the ACT’s fifth section is made up of experimental questions in English, reading, math and/or science designed to determine which new content and questions would work.

Recently, the fifth section of the ACT is given to students who opt not to take the optional Writing section.

Does the ACT Have an Essay?

The ACT has an essay section, which is referred to as the Writing section. As the name suggests, the said 40-minute section of the college entrance exam is designed to measure a test-taker’s ability to write. The Essay portion of the SAT, meanwhile, became optional in 2016 and then completely removed by the College Board in 2021.

Even though the ACT’s Writing section is optional, The Princeton Review report says that 27 colleges require it.

Does the ACT Provide Calculators?

Students who are sitting for the ACT should bring their own calculators with them because ACT testing centers do not provide them. Allowed calculators can be used only while answering questions in the Math section but not in any other section.

Although it’s possible to answer math questions without using a calculator, test-takers are encouraged to use one.

This list from the ACT itself enumerates calculator models that are prohibited from being used by test-takers.

Changes in ACT

The ACT has a digital version, which is referred to as the ACT Computer-Based Test (ACT CBT or CBT).

As a matter of fact, since 2018, all international students taking the ACT outside of the US have to take the standardized test digitally. It’s for the fact that the paper and pencil format of the ACT is no longer available abroad.

Meanwhile, some districts in the US are administering the ACT CBT, but with limitations. For instance, high schoolers can take the digital version of the ACT only on school-day test dates and not on national test dates when high schoolers from all over the country take the college entrance exam simultaneously.

The reason why the ACT CBT was created is to increase ACT’s accessibility and for faster test score reporting.

When Does the ACT Go Digital?

As of this writing, there is no news on when the ACT will go digital. When it does, however, the ACT will still have the same number of sections, same number of questions, same number of answer options, same time limits and same scoring system.

How to Study for the ACT

The general consensus is that high school teens should study for the ACT at least 3 months before the test date. Doing so will give them plenty of time to brush up on various topics covered by the college entrance exam.

Definitely, a very important part of studying for the ACT is taking practice tests.

Various reasons exist why undergoing practice tests can be beneficial for students who are preparing for the ACT.

For one, it enables them to experience what it’s like to sit for the ACT, thus allowing them to reduce their test anxiety as well as formulate strategies for reading the passages and answering the questions faster without compromising their performance.

Taking practice tests and scoring them, too, allows high school teens to determine their weak points, thus letting them utilize their available resources better and avoid wasting time and energy on topics of which they have mastery.

ACT Practice Test

In this part of the post, I will give you 5 practice questions for the English section and another 5 practice questions for the Math section of the ACT to give you an idea of what the real thing looks like.

For the practice test for the ACT’s English section, check out the passage below.

A Microscope in the Kitchen

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets (1) waiting by the back door; hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope (2) was sitting on the kitchen table. (3) Having studied, my mother is a marine biologist. (4) Our household might have been described as uncooperative. Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything (5) was subservient to the disposal of the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

• A) NO CHANGE
• B) waiting, by the back door,
• C) waiting by the back door,
• D) waiting by the back door

Q 4. Which choice would most effectively introduce the rest of this paragraph?

Answer key:

And now, below are 5 sample questions for the ACT’s Math section.

Q 1. A car averages 27 miles per gallon. If gas costs $4.04 per gallon, which of the following is closest to how much the gas would cost for this car to travel 2,727 typical miles?

Q 2. What is the value of x when 2x + 3 = 3x – 4?

Q 3. What is the greatest common factor of 42, 126, and 210?

Q 4. How many irrational numbers are there between 1 and 6?

The sample questions above are from act.org

Should I Take the ACT or the SAT?

There are many things that the ACT and the SAT share. While both test the knowledge and skills of high schoolers in various areas necessary for academic success in college, they are presented in different ways.

For instance, while the ACT has a Science section, the SAT assesses test-takers in this department through passages that test their ability to read data and derive conclusions from them.

Likewise, the Science section of the ACT contains passages, which require students to rely on their reading and comprehension skills and not just science-related proficiencies.

So, in other words, just because a student loves science doesn’t mean right away that the ACT is better for him or her.

Taking practice tests on both the ACT and the SAT is a smart move as it makes it possible for test-takers to have an idea of what it’s like to take these standardized tests, thus enabling them to make the right choice.

Independent Education Consultant, Editor-in-chief. I have a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and training in College Counseling. Member of American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

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Which Colleges Require SAT Essay in 2022-2023?

If you’re wondering which colleges require sat essay in 2022-2023, this guide has all you need to know — including how to decide whether to take the essay., what is the sat essay.

There was a time when an essay was a required portion of the test and everyone simply had to take it as part of sitting for their SATs. Because it was pretty much a required section of the SAT during that time, all colleges that required the SAT also required the SAT essay.

How is the SAT Essay Scored?

Essays are the same in every test. The only thing that will change is the passage or prompt you’ll be tasked to respond to.

Do Ivy League Schools Require the SAT Essay?

In recent years, no Ivy League schools have required applicants to submit their SAT scores with the essay. The same applies to other prestigious top-notch schools such as Caltech, Stanford, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, NYU, MIT, and more. 

Many Schools Have Been Dropping the SAT Requirement

To compensate for dropping the standardized testing requirement, colleges and universities have instead started placing more weight on the other factors comprising a student’s application. For example, to test a student’s writing ability, colleges will look more closely at the applicant’s personal statement or their grades in subjects like English.

College Board’s Massive Announcement in January 2021: No More SAT Essay

Students from certain states may still be required to sit for the essays if it is a part of their SAT School Day administrations . 

College Board advises that if you are scheduled to take your SATs on a school day, you should inquire with your school if the essay will be required.

Why Did College Board Discontinue the SAT Essay?

Should i take the sat essay how to decide.

For this reason, if you are scheduled to take your SAT on a school day, you may want to check with your school guidance office and find out whether the essay will be required. Doing so well ahead of time can help you prepare well for the SAT essays so you can up your chances of getting a good score.

Which Colleges Require SAT Essay in 2022?

Frequently asked questions, do any colleges require sat with essay, is the sat essay still required, does ucla require sat with essay, is sat essay required for harvard, does sat essay affect your score.

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ACT FAQ: Expert Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

SAT versus ACT , ACT

Here at PrepScholar, we get a lot of questions about every aspect of the ACT. To help, we've compiled this ACT FAQ to address all of your questions about the test – whether you haven’t even cracked open a prep book to study for it yet or if you’ve taken it four times and are wondering which scores to send to colleges.

Read on to get the answers to all of your burning ACT-related questions and links to the best articles on our site to help you prepare for the ACT.

ACT FAQ Table of Contents

Preparing for the act.

