Do colleges care about ACT essay score?

The essay scores do not get factored into your composite scores for the SAT or ACT. The majority of colleges will ignore these scores completely, and those who do consider essay scores often view them as far less important than other aspects of your application.

Does ACT essay score matter?

Taking the writing test does not affect your subject area scores or your Composite score. However, without a writing test score, no English Language Arts (ELA) score will be reported.

Can you choose not to send ACT essay score?

Use your My Colleges tab to double check the standardized test policy for each of your colleges. If your colleges do not require 'ACT with Essay' or 'SAT with Essay', you do not need to report your writing scores.

What ACT score do colleges look at?

While there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, a “good” ACT score is generally considered to be above the national average, which was 19.8 as of 2022. However, keep in mind that top-tier colleges and universities tend to have higher expectations, often looking for ACT scores in the 27-32 range or higher.

Is an 8 good on ACT writing?

ACT Writing Test and ELA Scoring and Benchmark Data

Published ACT data indicate that the mean Writing test score for the two most recent classes of tested high school graduates is 6.7. Scores of 8, 9, and 10 are in the 87th, 95th, and 98th percentiles respectively.

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Is a 9 out of 12 on the ACT essay good?

It's a good idea to aim for at least the 75th percentile, so in this case a good ACT writing score would be an 8 or above. A 9 or above would put you in the 96th percentile, which is great! Of course, a lot depends on the schools to which you apply (this thorough rundown on ACT scores has more info).

Is 6 a bad ACT writing score?

What's a Good ACT Writing Score? The ACT Writing Test is scored on a scale of 2 (lowest score) to 12 (highest score). The average ACT Writing score is between a 6 and 7.

Is 1200 a good ACT score?

For example, a score in the 75th percentile (approximately a 1200 on the SAT or a 24 on the ACT) would likely be strongly considered at most competitive colleges, while applicants scoring in the 90th percentile or higher (a 1350 on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT) would likely be well received even at highly competitive ...

Is 22 a good ACT score for a junior?

Is 22 a good ACT score? A 22 ACT score is above the national average score of 21, making you eligible to apply as a good candidate to many colleges.

What's the lowest ACT score to get into college?

What is the lowest ACT score a college will accept? In general, many US colleges and universities accept applicants with 16 or 17 ACT scores. In fact, an ACT score of 16 or lower is accepted by 33 schools. On the other hand, an ACT score of 17 or lower is accepted by 58 schools.

How do I get rid of my ACT writing score?

Outside of state testing and district testing, you may request to cancel scores for a particular test date. Contact us online and we will provide you a form to complete and return to us. We will then permanently cancel that score record for the indicated test date and send cancellation notices to any score recipients.

Is it better to take the ACT with or without essay?

What is the Difference Between Taking the ACT with Writing vs. Without Writing? Taking the ACT with writing won't affect your Composite score, but it does add an English Language Arts (ELA) score to your report. Opting out means you'll miss out on this additional score.

What is a good ACT essay score?

The average ACT Writing score is between 6 and a 7 on the scale. You will need a score of 8 or above for getting admission to selective universities—however, scores of 10, 11, and 12 stand out and present excellent writing abilities.

Do colleges look at GPA or ACT scores more?

Although the ACT is given a lot of weight, the GPA is still a huge component of your application. It is the only piece of numerical data that can reveal hard work, self-discipline, and consistency. Together with your transcript, your GPA can show improvement over time and intellectual growth.

Do colleges look at ACT score breakdown?

Most schools, if you send them more than one ACT score, will simply use your highest ACT composite score from a single test date. So, if you took the ACT three times and received composite scores of 28, 29, and 30, the school would use your composite and section scores of the test date when you received a 30.

Is a 23 on the ACT bad?

A score of 23 on the ACT is above the current national average and will make you a strong applicant at many universities, but it may fall below the average score for accepted students at more selective colleges.

Is 15 a low ACT score?

The 25th percentile score is 15, and the 75th percentile score is 24. This means that if you got 15, you'd have scored the same as or better than 25% of all test takers. Meanwhile, the 75th percentile means you scored better than 75% of test takers.

Can I get into Harvard with a 22 ACT?

There's no absolute ACT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 34 to have a chance at being considered.

Is 18 a decent ACT score?

Earning an 18 on the ACT puts you at the 38th percentile, meaning that you scored higher than 38% of all test takers.

Is 12 a low ACT score?

12 ACT Score Standings

Out of the 1.91 million test-takers, 1838217 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 2 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 1505 schools with this score.

What is a poor score on the ACT?

In other words, to be above average nationally, you need at least a 21 ACT composite score. Any composite 16 or lower is in the bottom 25%. If you score below 16 or lower on the ACT, your score is definitely in the very low range nationwide.

Is a 9 on ACT writing good?

National Ranks for ELA and Writing Test Scores

For example, the national rank for a writing score of 9 is 97. This means that 97 percent of recent high school graduates who took the ACT writing test achieved a writing score of 9 or lower.

Is the act essay optional?

Keep in mind: The ACT writing essay is optional. Currently, only 27 colleges and universities require the ACT with Writing.

What is the average score on the ACT essay?

The ACT Writing score is scaled from 2 to 12 with 12 being the highest. The average ACT writing test score is 6 – 7 according to the most current report published by ACT, Inc. The ACT writing test is graded by two human graders who follow a specifically designed scoring rubric.