ELA Score
As you can see from the table above, the average writing and ELA scores have gone down in the last three years. This decrease also reflects the percentage of students who could not meet the ELA college readiness benchmark. After looking at the data, it appears that scoring has become more rigorous over the years.
Check out our expert guide on writing an ACT essay, including examples of what excellence looks like.
As of 2022, the following schools require an ACT Writing score:
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A forum to discuss the ACT and forms of preparation for taking the test.
So I took the June ACT with writing, however I wasn’t really aware that I had no real reason to take the test with writing until a few days before I took the exam. The school that I intend on going to has no requirement for the writing portion of the test, and because of this, I am afraid that if I did bad on the essay, it will negatively affect my composite score. Can someone much more familiar with the scoring of the exam tell me how this can affect my score, if at all? Thank you.
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The ACT is one of the two main college readiness exams. Like they do with the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), admissions offices use your ACT score to help determine if you’re a good fit for their college or university.
Both tests are widely used, but recently, the ACT has become more popular than the SAT. Over two million students take the ACT every year, while about 1.7 million take the SAT. It’s easy to feel like all standardized tests are the same, but these tests measure two different things.
The SAT measures your ability to learn, and the ACT measures what you’ve already learned. They’re two completely different approaches to determining your “college readiness,” but both are well-respected, and most schools don’t have a preference for one or the other.
The ACT was developed by a college professor in response to his frustrations with the SAT, which at the time was the only means of gauging how prepared students were for college. As an educator, he felt it was far better to know that your students had the necessary prerequisite knowledge than to know how good they were at learning.
Tomato, to-mah-to, you’re taking the ACT. Here’s what you need to know about it.
Eligibility requirements: none
Length: three hours and 30 minutes
Sections: four required (English, math, reading, science), one optional (writing)
Number of questions: 215 (plus an essay prompt)
Types of questions: multiple choice, essay (writing section only)
Score range: 1–36
Cost: $46 without the writing section, $62.50 with the writing section
What does ACT stand for? ACT technically stands for American College Testing, but the test is administered by an organization of the same name, and they simply refer to it as the ACT.
The ACT tests you based on things you should learn by the end of your senior year of high school. We’ll tell you what to expect from each section and give you some tips, but first, here’s a tip that applies to every multiple choice section:
Never leave a question blank. You aren’t penalized for wrong answers, so even if you have absolutely no clue what the answer is, take a guess!
Length: 45 minutes
Number of questions: 75
The English section of the ACT will measure your mastery of the nuts and bolts of prose. Rather than asking you to retrieve information or think critically about a passage, you’ll examine individual phrases, sentences, or paragraphs.
The makers of the test say that the English section “measures your understanding of the conventions of standard English (punctuation, usage, and sentence structure), production of writing (topic development, organization, unity, and cohesion), and knowledge of language (word choice, style, and tone).”
There are several varieties of multiple choice questions, but they’re all based on passages. If a passage has underlined sections, some of the questions will ask you to improve those parts with one of the options provided. If none of the suggested changes improve the passage, you can choose “no change” (this is pretty common).
You may be asked to change a passage to create a specific effect, like building a stronger transition between two thoughts or rearranging sentences to form a more logical progression. You’ll also be asked about how particular changes might affect the passage, or what information a particular section provides.
According to national data from the ACT, this is the section most people score lowest on.
Tip: This test gives you the least amount of time per question, so don’t waste time on tough questions. Guess, and come back to them later if there’s time.If you don’t have extra time at the end, think about how many more questions you were able to get through! It’s sunk-cost economics at work.
Length: 60 minutes
Number of questions: 60
All of the questions of the math section of the ACT are solvable without a calculator. Still, using one could save you some precious time. Here’s how the makers of the test break down the questions:
You’ll need to know the basic terminology and formulas for basic high school math. Be sure to read how the ACT describes each math section .