• Evaluating Your ACT Score

The ACT Essay

Scholarships and college, sending scores.

Should I even be taking the ACT? Don’t colleges really prefer the SAT?

Colleges do not have a preference between the SAT and the ACT. They are seen as completely equal options to fulfill the standardized testing requirement. You can choose which test to take based completely on your personal preference.

So why does everyone still seem to think that the SAT is seen as more prestigious? Since the SAT has been around for longer, it used to the only standardized test accepted for college applications at many institutions. But since its creation in the late 1950s, the ACT began to be widely accepted as an equally acceptable alternative to the SAT. It was adopted first in Midwestern and Western states, but eventually became common on the East Coast as well. Back in 2007, the last SAT-only holdout, Harvey Mudd, began accepting the ACT.

True, if you look at the admissions data from many east-coast schools, the majority of applicants still send the SAT as opposed to the ACT. But that isn’t because those colleges prefer the SAT. It’s because students in East Coast states take the SAT more commonly than the ACT, and the majority of applicants to those schools come from the east coast.

So when deciding between the ACT and the SAT, the choice comes down to your ability and your personal preferences. Choose the test that's best for you! 

Further Reading: What Do Ivy League Schools Think of the ACT , Do You Need to Take Both the SAT and the ACT , New SAT vs ACT: Comparison Charts

When should I take the ACT for the first time?

PrepScholar recommends you take the ACT for the first time junior fall. This way, you can retake the test if needed junior spring, and then be ready to focus exclusively on college applications your senior fall.

This timing is also optimal given where you are in your high school career – you should have learned all the content tested on the ACT by the beginning of junior year, and you won’t be so far away from your first algebra class that you’re hazy on concepts like solving a system of equations. If you try and take the ACT earlier, as a sophomore or freshman, you may struggle with it because you lack certain content knowledge, especially in math.

Of course, if you’re reading this as a junior or even a senior, don’t panic. As long as you take the test by senior fall, you’ll be able to apply to colleges.

But earlier is better to avoid a last-minute time crunch or taking the last test before apps are due. Even if you have to use an accelerated study timeline, we strongly recommend working to have the ACT over and done with before senior year starts. It will save you lots of stress, we promise!

Further Reading: When Should I Take the ACT for the First Time?

I took the ACT at school for free, but it didn’t include the essay (also known as the ACT Plus Writing). Do I have to retake the ACT?

There are two cases in which you would want to retake the ACT if you have already taken it as part of state testing, but without the optional Writing/Essay section.

Case 1: You are applying to schools that require the ACT Plus Writing. Unfortunately, even if you have an ACT score from state testing, you need to take the entire ACT Plus Writing to be able to apply to certain colleges. The plus side to this is that you’ve already had a (free!) practice run at the ACT, so if you study before your first official ACT Plus Writing, you’ll be very well-prepared for the test and will likely beat your first score.

Case 2: You didn’t score as high as you wanted on the ACT and/or you’re applying to schools with higher ACT score averages than you earned. The ACT is an important part of your college application, so you want to give yourself the best shot possible at your dream schools by earning a high enough score. (You can read more about finding your target ACT score below!)

If you’re not applying to any schools that require ACT Plus Writing and your score is high enough for all of the schools you want to apply to, you do not have to retake the ACT. Lucky you!

Further Reading: Should You Take the ACT With or Without Writing? , Which States Require the ACT? Full List and Advice , Which Colleges Require ACT Writing? 633 schools

How long should I study for the ACT?

There is no "one size fits all" answer to how long you should study for the ACT. How much time you spend on ACT prep varies based on the score you want and how much time you have to study.

To get started, these are PrepScholar's estimates for how long you should study for the ACT, based on how many points you need to improve by. Of course, these are just estimates, and will vary based on your personal strengths and weaknesses. Don't stop studying until you're sure you can achieve your target score on the real test!

0-1 ACT Composite Point Improvement: 10 hours 1-2 ACT Point Improvement: 20 hours 2-4 ACT Point Improvement: 40 hours 4-6 ACT Point Improvement: 80 hours 6-9 ACT Point Improvement: 150 hours+

You can calculate your weekly ACT prep time by following these three steps:

• Find your starting score (which you can learn by taking a practice test )
• Find your score goal (see "How do I come up with a target ACT score" below)
• Decide much time you can spend on ACT studying each week

Let’s take an example. Say Student A’s ACT score goal is a 28, but they scored a 24 on an ACT practice test. That means Student A has to improve by 4 points. Based on our estimates of point increases to study hours, Student A needs to put in around 40 hours of study time.

Here are three potential study plans for Student A:

• Light: 4 hours a week for 10 weeks
• Moderate: 8 hours a week for 5 weeks
• Heavy: 20 hours a week for 2 weeks

Each of these plans comes out to the required 40 hours . Student A can choose the right plan for them based on their schedule. If Student A has a lot of extracurricular commitments but does have plenty of time before they take their first ACT, Study Plan 1 may be best, since they can squeeze in a couple of 2-hour study sessions each week in between homework and club meetings.

If Student A is taking the ACT in 3 weeks and needs to improve, fast, than they might take on the more cram-like schedule of Study Plan 3. Obviously, this plan would involve toning down other commitments, and perhaps would be most feasible over a school break or summer vacation.

So your next steps are as follows:

• Find your target score
• Find your starting score (take a practice exam)
• Using our hours-to-points estimate, figure out how long you need to study, and then create your own schedule

Further Reading: Exactly How Long Should I Study for the ACT , How to Beat Procrastination in Your ACT Prep

How do I come up with a target ACT score?

Your target ACT score is a score above the 75 th percentile for admitted students at all of the schools you hope to apply to.

Above the 75 th percentile? What we mean is, you want a score above a school's "middle 50 percent range," which is the range of admitted student ACT scores between the 25th and 75th percentile. In other words, you want a score that is higher than 75% of last year's admitted applicants. Why? Because having such a high score gives you an excellent chance of admission. As an example, here are some examples of ACT middle 50 ranges at a few Massachusetts colleges:

• Harvard College : 32-35
• Tufts University : 30-33
• University of Massachusetts Amherst: 24-29

You need to look up the score ranges for all colleges you are seriously interested in applying to, and then set your target score based on the most competitive school you’re applying to. For example, a student whose most competitive school is Harvard should set their ACT target score at 36. A student whose most competitive school is University of Massachuetts Amherst should set their target score at 30. This way, even if you miss your score goal by a point or two, you will likely have a really strong ACT score for the other schools on your list!

Further Reading: What's a Good ACT Score for Your College , What's a Good ACT Score? A Bad Score? An Excellent Score? , Average ACT Scores: What They Mean for You , ACT Score Percentiles

How should I study for the ACT?

