How to bring up 8 on ACT essay to 10-12?

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<p>I scored an 8 on the ACT essay for June and this is what they said: </p>

<p>Your essay adequately supported general statements with specific reasons, examples, and details. Your essay maintained focus on the specific issue in the prompt.</p>

<p>I am not sure why I only scored an 8. </p>

<p>Just for the record, my handwriting is fairly messy. For one when I tested, they gave me crappy collegeboard pencils that write horribly. </p>

<p>I am now wondering if they grade you lower if its harder to read. Not that they marks points off, but since they have very little time to read the essays, they prefer easy reads that are smooth and to the point. I imagine they had to do a bit of decoding. </p>

<p>What should I do based on my given scenarios?</p>

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<p>I got an 8 and received the same responses. I feel like I write neatly, I was confused as well. I guess it wasn’t enough. So I don’t think handwriting should affect it that much.</p>