ACT Test Prep: Should I Take the ACT With or Without Writing?
The ACT gives students the option of taking an optional writing exam. This includes writing an argumentative essay on a given topic. There are a few reasons that we recommend that students consider taking the optional writing section in addition to the standard four ACT sections of English, math, reading, and science. Here, we’re taking a closer look at why students may benefit from taking the ACT writing section.
What does the ACT writing section look like?
The ACT writing section always has students write an argumentative essay. Students are presented with some background information on a subject and three differing perspectives. Students are instructed to select one of the perspectives to write about and to argue their point. That’s right - students don’t even have to make up their own argument! They can simply select one of the perspectives they are given and use it as the base of their essay. They will then develop supporting information and examples to support the perspective chosen. Students then get 45 minutes to plan, create, and review their handwritten essay.
Students are scored based on their ability to effectively argue their perspective. The ACT does a pretty good job of selecting ACT writing topics that are more or less relevant to modern American life and culture, so generally the topic is something that most students should have some level of familiarity with. For example, recent ACT writing prompts have included subjects questioning the decrease of face-to-face communication, the effects of childhood stardom, the safety of genetically modified organisms, and the importance of arts in education. So, while students do not get a sneak peek at what the topic of the essay will be for the upcoming test, they should not worry so much about what the topic is as making sure they have a strong grasp of the writing fundamentals that the ACT is looking for.
Here is a sample ACT writing prompt:
As you see with the prompt above, you’re to select one of the three given perspectives, and then your task is to write an essay in which you effectively argue that opinion. You are use to specific evidence, reasoning, and analysis in building your perspective.
How is the ACT writing section scored?
The scoring of the ACT writing section is a key difference from the other four sections of the exam. While all other sections are scored out of 36 total points, the ACT writing section is scored on a scale of 2-12. Since this is the only section of the test that is unable to be graded by a computer, the ACT has two separate evaluators read each student’s essay and give it a score on a scale of 1-6. These two scores are then combined to give the student a total score out of 12.
The fact that a human scores the writing section of the ACT can be a positive thing, as well as a negative thing. One downside has to do with the speed of scoring. Where a computer can quickly crank out Scantron test scores, humans take much longer to work through and score written essays. For this reason, ACT writing scores take about two weeks longer to be released than the multiple-choice counterparts of the same exam. On the positive side, a human has emotions and reactions and can be influenced by the essay that the student writes. This can be good to keep in mind while working through the writing essay. For example, data has shown that students who write more usually receive higher scores.
So, what are the evaluators looking for when they score an essay? Below are the four areas that the essays will be scored on. Here is the ACT’s identification of each of these categories. Per act.org, these areas are as follows:
Ideas and Analysis—Scores in this domain reflect the ability to generate productive ideas and engage critically with multiple perspectives on the given issue. Competent writers understand the issue they are invited to address, the purpose for writing, and the audience. They generate ideas that are relevant to the situation.
Development and Support—Scores in this domain reflect the ability to discuss ideas, offer rationale, and bolster an argument. Competent writers explain and explore their ideas, discuss implications, and illustrate through examples. They help the reader understand their thinking about the issue.
Organization—Scores in this domain reflect the ability to organize ideas with clarity and purpose. Organizational choices are integral to effective writing. Competent writers arrange their essay in a way that clearly shows the relationship between ideas, and they guide the reader through their discussion.
Language Use and Conventions—Scores in this domain reflect the ability to use written language to convey arguments with clarity. Competent writers make use of the conventions of grammar, syntax, word usage, and mechanics. They are also aware of their audience and adjust the style and tone of their writing to communicate effectively.
Why take the ACT writing section?
College Application Requirement
A big reason that many students will sign up for and complete the ACT writing essay is simply because it is a college application requirement for one or more of the schools that they plan to apply to.
This is the biggest reason that students will elect to take the writing section of the ACT. It’s important for students to be aware of what the requirements are for the schools that they plan to apply to so that they make sure to take the writing section of the ACT if it is a requirement. You cannot take the writing section of the ACT without taking all four regular English, math, reading, and science sections, so it will be stressful to come back later and take the ACT again if it turns out to be a requirement. Make sure you know going into test day if you should add on the essay portion fort his reason.
Gauge a Student’s Writing Abilities
Another good reason that any student should consider taking the ACT writing section, required or not, is that it is a good indicator of whether a student’s writing skills are fit for college-level writing.