If you haven’t already, start your ACT studying by taking a complete practice exam, timing yourself strictly. This will give you the best information about your strengths and weaknesses on the test and be the baseline for your study plan. For example, even if you're great at math, you might realize that ACT Math is really hard for you because you ran out of time while taking your first practice test. This is crucial information to know as you begin studying!

Once you've taken that first practice test, grade, score, and evaluate it carefully. Calculate your starting composite score . Then, note your strengths and your weaknesses. (We recommend using a notebook to start logging and tracking your weaknesses.)

Look for patterns in wrong answers. This could be in terms of content or test strategy. For example, when you evaluate the Math section, you might notice that missed most of the trigonometry questions. That's a big clue that you need to review some key trigonometry concepts and spent plenty of time practicing math questions. Or, you might notice that you tend to get most questions right at the beginning of a test section, but rush towards the end and get a lot of wrong answers. That's a clue that you need to work on timing.

Next, research your target ACT score, using the method in the above question ("How do I come up with a target ACT score?"). Find the difference between your starting score and your target score.  Based on the difference between your starting score and target score, estimate the amount of hours you'll need to study and how long you'll study each week. (See "How long should I study for the ACT?" above for more on this process.) Here are two quick examples:

• Starting Score: 24
• Target Score: 28
• Points to Improve: 4
• Approximate Hours Needed: 40
• Study Plan: 8 hours per week for 5 weeks
• Starting Score: 29
• Target Score: 35
• Points to Improve: 6
• Approximate Hours Needed: 80
• Study Plan: 10 hours a week for 8 weeks

Now you're finally ready to hit the books! Focus your studying around your weak areas – whether that’s a particular subject area or a problem you keep hitting (like running out of time on the ACT Math or Reading sections). Some students might spend the majority of their study time on one subject area that they struggle with. Others might need to study for all four sections equally. Check out the links before for resources to get started.

Further Reading:

Free ACT Practice Tests , How to Get the Most Out of ACT Practice Tests , How to Get the Most Realistic ACT Practice Test Experience

The Ultimate Study Guides to ACT English , ACT Math , ACT Reading , and ACT Science

The Best ACT Prep Books , The Best ACT Prep Websites , 15 Tips and Tricks to Improve Your ACT Score , 26 Great Alternatives to ACT Practice Tests

What should I know about the ACT before I take it?

Studying for the content on the ACT is important, but it’s also helpful to be familiar with the logistics of the ACT before test day: how long the test is, what the exact rules are, and what to do to be prepared on test day. Check out the links below to get a full briefing on ACT logistics so that when you sit down at your desk on test day, you're ready to focus 100% on the test itself.

Further Reading: How Long is the ACT , ACT Instructions: Complete Guide , Rules and Regulations on the ACT , What to Do the Night Before the ACT , Where Should You Take the ACT

Evaluating Your ACT Score

Is my act score bad/good/amazing .

In terms of the national ACT percentile rankings, these are the important score benchmarks:

• 20: 50th percentile (average!)
• 24: 75th percentile
• 28: 90th percentile
• 33+: 99th percentile

So in terms of the national rankings, anything above a 20 is above average, any score above 24 is really good, and anything above a 28 is amazing!

But don't let that score go to your head just yet. The real measure of your ACT score's quality is how it stacks up to the score averages at colleges you want to apply to. (See "How do I come up with my target ACT score?" for more on finding a college's ACT score ranges.)

One thing that's interesting about this is that an ACT score that's amazing for one student could actually be low for another. Let's take an example.

Student A got a 30 on the ACT. This is an amazing score for them since they are applying to a few colleges and universities in state. Not only is this score more than enough to get them admitted, it even is high enough to qualify for many scholarships!

Student B also got a 30. This is a low score for them since they are set on getting into either Stanford or MIT, and need at least a 33, but ideally higher, to be a competitive applicant.

The bottom line? You'll have to research the ACT score ranges at your dream schools to decide once and for all if your ACT score is bad, great, or amazing.

Further Reading: What's a Good ACT Score for Your College , ACT Percentiles , Average ACT Scores: What They Mean for You , What's a Bad ACT Score , Scholarships for ACT Scores , ACT Scores for the Ivy League

My ACT score is low. Am I doomed?

Many students get really stressed after they get their ACT scores back, especially if they did worse than they wanted to. But, first of all, remember that your ACT score is not a measure of your intelligence! Just because you got a score that's low (either in terms of national rankings or the college you want to go to) does not mean that you, as a student and a person, do not have promise.

The ACT, at the end of the day, is just a multiple-choice test. So if you didn't do as well as you wanted, you can study more and retake it. (This is why we recommend taking the test for the first time junior fall, so you have plenty of time for retakes!) If you didn't do as well as you wanted the first time, you likely had some test-taking strategy issues or maybe there was content you simply didn't understand. Either way, those are both things that can be fixed with hard work, study, and practice. (Check out our links to study and practice resources below to get started!)

And if you're ashamed or embarrassed about your first score, don't stress. If you score higher on a retake, you can actually delete your first ACT score! It never has to see the light of day.

Finally, if you get a low ACT score and you don't have time to retake it before a college's deadline, you can still apply to other schools that aren't as hard to get into. Even if you don't get into your dream school, as long as you get into college and get great grades an an undergraduate, you will be able to meet your graduate school and career goals. Don't let this one little test slow you down!

Easiest Colleges to Get Into , Schools with Guaranteed Admission , What is a Safety School? How To Find Yours ,  Did You Know You Can Delete ACT Scores

I got [x] score on my first ACT. Should I retake the test?

This answer to this question depends completely on what your goals for colleges and scholarships are! So the first thing to figure out if you haven’t already is this: what is your ACT target score? (See "How do I come up with a target score?" above.) Obviously, if you scored lower than your target score, you should probably consider retaking the exam.

However, you also need to consider how many points you need to improve by to hit your target, and whether you have the time to devote to making that happen. Improving 2 or 3 composite points is very doable, but trying to improve by 10 points is a very difficult task. (We will explore just how possible it is to make big point increases in the next question!)

If you scored lower than your target score and you have sufficient time to restudy, then you should retake the ACT.

But if you do not have sufficient time to study, do not just wing an ACT retake and hope for the best! If you retake the ACT without addressing your test-taking weaknesses or content struggles, it's likely you will either get the same composite score, or even a slightly lower score.

Further Reading: What's a Good ACT Score for Your College , Should You Retake the ACT , Already Have a High ACT Score? How to Improve Even More , How to Get a Perfect 36 on the ACT, by a Perfect Scorer , ACT Score Decrease? How Much it Can Drop and Why

Is it possible to go from [x] ACT score to [y] ACT score in [z] amount of time?

