Write It Down: Optional ACT Writing Test Is Working for Students and Colleges

April 20, 2005

IOWA CITY, Iowa—Roughly half of the high school juniors who took the ACT Assessment on the April 9 national test date chose to take the optional Writing Test. This result continues a trend that began with the Writing Test's debut in February.

Although most colleges will not be requiring a writing score, some will require it of students applying for admission starting in the fall of 2006. This year's 11th graders are the first class affected by this change.

"Clearly, our policy of making the Writing Test optional is working for students and for colleges," said Jon Erickson, ACT's vice president of educational services.

ACT decided to make its Writing Test optional because its initial research indicated that many colleges did not plan to use the scores in their admissions or placement processes. Reflecting the diversity of institutions across the nation, colleges and universities have made varied decisions regarding whether to require, recommend, or not require that students submit writing test scores. Tracking closely with ACT's initial research results:

18 percent of four-year institutions have indicated that they will require the Writing Test scores.
21 percent say they will recommend, but not require, the scores.
61 percent say they will not require nor recommend that students submit Writing Test scores.

"We have been impressed by the careful, thoughtful process that institutions have gone through to arrive at the policy that works best for them," said Erickson. "All of them understand the importance of good writing skills for college success. However, each college has its own set of circumstances and needs that have guided its decision regarding the Writing Test."

Colleges already receive information on prospective students' writing skills, including their high school grade point average, coursework taken, scores on ACT's English Test, plus other essays that are part of campus-based admissions and placement processes.

"Many colleges have chosen to not require the Writing Test because they feel they already receive enough information to measure writing skills and are uncomfortable requiring another test at an additional cost to students," said Erickson. "Other colleges say they are recommending that students submit writing scores because they want to study the effect of the scores on admissions and placement decisions before making a final decision one way or another."

ACT officials report that the April administration of the Writing Test went smoothly, and that students will receive their scores in May.

"It appears that the way we have constructed the Writing Test is working for students," said Erickson.

Some of the findings from the first two administrations of the test include:

Students appeared to understand the writing task they were asked to complete.

Students engaged thoughtfully, discussed the topics analytically using information they learned in school, their own observations, and their personal experiences, and produced a diverse array of perspectives.

The holistic scoring scale allowed readers to award scores that considered all the writing strengths reflected in a student's writing sample.

The 1–6 scoring scale for the Writing Test enabled readers to draw distinctions among essays that represented differing levels of writing proficiency.

Students appear to value the individualized feedback from the essay graders included as part of their score report.

ACT's writing prompt presents an issue to test-takers and provides two possible sides to the issue. Students are then asked to take a position on the issue, which may be one of the two provided or a different position, and present a well-reasoned argument in support of that position in a short essay.

"Many students report that this approach to the prompt is comfortable to them and gives them the context of the topic presented," said Erickson. "Particularly, English-as-a-second-language and limited-English-proficient students have indicated that they like this type of prompt because it gives them background and helps them understand the issue at hand."

Before registering for the ACT, students can find out specific colleges' requirements regarding the Writing Test by visiting www.actstudent.org. The website features a searchable list of colleges and their Writing Test decisions.