How much does ACT writing score count? Which score to send?

Already? · 11-17-2008, 10:08 AM

Son (hs senior) needs to send ACT scores and he just got the writing score from the Oct. test. Not as good as the writing score from the June test (3 points lower in Oct.). The composite from Oct. is one point higher than the composite from the June test, so not a big difference, and one of the subscores in June was slightly higher. My thinking is that he should send both. Does that make any sense, or will colleges wonder why he not sending only the higher score?

Erin's Dad · 11-17-2008, 12:01 PM

Send both. THe school will use the one they think is stronger. Also some schools will super score for the ACT (though I don't know which do).

Already? · 11-17-2008, 05:15 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I can't see the harm of sending both, but it would have been nice for all of the high scores to end up from a single test. Son is applying to some very reachy schools (and also osme that are matches and one safety). The low writing score is frustrating because his English and Reading scores are both 35s. Hopefully the admissions officers will count those scores more than the much lower writing score.