First, in terms of ACT composite score increases, these are the basic possibilities, which of course will vary based on personal factors:

• 1-2 points: Very doable. Your main obstacle is likely test-taking strategy and a few small content issues.
• 3-5 points: Doable, but you will have to devote more study hours to accomplish this increase.
• 6-8 points: Possible, but it will take some very serious studying and commitment. You likely will have to address some content deficits in addition to practicing.
• 8+: This will really depend on your situation and time available for studying. You will likely have to address some serious content deficits before you focus on improving your test-taking strategy. 

Those possibilities aside, whether you can actually achieve your desired increase depends simply on this: how many hours can you devote to studying? Even if you're just aiming for a small 2-point increase, you have to devote time to studying to actually meet your goal. There are no shortcuts!

With that in mind, this is an estimate of the amount of hours you will need to accomplish ACT composite point increases:

Again, these are just estimates, and the time you need will vary based on your own personal strengths and weaknesses.

To get an idea of what these points-to-hours estimates look like in action, and how feasible it is to make certain point increases, let's look at two students who each have 2 months before their next ACT.

• First ACT Score: 26
• ACT Score Goal: 28
• Points to Increase: 2

Based on our estimates, Student A has to devote about 20 hours to ACT prep to meet their goal of going from a 26 to a 28 . Since they have two months to study, they can easily fit this study time into their schedule. Two months is about 8 weeks. If Student A devotes 3 hours each week to ACT prep, they will log 24 study hours , more than their total goal, by the time they sit down for their ACT retake.

Student A can fit those 3 hours into their schedule however they need to: with a single 3-hour study session one day a week, or 1 hour for three days a week, or with 30 minutes six days a week. All of those study plans could fit into even a very busy student's schedule . So you can see why a 2-point ACT composite increase is very doable!

• ACT Score Goal: 34
• Points to Increase: 8

Student B has their work cut out for them! To go from a 26 to a 34 will require some serious study time: at least 150 hours, so let's go with 160 as our estimate.

To fit 160 study hours into 8 weeks, Student B has to study, on average, for 20 hours each week: basically, the ACT will become Student B's part-time job! They could study 4 hours on each school night to fit in 20 hours, or maybe 6 hours on each weekend day, plus 2 hours a night Monday through Thursday. Either way, ACT prep will become a big part of their life, and Student B will likely have to cut back on extracurricular commitments.

So while going from a 26 to a 34 in 8 weeks is certainly possible, you can see why it would take a huge time commitment and likely be quite stressful. If possible, Student B should aim for a later ACT retake date. For example, if they wait 4 months to retake the ACT, they could reduce their needed study time to much-more-manageable 10 hours per week.

Further reading: How Long Should I Study for the ACT , 25 to 32: 10-Day Fast ACT Study Plan , How to Cram for the ACT

Can you tell me about the new ACT essay?

The old ACT Writing section was fairly straightforward – it gave you a prompt that you basically had to take a “yes” or “no” opinion on. You could use evidence from your own life, from any books you had read, or recent articles. It was shorter, as well: just 30 minutes. Those were the days!

The new essay, which was first offered in September 2015, is a bit more complicated. It’s 40 minutes long, and instead of just having you offer your opinion on a topic, you have to read through two to three opinions other people have already written on the topic. Then, your essay has to evaluate those different opinions and weave them into your own opinion about the topic. You can check out our guide with example prompts and analysis.

When you take the writing test, you'll receive a writing test score  on a scale of 1-36, and four writing domain scores (Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions), each scored on a scale of 2-12. (Those domain scores do not add up to your final writing score. Confusing, we know!)  Your writing test score will not affect your overall ACT composite score.

A picture of your essay will be available to the colleges you send ACT Plus Writing scores to. So it's important to give it your strongest effort, even though the essay score will not affect your ACT Composite score.

Check out the links below for more in-depth guides to the new ACT Writing test, including tips for how to approach the essay.

Further Reading: Complete Guide to the New ACT Writing Test , ACT Essay Scoring: Completely Explained

I got [a lowish score] on the new ACT essay even though my composite is [high]. Does this look bad to schools?

When colleges evaluate the ACT, by far the most important factor is your overall composite score. Your subject area scores (English, Math, Reading, and Science) are also looked at for more context.

Your essay score will be noticed, but colleges understand it’s a first draft written under timed conditions – they don’t expect it to be your best writing! They also realize the essay changed in 2015 and will expect some score fluctuations as students get used to the new essay.

Part of the reason some colleges require the ACT Plus Writing is because it means they will have a sample of your actual writing – so if your personal statement sounds like it was produced by a completely different writer (say, a paid professional), they’ll know. But your ACT Essay is not meant to be the most important evaluator of your writing skills.

Read more: All Colleges That Require the ACT Plus Writing

So unless your score is terrible compared to your composite (say you have a 33 composite but only got 12/36 on your essay), it’s not worth retaking the ACT just to improve your essay. Especially if you have a high composite and then it drops on your essay-improving retake, that could actually hurt your chances at some selective schools.

That said, if your essay score is way lower than you think it should be, be sure to read up on the recent controversy over ACT essay scoring !

What scholarships can I get with my ACT score?

Many students wonder if their ACT score is high enough to get them a scholarship. Before we explain how likely your score is to earn you some serious scholarship cash, it’s important to understand the two broad types of scholarships available.

• Merit-Based Scholarships: these are awards based on student achievement.
• Need-Based Scholarships/Financial Aid: these are awards based on student need.

As a rough rule of thumb, the more selective the college, the less likely it is to have merit-based scholarships. Why? Well, let’s take a school like Stanford. Stanford’s admit rate last year was just about 5% -- so only one in twenty applicants got in. Since that means everyone who gets into Stanford is pretty exceptional, it would be hard for Stanford to pick and choose among their admits to decide who gets merit-based funding. So instead, Stanford, along with many of the Ivy Leagues and other top schools, only has need-based scholarships available, to make sure money goes to students with greater financial need.

That said, plenty of selective colleges also have merit-based scholarships. I will be focusing on merit-based scholarships in this answer, since your ACT score could help you get one. But check out the links below to learn more about need-based financial aid and how to apply for it.

Many colleges and universities have merit scholarships, but how they choose the winners varies widely – some scholarships are a simple combination of GPA and ACT score, while others, especially many full-rides, are a mini-application in themselves (you may have to submit your transcript, ACT score, essay or essays, a list of your extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation for some of the most prestigious scholarships!).

In addition to scholarships offered by colleges, there are private scholarships (funded by companies, individuals, and foundations) that, again, have their own selection criteria (but generally, the higher the scholarship, the longer the application). You can search for these scholarships on websites like FastWeb and College Board’s Big Future .

