ACT Writing Test (Optional)

Description: This course is designed to help students with the ACT Writing test.

Objective: Become familiar with what's on the Writing test, strategies, and more.

The ACT includes a 30-minute writing test that measures your writing skills. The writing test is entirely optional and does not affect your score for the rest of the test. You must sign up for the ACT Plus Writing to be able to take it. It comes at the end of the four multiple-choice sections.

The writing test presents a prompt, followed by two opposing viewpoints. You must select one of these viewpoints or come up with one of your own and write an essay supporting it. The essay tests your ability to make a judgment on the prompt and express your viewpoint; focus on a topic throughout the essay; support your viewpoint with logical reasoning; organize your thoughts logically; and express yourself clearly and effectively in writing. You’ll receive two scores on the writing test—a combined English/writing score on a scale of one to 36 and a writing subscore on a scale of two to 12. You’ll also receive comments on your essay with your scores.

Some tips will help you score well on the writing test. First, pace yourself, and use your 30 minutes wisely. Spend the first five minutes organizing your thoughts and planning what you want to write. Spend 20 to 25 minutes writing the essay, and save a few minutes at the end to review what you’ve written. Before you dive into the writing, think about the issue and what you want to say. Jot down a rough outline for an interesting introduction, a few paragraphs that support your viewpoint, and a conclusion that ties all your ideas together. This will help you use your writing time more efficiently and will actually save you time. Finally, after you’re done writing, review your essay for any grammatical, punctuation, or spelling mistakes. Make sure your supporting ideas relate directly to your thesis and your conclusion connects your supporting paragraphs to your introduction.