ACT Writing Score Insights

Alright guys, for the ACT, what's considered a 'good' score for the writing piece? A little confused, hoping for some guidance!

The ACT Writing score ranges from a 2 to 12. Your score reflects four domain scores, each of which is a combined total from two graders who each assess your essay in four areas: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions.

Now, what's considered a "good" score can depend on the schools you're interested in. A score of 8 or higher is generally seen as strong and a 10 or above is considered excellent. However, the most selective colleges usually look for scores in the 10-12 range.

Remember though, in the context of your entire application, your ACT Writing score is only one piece of the puzzle, and in reality quite a small one. A strong score certainly never hurts, but the ACT Writing is unlikely to make or break your application, especially if you have strong grades in humanities classes and write excellent essays - those are more effective ways for colleges to evaluate your writing abilities.

Keep in mind that not all colleges require or even recommend the ACT Writing Test, so you'll want to check the admissions requirements for the colleges you're interested in. Or, if you'd like to learn more about the ACT in general and how to maximize your score, including on the Writing section, I'd check out CollegeVine's series of free blog posts focused on ACT prep: https://blog.collegevine.com/category/standardized-tests/act/

Good luck with your ACT Writing!