The bottom line: you have to do research. Keep in mind the higher your ACT score, the more likely it is it will earn (or help you earn) a scholarship.

Based on ACT percentiles and information from college websites, these are our rough guidelines for how likely an ACT composite is to net you a scholarship (assuming you also have a strong GPA).

• 33-36: Very high likelihood
• 30-32: High likelihood
• 27-30: Decent likelihood
• 24-26 Possible

Any ACT score lower than a 24 is not likely to be as competitive for scholarships on its own. Merit scholarships are given for exceptional performance, which is why a 24 and up (the 75th percentile and up) could earn a scholarship. A lower score is less likely to help you earn a merit scholarship since you don't stand out as much among other high school students.

Further Reading: Guaranteed Scholarships for ACT Scores , How to Do College Research Right , 79 Colleges with Full-Ride Scholarships , What Is Financial Aid? , How to Apply for Financial Aid , 27 Colleges With the Best Financial Aid , Every College That Offers 100% Financial Aid

My ACT score is [x]. Where should I apply to college?

“Where should I apply to college?” is an incredibly broad question, but one that we get a lot here at PrepScholar! Since there are literally hundreds of colleges and universities in the US alone, if we drew up a list of all of the colleges and universities that your ACT score could feasibly make you competitive for, it would be way too long a list to be useful!

Instead, work backwards a bit. Start researching colleges based on factors that are important to you: location, size, cost, what you want to study, special programs, athletic programs, fine arts, etc.

Once you have a list of between 15 to 20 colleges, then you can learn more about their admissions data and whether your ACT score would make you competitive there or not.

As you refine your list, aim to include some schools that are reaches for you (your ACT score is at or below their score averages), targets (your ACT score is at or just above their averages) and safeties (your ACT score is way above). If you apply to only reach schools, you risk being rejected everywhere (it’s not like the lottery – the more tickets you buy doesn’t increase your chance of “winning!”). But if you apply to only safety schools, you could miss out on a really great college opportunity. Check out the articles below to learn more about college research and drawing up an application list.

Further Reading: How to Do College Research Right , What is a Safety School? , What is a Target School? , What is a Reach School? , How to Get Merit Scholarships and Honors at State Schools , Colleges with Guaranteed Admission for ACT Scores

My ACT score is [x], my GPA is [y]. Will I get into [z] college?

PrepScholar has put together pages for hundreds of colleges and universities that allow you to plug in your GPA and SAT/ACT score and get an estimate of your admissions chances based on the most current admissions data. These pages are where to go if you just want to know your odds of admission given your ACT score and current GPA. Here are the pages for some of the most asked-about colleges and universities:

Top Schools: Stanford , MIT , UChicago , Duke , Vanderbilt , Northwestern , Caltech , Johns Hopkins

The Ivy League: Harvard , Princeton , Yale , Columbia , Brown , Dartmouth , Penn , Cornell

To look up this page for any college or university, just search "[Name of College/University] ACT GPA Prepscholar" in any search engine.

But moving beyond the numbers, you need to put together the strongest application possible for your chances to pan out, especially if your odds of admission are low and/or you're applying to a highly selective school. Learn more about writing the personal statement , getting stellar letters of recommendation , and which extracurriculars you should do . We also highly recommend reading our guide to getting into Harvard by PrepScholar founder Allen Cheng. Even if you're not aiming for Harvard, this post breaks down a lot of the common misconceptions about college admissions and can help you leverage your personal strengths to become the best possible applicant.

Finally, it's important to make sure to apply to a mix of schools, including reaches, targets, and safeties. Read more about what a reach school is , what a target school is , and what a safety school is . When you're putting together your application list, try to include reaches, targets, and safeties to maximize your choices come senior spring.

I have multiple ACT scores. Which ones should I send to schools?

If you're applying to any schools that require all of your ACT scores, send all of your ACT scores. End of story!

Read more: Colleges that Require All ACT Scores

If you're applying to schools that do not require all ACT scores, you only have to send your highest composite score – after all, you need just one ACT score to apply to college.

However, if the school “superscores” – combines different subject areas from different tests for a final higher composite score – consider sending the scores that would create the highest superscore.

If a school does not superscore but does consider all scores they receive, it’s up to you if you want to send multiple sets of scores. In general, it’s worth sending along a test with a much higher score on a certain section, but also keep in mind the ACT charges per test date to send scores, so it is expensive to send multiple scores to multiple schools. The most important single number on your score report is your composite score, so keep that in mind as you make your decision.

Further Reading: ACT Superscore Calculator , Do Colleges Average Your ACT Score? , Read This Before Sending ACT Scores to Colleges , Should You Send the Four Free ACT Score Reports? , Colleges that Superscore the ACT: Complete List

I took the SAT and the ACT. I also took some APs. Do I have to send all of these scores to colleges?

First, let’s talk about the SAT and ACT (and ignore the APs for now). For the vast majority of colleges, you have to send either the SAT or the ACT. You do not have to send both.

Note that there are two exceptions to the SAT or ACT rule:

 1. Schools like Stanford that require your entire testing history across both tests. These are rare cases – even schools that require all scores from one exam usually do not require you to send all ACT and all SAT scores, you just pick one exam and send all of the scores you have for that exam.

Read more: Colleges that Require All SAT Scores , Colleges that Require All ACT Scores

2. Schools with test-flexible policies that will allow you to send AP Test Scores, IB Test Scores, and others in lieu of the SAT or ACT.

Read more: Schools with Test-Flexible Policies

But for the vast majority of American colleges, you will have to send either the SAT or the ACT. So between your SAT and the ACT scores, choose the test with the highest score (or scores!) to send.

Read more: How to Convert and Compare SAT and ACT Scores

You may want to consider sending both scores only if, according to the SAT/ACT conversion tables, they are in very similar ranges. For example, perhaps your composite scores on each test are about equal, but you have a higher Math score on the ACT and a higher Reading score on the SAT. In that case, it could be worth sending both scores for colleges to see your different strengths. Note that it is more expensive to send scores from both tests, and again, you are only required to send one set of scores to apply.

Often, AP or IB tests can show strong ability in specific subjects, like United States History or Chemistry, which is good. But do not go out of your way to send mediocre scores! You have to ask yourself if your subject scores make your application look better or worse.

Further Reading: Complete Comparison Charts: ACT versus SAT , Are You Better at the SAT or ACT? Find Out For Sure, AP Scores in College Admission

I’m a senior and have one ACT score but it’s not great. I’m taking the ACT again in December but I won’t know the score until after I’ve submitted my applications. Should I submit my not-so-great score or wait for my December score before I decide?

