<p>With the SAT, most colleges disregard the writing section and simply just look at your CR+M 1600 score.</p>
<p>Do colleges do something similar with the ACT?</p>
<p>No, colleges look at the composite score, which includes all the sections (English, Math, Reading, Science). There is an optional writing section, but it is not included in the composite score. Most of the bigger name colleges require you to send in the writing score, but they just want to see a decent score, doesn’t have to be exceptional. Colleges do not disregard any section of the ACT though, like they do in the SAT.</p>
<p>Do “top” colleges also only look at the composite score?
I got a 35 composite (33 English, 34 Math, 35 Reading, 36 Science), and I’m not sure whether I should retake it to improve my English/Math scores to be in good shape for top schools (Wharton, HPYS, UChicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Duke).</p>
<p>Bump!</p>
<p>@HalfWaterHalfAir
Don’t retake and risk a lower score! I’m sure your 35 is fine for all the top schools even though your English and Math are lower than the others.</p>
<p>However in cases where one does not have such a high composite, I think English and Math carry a little more weight than Reading and Science. On about.com they always have the Composite, then E and M, so I’m assuming they act as CR+M.</p>
<p>The idea similar to the SAT, I would be very content with a 700 CR 800 M 800 W because the fact is, the combined score is ELITE even though the CR+M is relatively lower.</p>
<p>My 35 actually contains a 31 Reading but 36’s in English and Math, so I am kind of in the opposite situation as you. But I’m not worried at all because the fact is, I have a 35 and I am in the 99.7th percentile just like you! </p>
<p>@jchen97</p>
<p>Thanks! I ultimately decided yesterday that I wasn’t going to retake the ACT. I will however be retaking the SAT this June, to improve from my 2230 (730 CR, 720 Math, 780 Writing). I’ll be focusing on Math, there’s really no reason I shouldn’t be getting a 770-800 in Math. Hopefully I can bring up my CR some too!</p>
<p>Bump</p>