The ACT Writing Test complements the ACT English Test. The combined results from both tests provide information about students' understanding of the conventions of standard written English and their ability to produce a direct sample of writing.
| Scores and Comments | Sample Essays |
The ACT Writing Test:
- collects a writing sample under standardized testing conditions as part of the ACT administration.
- complements the ACT English Test.
- provides information about students' ability to express judgments by taking a position on an issue, developing and organizing their ideas, and using language clearly and effectively to express their ideas in English.
- can be scored with a high degree of accuracy and reliability.
- provides both a Writing Test subscore and a Combined English/Writing in addition to the English Test score.
- offers students feedback on their essays in the form of reader comments.
- offers you online access to images of the essays written by students who report their scores to your institution.
Some colleges require the Writing Test; others do not. If your institution has not provided us with information about your policies and would like to do so, please click the link below.
| See What Colleges Have Decided about the Writing Test. |
Students who register to take the ACT should decide whether to include the Writing Test based on the requirements of the institutions to which they are applying.