To send your December ACT score so it’s received on time to be considered for most schools, your score needs to be sent to your schools as soon as it’s available. That means when you register to take the December ACT, you have to put down those schools on your registration, well before you’ve taken the exam and seen your score.

This also means that you are sending your December ACT score blind: you will not have the chance to see your score before you send it. (In the vast majority of cases, you will not have enough time to take the December test, view your score three weeks later, and then send your score to colleges – the score will arrive too far after the deadline to be considered.)

Because of this, I highly recommend sending the ACT score you do have, and then also sending along your December ACT as soon as it’s available. Since you need an ACT score in your file for it to be considered at all, it’s not worth risking the December score arriving too late to be considered and your whole file being thrown out.

Plus, there is no way to know your December ACT score will be higher than your current one. If your December ACT ended up being lower, not only will your application look worse, you were risking not completing it on time for nothing.

If your December ACT score ends up being higher, it will help out your application, since colleges will receive and note the higher score. But in the meantime, it’s safest to make sure there is a score in your file by the time the application is due.

If you’re reading this as a younger student, this is why we highly recommend taking the ACT the first time in your junior fall, so you have plenty of time to retake the exam if needed and so you won’t run into stressful application deadlines.

Further Reading: The Last ACT Dates for Early Decision Deadlines , The Last ACT Dates for Regular Decision Deadlines , Did You Know You Can Delete ACT Scores?

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Halle Edwards graduated from Stanford University with honors. In high school, she earned 99th percentile ACT scores as well as 99th percentile scores on SAT subject tests. She also took nine AP classes, earning a perfect score of 5 on seven AP tests. As a graduate of a large public high school who tackled the college admission process largely on her own, she is passionate about helping high school students from different backgrounds get the knowledge they need to be successful in the college admissions process.

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Is it recommended to take the Optional Essay for the ACT if you’re planning on going to an Ivy League/prestigious school?

hello! currently I’m a junior who is studying for the ACT on February 11. However I’m kind of stuck on whether or not I should do the optional Essay. I plan on hopefully attending an Ivy League/ prestigious schools like MIT, Harvard, Colombia, etc. I also plan on going into the STEAM field (like the pre-med and engineering path). Any advise is appreciated. Thanks

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what are some of the best colleges for a graphic design major.

I'm planning to major in Graphic Design. But I'm a bit lost on where to start looking for colleges. Can anyone suggest some good colleges known for their Graphic Design program? Also, what's the typical admission requirements for these programs?

To pursue a major in Graphic Design, there are several noteworthy institutions you might want to consider:

1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Known for its vibrant, idea-driven curriculum that encourages experimentation, risk-taking, and creativity. RISD's BFA in Graphic Design cultivates a healthy understanding of the relationship between professional practice and project-led research.

2. Parsons School of Design: Parsons offers a BFA in Communications Design with a focus on learning by creating. They encourage students to break the mold and think critically about how design influences the environment and society.

3. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): SCAD's BFA in Graphic Design emphasizes concept development, digital strategy, and brand management. They have comprehensive offerings, covering everything, from packaging design to interactive media.

4. Yale University: Yale's Graphic Design program focuses on visual experimentation, featuring collaborative and individual projects. The program is renowned for producing influential designers.

5. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts): Known for an interdisciplinary approach, CalArts' Graphic Design program encourages students to explore different design disciplines while also focusing on the various contexts and forms of graphic design.

Now, as for admission requirements, these will vary slightly from institution to institution, but most programs will typically require:

- A high school diploma or equivalent

- A strong GPA (typically above a 3.0, though more competitive programs may require higher)

- Submission of SAT/ACT scores (though due to ongoing changes in colleges' standard testing requirements, it's always worth double-checking each institution's policy)

- Letters of recommendation

- A well-written, creative personal essay

Most importantly, since Graphic Design is a highly visual field, many programs will require a portfolio of your work. This is a significant part of the application process, as it gives the admissions committee a look into your creative abilities.

Remember, while this is a general guideline, every program will have unique aspects to its admission process. Make sure to thoroughly review the individual requirements for each program you're interested in to ensure you're well-prepared. Enjoy your journey in finding the right fit for your Graphic Design aspirations!

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Big changes announced for the ACT college admissions test. What's different?

The modifications, which the company's ceo called "fundamental," won't take effect until the spring of 2025 for online test-takers..

The length of the ACT college admissions test will be slashed for some test-takers as soon as next year, the exam company announced this week.

The test will ask fewer questions and last up to an hour less than the typical three-hour length. In a departure from past years, reading passages will be shorter and the science-related section of the exam will be optional.

The changes to one of the country’s preeminent college admissions exams represent another big shift in the standardized testing landscape, which was battered by the pandemic. They come a few months after the SAT, ACT’s main competitor, underwent a separate overhaul. The College Board, which owns the SAT, also shortened its exam to two hours and swapped out the traditional pen-and-paper format for a completely online one. 

Read more about the SAT overhaul: Big changes are coming to the SAT, and not everyone is happy. What students should know.

Though the vast majority of universities in the U.S. remain test-optional, the modifications to the ACT indicate that many students who still choose to take a college admissions exam in the future will be doing so in a shorter period of time with more abbreviated material. 

“These enhancements are just the beginning,” said Janet Godwin, the CEO of ACT, in a statement this week. 

Fewer questions, science section optional

The bulk of the test will stay the same, Godwin said, and students can still opt to take it online or in person (unlike with the SAT, which is mostly digital now). 

In order to cut the exam’s length by up to a third, the reading and English sections will have 44 fewer questions. The reading passages will also be shorter, Godwin said. Similar to the test’s writing section, the science portion, which can be daunting for some students, will no longer be required. 

“A lot of students find that section intimidating,” said Alyssa Coburn, the chief learning officer for the Illinois test prep company Nurturing Wisdom Tutoring. 

For online test-takers, the changes won’t take effect until the spring of 2025. They’ll come even later, in the spring of 2026, for students planning to take the test on specific school district-sponsored dates . 

How will colleges react? 

Godwin made the announcement just a few months after revealing the testing company would transition to for-profit status amid an acquisition by a private equity firm. Though the decision concerned some observers who think ACT’s mission better aligns with the structure of a nonprofit company, Godwin has defended the move as a necessary step to expand the organization's reach and help more students. 

The larger debate over the merits of relying on standardized testing in college admissions reached a fever pitch during the pandemic, which accelerated a trend of schools axing the ACT and SAT as application requirements. Though some selective institutions have reverted back to asking for them, more than 80% of four-year colleges will leave it up to students this fall to make that choice, according to The National Center for Fair & Open Testing, a group critical of the testing industry. 