The ACT has already done a huge favor for you: the questions in each section appear in order of difficulty, so the easiest ones come first. That doesn’t always mean they’ll be the easiest ones for you , so you’ll still want to skim ahead if you get stuck on one.
Tip: Before you start solving a problem, take a look at the possible answers. They may help you decide how to approach the problem.
Length: 35 minutes
Number of questions: 40
The reading section of the ACT contains four passages with 10 questions each. These are designed to test your reading comprehension, and the questions will ask you to summarize pieces of the passage, make inferences from the text, and identify key information. The bulk of the questions will be about the ideas and details in the passages.
The four passages come from the same four subjects every year, and they always appear in the following order:
According to national data from the ACT, this is the section people score highest on.
Tip: Answers on the reading section are deliberately trying to trick you. There may be multiple answers that look correct. Before you read the possible answers, try to answer the question for yourself when possible. Then it’ll be harder for those almost right answers to mislead you—because you’ll be looking for a specific answer.
For the science section of the ACT, you won’t be expected to have advanced knowledge of any particular kind of science, but you will need a general understanding of these subjects:
The majority of this test involves interpreting data and working with experiment results. Like the reading and English sections of the ACT, science questions are based on a passage. You’ll have between four and seven questions per passage.
The passages you’ll work from will take these three formats:
Data representation questions will focus on tables and graphs, and they’ll test your ability to interpret scientific data.
Research summaries will focus on experiments, and you’ll be asked about the design of the experiment and the conclusions drawn from the results.
Conflicting viewpoints questions ask you to analyze and compare two hypotheses or views that are based on different premises or incomplete data.
Length: 40 minutes
Number of questions: one
The writing section is the only part of the test that doesn’t affect your composite score. (It is optional, after all.) The test will present three perspectives on an issue, and you’ll respond with an essay.
Regardless of the prompt, your essay will have the same three expectations:
It definitely won’t count against you if you don’t take the optional section of the ACT. So if you’re a terrible writer, that’s probably a good choice. However, since it doesn’t count towards your composite score, and it can provide the admissions office with a more personal representation of your academic capabilities, it’s a good idea to take it.
A big shiny ACT score can certainly make your college applications stand out, but people can only learn so much about you from a number. There’s no guarantee a college will use your ACT essay, but if you’re a good writer, this is a positive differentiator that not every applicant is going to have.
Personally, I’d recommend it.
On the ACT, you gain points for correct answers, and you don’t lose points for incorrect answers.
You’ll receive a separate score for each section of the ACT: English, math, reading, science, and writing (optional). Scores range from 1 to 36 on each section—with the exception of the writing section, where scores range from 2 to 12. These scores are averaged into your “composite score.”
Your score report will show your score and percentile in each section, plus two additional sections: STEM , and ELA (English Language Arts). These are good indicators of your competency in specific subjects, but when someone says, “What’s your ACT score?” they’re asking about your composite score. ACT.org can walk you through each part of your ACT score report .
You’ll be able to view your scores online about two weeks after the exam, and you’ll get your score report in the mail within 2-8 weeks.
While a perfect SAT score is 2,400, a perfect ACT score is just 36. But less than .1% of all ACT test-takers get a perfect score. So what’s a good ACT score?
The average ACT score is 21. But sitting smack dab in the middle isn’t going to make your application stand out. And for schools that want to build on their reputation for excellence, a mediocre score may not be good enough (unless you have an exceptional portfolio or something else to show off).
Unless a school explicitly states a minimum ACT score you need to be admitted, you have to look at the students who are actually accepted to determine a “good score.” Whatever schools you’re looking at, you can see the range of standardized test scores for students they’ve accepted. You can even compare the bottom 25% of accepted students and the top 75%. If the other pieces of your application are strong, you can probably get by with a lower score.
Ivy League schools , for example, have significantly higher standards than the national average, and their students’ average ACT scores range from as low as 29 to as high as 35 (or from the 92nd percentile to the 99th).
