Can The Act Writing Hurt Your Score?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can the act writing hurt your score? An image of your will be available to your high school and the colleges to which you have ACT report your scores from that test date.

Taking the writing test does not affect your subject area scores or your Composite score

.

Is a 7 on ACT Writing good?

The ACT Writing Test is graded on a scale of 2 to 12 (lowest to highest).

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 schools care about ACT Writing?

It's worth noting that

most schools no longer require the ACT with Writing, though many schools recommend it

. However, in light of COVID-19, most schools have adopted test-optional policies and don't require or recommend that you submit any test scores at all.

Is the writing on the ACT important?

In summary, most students taking the ACT or SAT do not need to worry about taking the Writing section. It will not hurt a student to take the Writing on the ACT, but

it is not necessary unless they plan to apply to one of the few colleges that still requires it.

Can you withhold your ACT Writing score?

Most test-takers who get a 34 composite score according to the table get an 11 so perhaps an 8 or 9 is passable but AOs are looking to see the 10 or 11 scores. Since

you can't “not report” your writing score

, you have 3 choices. 1. Apply test-optional and let the rest of your application advocate for you.

Is a 33 ACT good?

If you are wondering is 33 a good ACT score,

yes, it is

. With a 33 ACT score, you're now in the top 1% of the population. It puts you in the highest 98th percentile of the 2 million people who took the ACT admission exam nationwide.

Do Ivy Leagues require ACT Writing?

Perhaps surprisingly, most top-ranked colleges and universities do not require ACT Writing. In recent years, many top schools, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Duke, and Brown have stopped requiring the ACT Writing test. Currently,

none of the Ivy Leagues require ACT Writing

.

What is the point of ACT writing?

The purpose of the writing section is

to test your English composition skills as well as your reasoning skills

. This is how colleges use it, both those who require it as well as those who do not require the Writing Test.

Is a 9 on ACT writing good?

At the least, shoot for an 8+ overall score for a “good” ACT Writing score.

A score of 9+ is an ideal score for applications to selective schools

.

What is an average 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

. Here's a look at national ACT writing score percentiles, according to the latest data released by ACT, Inc.

What is a good ACT Writing score 2021?

Average Scores on the Current 12-Point Writing Exam

An average score on the current ACT Writing Exam is a a 6.5. For highly selective colleges, you'll want a score of 8 or higher. Scores of

10, 11, and 12

truly stand out and highlight strong writing skills.

Is 31 a good ACT score?

Is 31 a good ACT score? A 31 ACT score makes you eligible to apply to the vast majority of schools as a competitive applicant, as well as makes you eligible for merit aid. All of that considered,

a 31 is definitely a good ACT score

.

Is 22 a good ACT score?


A score of 22 is a good score and is better than average

. It puts you in the top 62nd percentile of the applicants for the test. You have a chance of getting admissions into some good colleges with 22 on the ACT.

Is 28 a good ACT score?

Looking at this from that percentage angle, an ACT score of 28 puts you at the 88th percentile — that means you scored higher than 88% of all test takers, of which there are nearly 2 million. All that considered,

a 28 is definitely a good score

!

Is a 36 on the ACT good?

So what is a perfect ACT score? The perfect composite score is 36. This score is an average of your four section scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science. While you don't need a perfect score to get into top colleges,

earning a full 36 ACT score can help you be a competitive applicant

.

Is a 35 on the ACT good?

If you have attained a 35 ACT or your college is asking for one, it means they are asking for an

above-average score

. 35 on the ACT is equal to 99%. So, this means you need to be a topper in the class to have a 35 on the ACT. 36 ACT is considered as 100% or full marks in all subjects.

Is a 27 on the ACT good?

Let's first answer your question – Is 27 a good ACT score?

Yes, it is

. With a 27 ACT score, you can get into very good schools. It equals 85%, which is quite higher than the average score, so, if you have got a 27 ACT, good job!

Is the ACT Essay worth it?


A Good ACT Writing Score Can Boost Your Chances of Admission

—Slightly. Even if a school doesn't require the test, a high score on the ACT Writing may give your application a slight boost, since it serves as an indication of strong writing and analysis abilities.

Does Harvard want ACT Writing?

Harvard Applicants No Longer Required to Submit SAT, ACT Writing Scores.

Harvard College will no longer require applicants to submit scores from the optional writing portions of the ACT and SAT beginning with the Class of 2023

, according to a Monday statement.

Does MIT require ACT Writing?

On writing

While

MIT does not require the ACT writing section

or SAT optional essay, MIT does value writing and communication highly. MIT believes that students in any field should learn to write prose that is clear, organized, and eloquent, and to convincingly present facts, data, and ideas.

Is it better to take ACT with writing or without?

The writing portion of the ACT isn't required by all schools, but

around 300 colleges do require or at least recommend that applicants take it

. If your student isn't exactly sure where he or she wants to apply, then we recommend signing up for the writing to be on the safe side.

Is a 23 on the ACT good?

Is a 23 a good ACT score?

Yes, with score of 23 you're in about the top third

. It places you in the top 68th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam.

Is 32 ACT a good score?

As the national average ACT is estimated at around 20, students who want to know – ‘is a 32 ACT score good? ‘, can rest assured that

it is a great score

. With a 32 ACT score in your application, you can get admission to some of the most selective colleges.

Is a 21 GOOD ON ACT?

Is a 21 ACT Score (50th Percentile) Good? A 21 ACT score is a little bit better than the average score of 20.8. Because of this,

a 21 is a commonly accepted score at many schools, but it may not make you competitive at selective schools

.

Is a 30 on the ACT good?

Because of all this,

a 30 ACT score is definitely considered good

! To help you understand your standing within all test takers, a score of 30 on the ACT puts you at the 93rd percentile, meaning you scored higher than 93% of all test takers.

Is 14 a good ACT score?

Is a 14 a good ACT score?

A score of 14 is definitely low

. It places you in the bottom 13th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done a very poor job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.

Is a 26 on the ACT good for the first time?

Should I Retake the ACT with a 26 Score?

A 26 ACT score is a great score

and, unless your ideal school is seeking a higher one, there's no particular reason to retake it. Make sure you have a good college list of between 7 and 10 schools to apply to and see where your ACT score falls on their commonly accepted scale.

How good is a 34 on the ACT?

A 34 ACT puts you at the

99th percentile

, meaning you scored higher than 99% of all test takers.

Is a 25 on the ACT good for the first time?

Can I get into an Ivy League with a 31 ACT?

The middle 50% for most Ivy League schools spans in the 32-35 score range. Although

Ivy League schools prefer to accept students with slightly higher scores than 31

, that doesn't mean that a 31 is an automatic rejection from a top tier university.

Is 24 a good ACT score?

If you ask us, “is a 24 on the ACT good? We will say ‘Yes' because it places you in the 73rd percentile of the country's 2 million ACT takers. Your score indicates

above-average performance in English, math, reading, and science

.

Is a 29 on the ACT good?

What percentile is a 7 on the ACT writing?

ACT Writing Scores ACT Writing Percentiles 7

65th
6 45th 5 23rd 4 11th

Is an 8 on the writing ACT good?

Average Scores on the Current 12-Point Writing Exam

An average score on the current ACT Writing Exam is a a 6.5.

For highly selective colleges, you'll want a score of 8 or higher

. Scores of 10, 11, and 12 truly stand out and highlight strong writing skills.

What's the average 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 6 a good score on ACT writing?

As you can see from this table,

the mean, or average, score on the ACT Writing section is 6

. 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!

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.