ACT Writing Scores Have Changed

Students who took the optional writing test in this September's ACT exam may be slightly confused when they receive their final scores. It was only last year the writing test portion of the ACT was changed to match the scaled score out of 36 used in the Math, English, Reading, and Science portions of the exam, but starting this month, the ACT Writing test will be scored out of a 2-12 range. ​


So what does that mean for test takers? 

As far as the new format of the essay writing test, virtually nothing has changed. The most recent essay prompts implemented in 2015 are still in effect. Students are asked to analyze and evaluate multiple perspectives on a complex issue, responding to each individual perspective's arguments in their writing. Essays are still scored using a rubric with the four main areas of writing competency (ideas and analysis, development and support, organization, and language use and conventions). Each of these categories are scored out of a total 12 points by two independent readers, resulting in a sum score out of 48. Where last year's ACT Essay scores were scaled to match the other ACT test portions (giving students a number out of 36), the new 2016 ACT Essay score will now be an average of the four scores (producing a final score out of 12). 

​If you are unsure whether the ACT Writing Test is right for you, feel free to consult iLearn Academy today to discuss the benefits and expectations of the most recent test format. 


For more information on ACT's new Writing Test Scores visit:
ACT.org

For a greater look at how older ACT Writing scores compare to the new 2016-2017 format, take a look at this PDF provided by ACT.org

whitepaper_5_ways_to_compare_writing_scores.pdf
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