So a good score really depends on what school you want to go to. But unless you’re looking at a top-tier school—one with a notoriously low acceptance rate—scoring in the top 75% of all test takers should be good enough for most schools. That means a good score is 24 or higher.
Of course, good is a relative term. Maybe by “good” you mean scoring in the top 90%? In that case, you’re shooting for a 28 or higher. And yes, four points can make that big of a difference. Sometimes getting a single point higher on your composite score can make a difference of 7%.
While a score around 24 should get you into most schools, scoring 28 or higher will have some schools throwing money at you, begging you to be one of their students.
Now that you know more about what to aim for, let’s talk about what to do with a bad score.
No matter how much you study, there are lots of factors that can add up to a bad test day. Lack of sleep, poor diet, not exercising regularly, health issues, stress, and distractions make it harder to perform your best under pressure.
Thankfully, you can retake the ACT as many times as you want. And ACT.org says that 57% of people who retake the ACT improve their score.
When it comes time to submit your ACT score to a school, you can choose to submit your highest composite score. So if you have a bad test day, no one even has to know. This doesn’t mean you can pick and choose your best results from each section, though. If you did really well on different sections on different days, you may want to share both scores—but you can’t blend them into a new composite score like some kind of ACT Frankenstein.
Like all standardized tests, the best way to prepare for the ACT is to take practice tests. You should certainly study the terms and concepts you’ll need to be familiar with (especially for the math and science sections), but when it comes down to it, practice is the best route to a high score.
The best practice tests will give you explanations for why one answer is correct, and the others are wrong. To make sure you’re getting the most relevant practice, be sure to check out the materials provided by ACT.org, the makers of the test.
Here are some free practice questions they provide, with explanations for each answer:
Let us know in the comments if there’s anything else you wish we would’ve told you about the ACT. Good luck in your studies!
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Does ACT cater for students with any form of learning disability? For instance this student is able to write ACT but would need special accommodation, like additional time, would such special accommodation be allowed for the ACT exam? This student has a condition called Impaired Processing Speed (IPS). An official report to that effect can always be forwarded to the relevant office of ACT when and if necessary.
I kindly await your advice.
Yes, the ACT offers accomodations for documented learning needs. Here’s where they talk about that: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/accommodations.html
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Why would anyone take a test labeled as “optional”? Students aren’t required to take the ACT Writing Test—so why add it to the rest of the four sections ?
Whether choose to take the Writing Test depends on the requirements of the colleges you’re considering. Because postsecondary institutions make their own decisions about whether to require the results from the Writing test for admissions or course-placement purposes, ACT makes it optional. Keep in mind, though, that “optional” means you have the option of signing up for it in addition to the rest of the ACT—not that you can choose whether you want to take it on the day of the test.
Unlike the rest of the ACT , the Writing Test doesn’t lend itself to conventional test-taking strategies. The four required sections are all multiple-choice, but this optional test makes you plan and write a somewhat complex essay in a relatively short period of time. For this test, you’ll want more than just the conventional ACT tutor to provide assistance: you’ll need a tutor experienced in writing, not simply test-taking .
To learn more about all the other sections of the ACT, click the image below:
The Writing Test is the final element in the ACT process for those looking to go to elite schools or be admitted to selective programs. While the Reading and English sections may provide insight into your comprehension, analysis, organization, and grammar skills, they don’t really touch on composition, synthesis, and argument. Some schools you’re looking at may want to see a sample of your writing as additional information to consider when reviewing your application.
If you’re shooting for a spot at one of the upper-echelon colleges in the U.S., or if you are looking to enter a course of study that favors strong writing ability, then you should definitely take the ACT Writing Test. For the rest of the students planning on taking the ACT, it’s fine if you forego the option. In your case, an additional score outside of the required tests of the ACT won’t make your college application any more appealing.