Writing is generally a much bigger part of college academics than it is of high school academics. Most students will write some essays in high school, but most students will write MANY essays in college and on a variety of topics. For this reason, students who have a strong writing foundation upon entering college have a much easier time with the writing intensity than those who struggle to write multi-paragraph essays.
The ACT writing score can be used to determine if a student’s current writing abilities are fit for the college level or if the student should spend extra time preparing in this area before going on to college.
How do you write a great ACT essay?
A great argumentative essay will consist of several well-written paragraphs that are structured in an organized fashion:
Introduction
The introduction of any essay is very important for one reason: this is your first impression. You’ve probably had teachers tell you that you need to include a catchy hook in your introduction - this definitely isn’t a bad idea. You want to grab the reader’s attention and make them keep reading and paying attention. Your introduction should always close with your thesis statement.
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a concise, usually one-sentence, summary of the overarching point you’ll be making throughout the essay. If your essay is arguing that cats are better pets than dogs, then this is the type of broad information that you’ll want to include in your thesis statement. Make sure that the reader knows exactly what the broad topic of the paper will be.
Supporting Paragraphs
This is where you’ll attempt to persuade the reader to believe your perspective. A rule of thumb for essay writing is that you want to try to have 3 supporting paragraphs. In these paragraphs, you’ll want to use concise facts and supporting information — the more specific the better! If you’re arguing that cats are better pets than dogs, you might have one supporting paragraph that focuses on the level of independence of cats, one that discusses the high intelligence level of cats, and a third that examines a cat’s lifespan. (These are just examples off the top of my head - there could be so many more reasons that cats are better than dogs, or why dogs are better than cats! Alas, you sadly will not see an essay prompt that looks anything as casual as this one test day…)
Counter Argument/Opposing Viewpoints
A great argumentative essay will demonstrate an understanding of and respect for different viewpoints than one’s own. This is extremely important on the ACT — they want to see that you can argue a point, but they also want to see that you understand why someone may believe something different than you do. A good place to put this paragraph is right after your supporting paragraphs and before your conclusion. For my essay about cats and dogs, here is where I would write a brief paragraph discussing why some people prefer dogs over cats. I would then gently refute this perspective and lead into my conclusion.
Conclusion/Recap
In your conclusion you want to offer a broad recap of your point. Restate your thesis using different wording, and wrap up the essay nicely by summarizing your entire point.
Including all of these pieces with your essay will ensure that your structure is easy to follow and includes all of the required information.
How many times should you take the ACT writing section?
We recommend that all students take the ACT writing section at least once. Even if this is not required by any of the colleges a student is applying to, it will give valuable insight to the student’s writing ability. Essay writing is a big part of college academics, so students whose writing skills lag behind may have more difficulty at the college level than those that are able to structure and craft strong multi-paragraph essays.
We’ve found that students who score at least a 6 on the ACT writing essay have a good foundational understanding of how to organize, develop, and write an essay that effectively makes a point or analyzes a topic. That being said, students who score at least a 6 on the writing section of the ACT have the writing skills necessary to be able to write a college-level essay.
Students who receive a writing score lower than 6 may want to do some extra work and instruction related to overall essay writing. This type of additional help will prove helpful when they get to college-level writing.
A score of 8-9 or higher is generally considered a strong ACT writing score. For students applying to competitive colleges and universities with rigorous academics, it may be smart to continue to attempt the ACT writing section until they reach at least these baselines.
While the ACT writing section may seem like a nuisance that wastes more of your Saturday morning and does not contribute to your composite ACT score, it can actually be very beneficial for students preparing to make the leap to college. The ACT writing essay evaluates a student’s ability to write essays effectively based on organization, ideas and analysis, development and support, and language use and conventions. Even if the writing section is not an admissions requirement for the specific schools that you plan to apply to, it might help you to gauge your writing abilities and thus determine how easy or difficult of a time college-level writing will be for you. Of course, there is much more preparation that can be done to ensure a student is ready to excel on the ACT writing section. If you want to refine your essay writing skills to make sure they are fitting for a high score on the ACT essay, one of our expert tutors would be happy to help you prepare. Reach out to us on our Contact page or by email at info@thepreparedstudent.com to discuss your ACT test goals and test prep needs.
Good luck, and happy studying!
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