Harry Feder, the organization’s executive director, said the decision this week raises new questions about the value of ACT’s test scores. 

“The ACT didn’t want to be left in the dust as the fusty, old, three-hour, paper-pencil test,” he said. “While these shorter tests are more user-friendly, there is a serious question as to whether college admissions offices should recognize this test.” 

Michael J. Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative think tank, said he still believes the tests are reliable indicators of student success. ACT’s new modifications, in his view, are likely an effort to preserve market share after the College Board's recent overhaul of the SAT. 

“The SAT and the ACT have forever been locked in this competition,” he said. “That continues.” 

Zachary Schermele covers education and breaking news for   USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele .

The ACT Just Announced Major Changes: What You Need To Know

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Updated, July 25, 2024: An earlier post misidentified the ACT by its former title. The organization's name has been corrected.

Last week, leadership at the ACT announced sweeping changes to the test structure, signaling yet another change in the standardized testing landscape for students to adapt to. The ACT revamp comes less than a year after its counterpart, the College Board, implemented its own significant changes to the SAT, the most notable of which being a move from a pen-and-paper test to a digital exam. While the ACT will not move exclusively online (students will still be able to choose between taking the test digitally or on paper), the changes follow those made to the SAT in shortening the overall length of the exam, which may alleviate some stress for students. The evolution of the test is likely spurred in part by the challenges students have faced in the years leading up to and following the Covid-19 pandemic—as of the Class of 2023, the ACT has seen six consecutive years of decline in average scores, a trend that has become even more concerning as top colleges reinstate their testing requirements.

What are the changes to the ACT?

With phased implementation set to start in the spring of 2025, the seismic changes to the ACT will impact a huge swath of college-bound students—approximately 1.4 million students from the class of 2023 took the test. Here’s what students and families looking forward to the college admissions process need to know about impending changes to the ACT:

1. The Science Section will become optional.

The ACT has historically comprised four sections evaluating English, math, reading, and science, with each section—scored on a scale of 1-36—contributing to the overall composite score. With the new changes, English, math, and reading will remain required and form the composite score, and students will be able to choose to add the science section, writing section, or both. The updated test will continue to be ranked on a scale of 1 to 36.

2. The test length will be slashed by up to one-third.

Like the SAT, the ACT has been significantly shortened. While the current test spans three hours, the changes will cut the duration of the test by up to one-third, with the new test clocking in at two hours (depending on the version that students take, it could be slightly longer).

3. The English and Reading Sections will be shorter.

In order to achieve this shortened exam, the new ACT will feature shorter English and Reading sections, pose 44 fewer questions and feature shorter reading passages, allowing students more time to answer questions. According to Janet Goodwin, ACT CEO: “This change is designed to make the testing experience more manageable for students, enabling them to perform at their best without the fatigue that often accompanies longer exams.”

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Should you take the ACT or the SAT?

In light of these changes, many students and families are left wondering how the new ACT test will compare to its competitor, the SAT, and whether the changes should impact their decision regarding which test to take. First and foremost, it is important to note that strategic decisions will depend in large part on the way that colleges respond to the new ACT, which will require an adjustment period as admissions offices seek to parse what the new scores mean. Testing trends in the 2025-26 admissions cycle will likely shape the way that colleges regard the test and its rigor.

At the same time, ACT scores are known to be easier to improve than SAT scores, and the ACT poses less complex questions, despite its historically longer duration. With forthcoming edits to its length and contents, this contrast will likely be more noticeable—students can anticipate that it will be easier to score higher and improve one’s score over time on the new ACT. Of course, the lessened difficulty of the test could have broader implications for the testing landscape: it remains to be seen whether colleges will continue to value both tests equally. Alternatively, the SAT may respond with additional changes to its own length and contents, as each organization vies for more students to sit for their exam.

Ultimately, these changes in standardized testing underscore the transitional nature of this moment in the world of college admissions. Students and families should note that their testing strategy and preparation will likely need to evolve over time as testing formats and institutional testing requirements continue to shift in the coming years.

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Some colleges are making the move away from standardized testing, placing less weight on these scores in admissions. Certain schools even offer test-optional policies, allowing students to submit other application components in lieu of SAT or ACT scores.

However, there are still many colleges requesting that a student’s entire testing history be sent to them, regardless of which sitting produces the highest score. They simply want to see all of your SAT and ACT scores. Because there is so much variety in colleges’ exam preferences, the only way to know for sure is to check each college’s individual policies.

Luckily, we did the heavy lifting for you. Below is a list of colleges from the 1,400 we analyzed that want all ACT scores sent to them. But first, here’s some standardized testing lingo to clear up any confusion.

ACT and Standardized Testing Lingo:

ACT Composite Score — the four test score categories (English, Math, Reading, Science) averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number. In other words, this is your ACT score, out of 36.

Score Choice —the ability to choose which official scores you send to schools from any single administration of the exam.

Superscore —the ability to send multiple scores and only have the highest from each section count. These scores are averaged into a new composite which is often higher than the composite from any one administration.

Test Optional —submitting a standardized test to test-optional schools is not required, though in most cases it is still recommended.

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Schools That Want All ACT Scores:

One of the main metrics used for determining the ACT score needed to gain admission into a college is the middle 50%—colleges also sometimes call this reporting the 25th through 75th percentile. The middle 50% simply tells you what the bulk of admitted students scored on their ACT. While a score at the high end of (or above) the middle 50% will help your odds of admission at a school, keep in mind that 25% of students who gained admission scored below the middle 50%. 

Why Some Schools Require All ACT Scores

Almost all of the schools listed above state that their primary interest is in the highest ACT scores you achieved, as many of them are creating a “superscore” from your best performances. However, colleges wouldn’t ask to see all your ACT scores if they weren’t interested in the low scores as well. Colleges can glean a fair amount of information about a student, most notably how well they’re able to improve their ACT score throughout multiple sittings. 

How Does My Lowest Score Affect My Chances?

It’s unlikely that a low ACT score will dramatically affect your odds of getting accepted into a college if you’ve only taken the exam two or three times. With that said, it’s still in your best interest to try to perform your best, as dramatic variances between scores can lead admissions officers to wonder about your academic aptitude and weaken your application’s strength. Likewise, taking the test four, five, or six times can cause admissions officials to question your test preparation and the seriousness with which you take your studies. 

If there is a good reason for a poor ACT score—for example, you were recovering from a concussion—many college applications have space to explain such occurrences. The purpose of an application is to learn about you; use an “Additional Information” section share the reason why you underperformed and what you learned from the experience.

Should I Send All My ACT Scores to Schools that Don’t Require All Scores?