If you choose to take the Writing Test, your scores for that section will be separate from those for the other four sections and will not affect your composite score in any way. Instead of operating on the 1-36 scale, your essay score will range from 2-12 in four domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. Two readers will grade your essay in each domain on a scale of 1-6, and those two scores will then be added together. Your overall score on the Writing test is the rounded average of the scores you achieved in the four domains.
Scores in this domain reflect your ability to generate productive ideas and engage critically with multiple perspectives on the given issue. Competence in this area is based upon your understanding of the issue, the purpose for writing, and the audience.
For this domain, scores are based on your ability to discuss ideas, offer rationale, and support an argument. By helping the reader understand your thinking on the issue, you show your competence through explanation, discussion, and illustration.
This domain deals with your ability to organize ideas with clarity and purpose. Organizational choices are integral to effective writing, so you should be arranging your essay in a way that clearly shows the relationship between ideas and guides the reader through the discussion.
Competent writers make use of the conventions of grammar, syntax, word usage, and mechanics. Scores in this domain are based upon your ability to use written language to convey arguments with clarity, as well as how you adjust the style and tone of your writing to communicate effectively.
The ACT Writing test gives you 40 minutes to read the given material and write an essay that analyzes the topic, evaluates each of the three viewpoints, and presents your own argument based on the prompt. Regardless of the issue in the essay you are presented with, the instructions will look the same:
Note that there is room for great deal of variety in how test-takers approach the essay. You are not being evaluated based on what position you take, but on how you explain and defend that position. And as far as the perspectives are concerned, you can hold any view on the spectrum from full agreement to complete disagreement. As the directions emphasize, your essay should declare your position, analyze and evaluate the given perspectives, and explain how your position compares and contrasts with those perspectives.
Let’s examine an essay prompt from a previously administered ACT. First, you will be given a paragraph briefly introducing a certain issue.
Read the paragraph issue and identify what you should be responding to regarding the issue. For this one, you would be offering your thoughts on “the implications and meaning of [the presence of intelligent machines] in our lives.” As part of your position, you should also answer the question “Automation is generally seen as a sign of progress, but what is lost when we replace humans with machines”? Take a minute to write down your thoughts in the area for planning on the page opposite the prompt. Make sure you are clear in your position and not wishy-washy. In your opening paragraph, use the language of the text to guide how you state your position: for this one, remember that you are giving your thoughts on the implications of automation and what may be lost when humans are replaced by machines.
After the introductory paragraph, you will be presented with three perspectives on the issue you just read about.
When you read the perspectives, remember that you don’t need to agree (or disagree) with any of them. You do, however, have to address them and evaluate them. Keep in mind, though, that your evaluations of the perspectives should fit within the broader framework of your position on the topic. For example, if you agree somewhat with the claim “What we lose by the replacement of people by machines is some part of our own humanity,” incorporate that view into your over-arching argument. Or say that you disagree with the notion “This efficiency leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone”: don’t analyze only that perspective but explain how your disagreement fits within the framework of your assertion.
As you plan and write your essay, remember this critical truth: Your analysis of the perspectives should support your position on the issue, rather than the perspectives dictating your view. Yes, the people who score your essay will evaluate your critique of the three perspectives, but what they are most interested in is how you present and support your position on the issue.
Although you will be given 40 minutes to complete the ACT Writing Test, you certainly don’t want to spend that entire time writing. Resist the instinct to start writing immediately after reading the prompt and make time for planning. Take about five minutes to make a short outline, even if it’s just bullet points about what each paragraph is about. Make sure you know what your viewpoint on the issue is and to what extent you agree or disagree with the three perspectives.
On the back end of the test, give yourself time to review your work. About five minutes should be enough to go through your essay and correct any grammar and punctuation errors. Don’t worry about getting it perfect, though. While you will be assessed on your mastery of language use and conventions, those who grade the essays recognize that 40 minutes is not sufficient time to generate a polished product. They will treat your essay as a first draft, so a few minor errors won’t hurt your score.
