Are you concerned about the score you received for your ACT Writing section from September or October 2015? Did it differ substantially from your composite score? You are not alone.
Over the past few months, test preparation and college counseling listservs have lit up with concern about the new ACT writing section and discrepancies in scores. Here’s an attempt to explain the situation and provide some additional information to allay any fears you may have about the essay.
There have been numerous reports of disparities between composite scores and scores received on the essay for the Sept. 2015 and the Oct. 2015 tests.
On various listservs, college counselors have reported that they have students who performed very well on the ACT in terms of their composite scores but who received unusually low scores on the essay. Parents are posting similar concerns on test prep forums. “Having a heart attack over my son’s writing score with the new September ACT – composite 32, writing 14!!!!” reads one frantic post. Tutors at Marks Education have heard similar reports from some students who took both the September and October tests. While some students have reported strong scores, others have been surprised by the apparent discrepancy between their Essay and Composite scores.
It’s likely that score disparities are a factor of the new essay format and scoring system introduced by the ACT in September.
As we reported in August, the ACT introduced a new format and scoring system for the essay beginning in September 2015. The volume of concerned comments and posts suggests that the new scoring system is a work in progress with ACT graders still adjusting to the new requirements. Because of a new rubric based on four domains, scorers have more opportunity to deduct points – a factor which may be contributing to lower scores.
Tips to remember about the ACT essay:
A student’s essay score does not affect his or her composite score. Only the English, Math, Reading and Science sections contribute to the composite score.
It’s important to remember that the ACT is only one component of a student’s application. Those schools that require the ACT essay view it as extra information on a student, but it’s unlikely that the essay can sink a student’s chances at a school. According to Christina Morris, counselor at Marks Education, “Colleges recognize that writing a stellar essay in a timed, stressful setting is challenging and consequently they usually give the writing section less weight in the review process.” Many admissions committees do not even look at the ACT writing section, preferring instead to focus on the essays students write with their applications.
ACT percentiles are different for the essay than for other sections of the test.
The percentiles associated with certain scaled scores differ substantially on the ACT essay compared with other sections of the test. For example, according to the ACT Board, a scaled score of 30 on the essay puts a student in the 98th percentile for the writing section of the test. A scaled score of a 21 on the essay puts her in the 74th percentile. By contrast, a scaled score of 30 on the English section of the test puts a student at the 92nd percentile and a scaled score of 21 on the English section puts her at the 55th percentile. The writing test therefore appears to be graded more harshly than other sections of the test. So don’t panic if your essay score is below your composite score.
For more information on ACT national scores, see the following:
List of Frequently Asked Questions about the ACT Writing Section
Chart of ACT Scaled Scores and Percentiles for High School Juniors, 2013-2015
