Most Colleges Will Not Require Writing Test Scores

September 7, 2004

IOWA CITY, Iowa—Most four-year colleges and universities won't require applicants to submit writing test scores with their college admissions exam, according to ACT.

Only 17 percent of four-year colleges and universities reporting their decision to ACT say they will require writing test scores of students who apply for fall 2006 admission (no schools will require writing test scores prior to this time). The majority (63%) of institutions, in contrast, say they will not require students to submit writing test scores. Another 20 percent say they will recommend but not require the writing test.

Sixty-nine percent of the nation's four-year colleges and universities have reported their policy decision to ACT, with more institutions expected to report in the coming weeks.

ACT will begin offering an optional writing test with the ACT Assessment starting in February 2005. The revised SAT I, available beginning in March, will also include a new writing test, but it will be mandatory for all test-takers.

"This diverse response to our optional writing test confirms what we have consistently heard from colleges and universities: They want flexibility," said Jon Erickson, ACT's vice president of educational services. "Each institution has different admission and course placement needs. Knowing this, we chose to provide the ACT Writing Test as an option to colleges, as well as to students, who shouldn't have to spend the additional money and time taking a test that their preferred college doesn't require."

The fee for taking the ACT Plus Writing will be $42, compared to $28 for the ACT Assessment without the writing test. The fee for the revised SAT I, which includes a mandatory writing test, will be $41.50.

"We believe writing skills are very important," said Erickson. "That's why we have always measured the fundamentals of good writing in the ACT English Test. The new writing test results will simply offer another layer to our understanding of students' writing skills, and many colleges have decided that extra layer is not necessary to them at this time."

Writing Test Information and Services

Writing scores will come into play for those students who hope to enter college in the fall semester of 2006. Students will be able to determine whether or not they need to take a writing test as part of their college entrance exam by visiting ACT's student website, www.actstudent.org. There, students can search for colleges and universities to learn what decisions those colleges have made about the writing test. Students also can check directly with colleges to find out their requirements. If students are unsure about their college choices, they should check with their high school counselor to determine whether or not taking the ACT Plus Writing is right for them.

Students can also find ACT test information and services and register for the test online at the new ACT student website.

ACT scores are accepted by virtually all colleges and universities across the nation. The ACT Assessment includes achievement tests in English, reading, mathematics and science. In addition to college admissions, the exam is widely used by colleges for course placement decisions.