As part of your ACT tutoring process, you will learn just what the scorers will be looking for in an essay, as well as what may hurt your score. When learning ACT writing tips, it’s important to know what to do and what not to do.
You have been given an issue, three perspectives, and some instructions: in other words, things the people who evaluate your essay will be aware of. When they start reading your essay, they want to learn about your position and why you hold it—not read some summary of the provided material. You can jump into your thesis statement in the first sentence if you want.
This is a common writing mistake on more than just the ACT Writing Test. When reading about an issue, you may feel the urge to charge right into the writing without properly centering your thoughts. Fight that urge, remembering that the text will present a specific angle on the issue that you should respond to. For our sample essay, don’t respond to other areas that touch on automation, but focus on the idea of how the presence of intelligent machines affects the nature of humanity.
By periodically using the exact words of the text, you can anchor your thoughts and not veer off topic. When analyzing the perspectives, make sure you are referencing what each one says. In our example, you may refer to the claim that replacing people with machines will cause us to “lose a part of our own humanity.” That sets you up to agree or disagree depending on your position stated in your thesis.
Let’s remember once again the primary purpose of the essay: explain and support your view on the issue. You are using the claims in the three perspectives to guide your own assertion, so take from them what you need to accomplish that goal. Referring to “Perspective One, Two or Three” is lazy writing. Instead, state the core elements of each perspective and incorporate them into your argument, explaining how you feel the evidence supports or doesn’t support each one.
One of the biggest downfalls in persuasive writing is speaking in generalities when presenting supporting evidence. Even though the issue paragraph is in such general terms, you need to be specific. For example, instead of saying that “automation is generally seen as a sign of progress,” provide examples backing that claim. How has automation indicated progress in the past? When has increased automation not been beneficial? Don’t assume that your audience agrees with you: explain why you have chosen your particular position.
A good conclusion is not supposed to be a paraphrase of everything you previously wrote. Instead, it is an opportunity to connect the dots between your points and thesis in a way that assures the reader what your position really is. Avoid quoting yourself or restating your thesis. Yes, you should be touching on what you just wrote, but do so in a manner that clarifies how your supporting points justify the specific position you’ve taken on that issue.
An expert writing tutor gives you the best chance of achieving your target score, not only by teaching you how to plan and construct essays, but also by helping you review and evaluate what you’ve written. While you may notice some of your mistakes, a tutor can better identify which strategies may have been more effective and what adjustments you can make for the next essay. You can find prompts from previous tests and ACT essay test examples online, so there will be plenty of opportunities to write and review your work as part of your ACT tutoring.
While a writing tutor may be your most valuable asset in prepping for the ACT Writing Test, the help you’ve received from your ACT tutor will also be beneficial. Critical to the formulation of a thesis is a clear understanding of the text itself, and that calls for proficiency in reading. An ACT Reading tutor will help your hone your comprehension skills so you can both recognize the scope of the given issue and understand the essay directions. For the writing itself, you can lean on instruction provided by your ACT English tutor to ensure that your writing is concise, your thesis well-supported, and your grammar correct.
Writing is one of those skills that pertains to more occupations than you might think, so you should expect to do lots of it in college. Some careers are especially heavy on writing, such as law, scientific research , and journalism. When admissions officers see that you hope to enter such a field of study, they will want to know whether you are ready to do so. That means determining whether your writing ability meets their standards. A strong showing on the ACT Writing test will show your prowess and prove you’re ready for what lies ahead.
Jonathan Reidenouer, M.Ed., is a professional educator with classroom experience in mathematics and social studies. Since 2015, he has worked full-time as a tutor, specializing in math, test prep, and writing instruction. Request Tutoring From Jonathan
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ACT , ACT Writing
There is no part of the ACT more mysterious to students than the essay, and very few people seem to know what exactly the ACT is looking for in a "perfect" essay (particularly since September 2015 was the new ACT Writing test's debut). Luckily, we've got the expertise to give you some insight into how the essay works and what you can do to push your score those extra few points up the scale.