There is no reason to send all of your ACT scores to a school if they don’t require them, even if they superscore. A superscore is when a college takes the highest score from each subsection, even if those scores come from different test dates, to calculate a new score using your best performances. In order to put yourself in the best light possible, choose to send the sittings where you had your best section scores. Learn more about superscoring in our blog Which Colleges Superscore the ACT?

Other posts you may enjoy:

• How Many SAT/ACT Practice Tests Should You Take?
• Can a Good SAT/ACT Score Offset a Bad GPA?
• What is a Good ACT Score?

Want to know how your SAT score/ACT score impacts your chances of acceptance to your dream schools? Our free Chancing Engine will not only help you predict your odds, but also let you know how you stack up against other applicants, and which aspects of your profile to improve. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to gain access to our Chancing Engine and get a jumpstart on your college strategy!

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Introducing a Shorter, ‘More Flexible’ ACT

The newly for-profit assessment company rolled out two “fundamental changes” to its namesake exam last week. What’s driving the overhaul?

By  Liam Knox

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The ACT changes follow a similar evolution by the SAT this spring.

Photo illustration by Justin Morrison/Inside Higher Ed | Jira/rawpixel | joebelanger/iStock/Getty Images

The ACT announced two major changes to its eponymous exam last week, four months after the former nonprofit was acquired by the venture firm Nexus Capital.

Starting next spring, the ACT science section will be optional for students—just like the writing section, which has been optional since 2005. The test will also be a full hour shorter, with 44 fewer questions and truncated reading passages. An ACT spokesperson said the changes will make the test cheaper, though he did not say how much cheaper.

Unlike the SAT, which relaunched as a shorter, fully digital exam in March, the ACT will continue to be available both online and in pencil-and-paper form.

In an exclusive interview with Inside Higher Ed , ACT CEO Janet Godwin said the company’s main goal is to provide students with a more personally relevant exam and reduce stress and time demands on test takers.

“That is something we’ve heard loud and clear from students and in stakeholder research: more flexibility, more choices,” she said. “We want to support students where they are.”

Godwin said the ACT’s internal research showed that the score for the shortened exam without the science component is comparable to the composite score for the traditional exam; both are scored on a 36-point scale.

Showing Their Work

The new test won’t be available to everyone at once. Students taking the ACT online will have access to the “enhanced” test, as the spokesperson called it, next spring, and international students will get the new test in fall 2025. But for students taking it in person on specific dates sponsored by school districts, it won’t be available until spring 2026.

Godwin said ACT wanted to “phase in” adoption and implementation and give state partners and school districts time to adjust to the changes. But the gap means that, at least for one application cycle, colleges will receive ACT scores from two “fundamentally” different exams, as the company’s own press release put it, which admissions offices will have to evaluate as essentially the same test.

When asked about the potential challenges of comparing the two, Godwin again cited internal research.

“We’re confident in the research that we’ve done, the research that we continue to do, that those scores mean the same thing,” she said. “These changes are validated by research.”

When Inside Higher Ed asked to see the data, the ACT spokesperson wrote by email that the company’s research team is still in the process of “conducting a linking study so the scores of the enhanced test can be compared to the current test” and promised to forward the findings once they are “ready for publication.”

Akil Bello, director of the National Center for Fair and Open Testing and a standardized test critic, said the supposed psychometric comparability of the two tests was “hard to swallow.”

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“Essentially, the statement from the testing industry appears to be, ‘As long as it has bubbles, it’s just fine,’” he said.

Michael Nettles, professor of psychometrics at Morgan State University and the former senior vice president for policy evaluation and research at the Educational Testing Service, said he believes it is possible ACT’s research shows a strong correlation between the two versions. But “it would be great to see the data,” he added.

“Even when it’s based upon evidence, there are questions about how representative the data are of the populations taking the test, which is why they need to be much more transparent,” he said. “Instead it’s like the old days, where we all have to place a lot of blind trust in the assessments.”

The Great Shortening

Though the changes follow closely on the heels of ACT’s purchase by Nexus Capital, Godwin said the testing company began planning for them more than a year before the acquisition.

“It had nothing to do with Nexus,” she said. “We don’t make these kinds of major changes overnight.”

Still, the ACT’s evolution reflects the market forces at work in the rapidly evolving testing industry, especially as its competitors make similar changes.

The College Board’s fully digital SAT is also significantly shorter than the old analog version—though, unlike the ACT, it is not cheaper. ETS cut the length of its marquee exam, the Graduate Record Examination, in half last May , a decision it made in the face of a steep financial downturn that has since resulted in hundreds of layoffs .

Godwin acknowledged that ACT “let the market drive the decision” in some areas—including the retention of a pencil-and-paper option; as soon as demand for that dries up, she said, the company will move to fully digital. In other areas, she said, student experience and higher-quality testing were the driving forces.

“Our analysis shows that students are running out of time, rushing to get through their last questions,” she said. “We want them to be able to demonstrate what they know and not just how fast they can do their work.”

To Nettles, it’s clear that recent moves to shorten exams and offer more flexibility are “market sensitive.”

“When colleges started going test optional and fewer students were taking them [during the COVID-19 pandemic], companies interpreted that as asking for less demanding, less time-intensive assessments,” he said.

He’s not criticizing test providers’ motivations, he said—as long as they remain transparent. But the imposition of market logic—especially in ACT’s case, as it transitions from a nonprofit to a piece of a for-profit company—is clearly an engine of transformation.

“This is an industry that has long been resistant to change, so even the smallest adjustment is an opportunity,” he said. “But it’s rare that these kinds of moves happen without bigger changes to the business model.”

Competitive Convergence

For years, ACT’s science section made it more popular than the SAT in states that mandated graduation exams because of its subject breadth. At the same time, many students have been intimidated by the science section.

Now, as some colleges begin to return to test requirements , Godwin hopes that making the science portion optional will expand the appeal of the ACT while retaining one of its unique advantages.

“While there are students, schools and states that see the science portion of the ACT as very important, there are many more students who aren’t pursuing STEM for whom it doesn’t make much sense,” Godwin said. “This is about giving those students a choice.”

Nettles said he hopes the ACT can continue to demonstrate its traditional advantages—namely its relevance to typical high school curricula, one of the reasons he said many high schools have required it over the SAT.

“One of the things that ACT has been successful at doing over the years is demonstrating the alignment between its content and high schools’ curriculum,” he said. “The question now becomes how this alignment can be illustrated the same way it has in the past.”

Godwin said ACT is not done evolving yet, hinting at further changes not only to its exam but also to its general business model and educational offerings, which she said will begin to expand to K-12 curriculum and workforce preparation.

“Keep your eyes on the ACT,” she said. “We’re picking up the pace.”

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