Whether you're trying to impress your dream school or just want to boost your ACT score, the essay is a great thing to work on. Some of the tips below stand alone, while others are part of larger categories that have been assembled based our ACT expertise.
Important: If you haven't read these two other ACT Writing guides before , take a minute and read them now:
The ACT Writing Rubric: Analysis, Explanation, and Strategies
How to Write an ACT Essay, Step by Step
This will make the rest of the article make more sense.
If you're already scoring an 8 or above in every domain on practice (or real) ACT essays, you have a shot at completely nailing what the graders want, represented by a score of 12, with a little practice.
But there's something important to remember in your quest for perfection: on the ACT essay, a 12 is not always achievable. We've got good news and bad news for those of you who are determined to know how to get a 12 on the ACT essay.
You'll have to practice this specific essay. The perfect ACT essay is like a puzzle that happens to be in writing form—it can be mastered, but to do it well and completely every time requires a few month's practice. Knowing how to write other kinds of essays will only help you a limited amount.
Because the whole essay must be written in 40 minutes, getting a 12 requires some luck. You have to pick a thesis and think of relevant and convincing evidence to support it before you can even start writing, so a lot depends on how quickly you can decided on a point of view and relevant support for whatever the prompt happens to be. And because perfect-scoring essays are almost always at least two pages long , you won't have any time to spare.
Because the essay is so formulaic, it's always possible to get at least a 10 in each domain. And, on top of this, no college worth its salt is going to base your college admission on getting those last two points on an essay you had to write in 40 minutes. The goal, really, is to show that you can write a decent essay in that time, and a 10 in each domain shows that just as well as a 12 does.
If we asked the ACT what the difference is between a 10 and a 12 ACT essay, they would direct us to their scoring criteria (replicated in the table below) that describes the difference between the 5 and 6 essay scores in each domain. As you may already know, a total domain score of 12 comes from two readers separately giving your essay a 6; the four domain scores are then averaged to calculate your total essay score of 12.
We've marked the differences between the 5 and 6 criteria in bold . Later, we'll look at these differences in the context of a sample essay.
Responses at this scorepoint demonstrate well-developed skill in writing an argumentative essay. | Responses at this scorepoint demonstrate effective skill in writing an argumentative essay. | ||
The writer generates an argument that productively engages with multiple perspectives on the given issue. The argument's thesis reflects precision in thought and purpose. The argument establishes and employs a thoughtful context for analysis of the issue and its perspectives. The analysis addresses implications, complexities and tensions, and/or underlying values and assumptions. | The writer generates an argument that with multiple perspectives on the given issue. The argument's thesis reflects in thought and purpose. The argument establishes and employs an for analysis of the issue and its perspectives. The analysis implications, complexities and tensions, and/or underlying values and assumptions. | The 6 essay gives a more specific and logically precise context. The thesis and argument show a deep understanding of the issue, while the analysis not only mentions, but also inspects the complexities and implications of the issue.
| |
Development of ideas and support for claims deepen understanding. A mostly integrated line of purposeful reasoning and illustration capably conveys the significance of the argument. Qualifications and complications enrich ideas and analysis. | Development of ideas and support for claims . An integrated line of skillful reasoning and illustration conveys the significance of the argument. Qualifications and complications ideas and analysis. | The 6 essays develops its ideas and support for those ideas more thoroughly and examines the implications of the ideas and support in a larger context. In addition, the complexity of the discussion for each examples strengthens the essay's argument and the analysis of the issue at hand. | |
The response exhibits a productive organizational strategy. The response is mostly unified by a controlling idea or purpose, and a logical sequencing of ideas contributes to the effectiveness of the argument. Transitions between and within paragraphs consistently clarify the relationships among ideas. | The response exhibits a . The response is unified by a controlling idea or purpose, and a logical progression of ideas of the writer's argument. Transitions between and within paragraphs the relationships among ideas. | The 6 essay is organized to enhance the logic and strength of the writer's argument, whereas the 5 essay is only organized clearly. | |
The use of language works in service of the argument. Word choice is precise. Sentence structures are clear and varied often. Stylistic and register choices, including voice and tone, are purposeful and productive. While minor errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics may be present, they do not impede understanding. | The use of language the argument. Word choice is . Sentence structures are consistently varied and clear. Stylistic and register choices, including voice and tone, are . While a few minor errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics may be present, they do not impede understanding. | The 6 essay is written extremely well, whereas the 5 essay is written pretty well. This means getting creative and using advanced vocabulary appropriately if you want a 6. |
Now we'll look at a sample essay and how it demonstrates the characteristics of the 6 essay above. First, let's look at the prompt:
Intelligent Machines
Many of the goods and services we depend on daily are now supplied by intelligent, automated machines rather than human beings. Robots build cars and other goods on assembly lines, where once there were human workers. Many of our phone conversations are now conducted not with people but with sophisticated technologies. We can now buy goods at a variety of stores without the help of a human cashier. Automation is generally seen as a sign of progress, but what is lost when we replace humans with machines? Given the accelerating variety and prevalence of intelligent machines, it is worth examining the implications and meaning of their presence in our lives.
Perspective One: What we lose with the replacement of people by machines is some part of our own humanity. Even our mundane daily encounters no longer require from us basic courtesy, respect, and tolerance for other people.
Perspective Two: Machines are good at low-skill, repetitive jobs, and at high-speed, extremely precise jobs. In both cases they work better than humans. This efficiency leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone.
Perspective Three: Intelligent machines challenge our long-standing ideas about what humans are or can be. This is good because it pushes both humans and machines toward new, unimagined possibilities.
Write a unified, coherent essay about the increasing presence of intelligent machines.
Now, read the ACT essay example below , and try to notice how it meets the criteria in the table above.
From the simplest system of pulleys and ropes to the most complex supercomputer in the world today, machines have had (and continue to have) a profound influence on the development of humanity. Whether it is taking over monotonous, low-skill tasks or removing that messy "human" element from our day-to-day interactions, machines have answered the call to duty. The increasing prevalence of intelligent machines challenges us to change long held beliefs about our limitations and to continue forward to new and even more advanced possibilities. One common argument against the increased presence of machines in our day to day lives is that machines leach from us our basic humanity. Indeed, certain people whose only social interactions are anonymous text-based conversations with other anonymous Internet forum dwellers over computers may begin to lose basic human courtesy and empathy. This is crystal clear with a glance at the comments section of any popular news article. Yet machines are also capable of enhancing people's abilities to communicate. An example of this can be found in Tod Machover's lab at MIT, where breakthroughs in neurotechnology have made it possible for quadripalegics to manipulate text on computers with their minds. Such interactions would be impossible without the existence of intelligent machines. Therefore, I must disagree with Perspective one. Rather than losing part of our own humanity to machines, we instead make that most-essential-to-humanity of acts, communication, possible. Another school of thought (Perspective Two) argues that machines are good at how and high skill repetitive jobs, which leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone. This can be seen in the human work hours that are saved daily with automated phone menus. Before intelligent machines made automatic telephone menus possible, every customer service call ate up valuable employee time. Now, menus allow callers to choose the number that best suits their needs, routing calls to appropriate destinations without the need for human employees to waste time explaining for the hundredth time that "our business hours are 10am-6pm." On the other hand, no mechanized system of this kind is perfect, because it can't predict all future outcomes. In terms of automated telephone menus, this means that sometimes, no menu options are correct. While automated systems may take the burden off of human workers, it is a mistake to think that they can replace humans entirely. Why else would the last line of resort for most automated phone menus be "Dial "0" to speak to an operator/customer service representative?" Perspective Two is true, but it only goes so far. A final example will demonstrate how intelligent machines challenge longstanding ideas and push us towards new, unimagined possibilities (perspective three). At my high school, all students had to take diagnostic tests in every main subject to figure out our strengths and weaknesses, and we were then sorted into class by skill level. A truly remarkable pattern emerged as a result of this sorting: it turned out that every kid in my medium-level physics class was also a talented musician. The system that sorted us allowed us to find this underlying pattern, which changed the way our teachers taught us; we learned about mechanics through examples that were more relevant to our lives (answering questions like "how many pulleys are needed to lift a piano?"), which in turn made our classes both more enjoyable and also more effective. When before I had struggled with physics and simply assumed it was a subject I "wasn't good at," the intelligent, automated sorting system allowed me to discover that I could in fact understand mechanics if taught in the right way. This discovery pushed me toward previously unimagined academic possibilities. In conclusion, intelligent machines help us to move forward as a species to greater heights. While machines can cause problems and may in some cases need human input to function optimally, it is how we react and adapt to the machines that is the real takeaway.
This was a real essay written by me within the time limit. What do you think?
Now let's look at an annotated version of this ACT essay example that points out the essay's features.
The 6 essay gives a more specific and logically precise context. The thesis and argument show a deep understanding of the issue, while the analysis not only mentions, but also inspects the complexities and implications of the issue. | > The author , presenting aspects of the two perspectives she does not entirely agree with: " " | |
The 6 essays develops its ideas and support for those ideas more thoroughly and examines the implications of the ideas and support in a larger context. In addition, the complexity of the discussion for each examples strengthens the essay's argument and the analysis of the issue at hand. | > The author gives both general ... > ...and specific that discuss both sides of the perspectives: | |
The 6 essay is organized to enhance the logic and strength of the writer's argument, whereas the 5 essay is only organized clearly. | > The essay begins (after the introduction paragraph) by addressing opposing views and discussing their strengths and their limits. > Then it goes on in paragraphs 4 to explain a final reason why intelligent machines challenge ideas about humanity and push us towards new possibilities. | |
The 6 essay is written extremely well, whereas the 5 essay is written pretty well. This means getting creative and using advanced vocabulary appropriately if you want a 6. | > The "advanced" vocabulary is highlighted in blue. > Sentence structure is varied, like here: |
The essay is long enough to analyze and compare the author's perspective to other perspectives in a nuanced way (one positive example for each perspective with an addition negative example comparing two perspectives the author disagreed with to her own perspective) and include an introductory paragraph and a conclusion.
While ACT, Inc. doesn't acknowledge that length is a factor in scoring ACT essays , most experts agree that it is. But length means nothing if there isn't valuable information filling the space, so long ACT essays also need to be detailed—this author uses the space to give lots of analysis of and context for her examples.
You may have noticed that the essay is broken up into multiple paragraphs (into the standard five-paragraph format, in fact). This makes the essay easier to read, especially for the ACT readers who have about two to three minutes to read (and score!) each essay. If your points can easily be split up into small parts, then it makes sense to split it up into even more paragraphs, as long as your essay's organization and logical progression remains clear.
This essay uses a personal example, which may or may not be made up (spoiler alert: it is). But the point is that it could be made up, as can anything you use in your essay. Being able to think of examples (that are not too obviously made up) can give you a huge advantage on the ACT essay.
The key to a perfect score on the ACT essay is to use every second of your time wisely. To this end, here are a few tips to avoid common time-wasters and put your energy where it will get you the most points.
#1: Writing as much as you can without including repetitive or irrelevant information.
#2: Revising the first and last paragraphs (they stand out in readers' minds).
#3: Making sure you have transitions.
#1: Thinking of 'smart' sounding evidence— examples from your own life (or made up about your own life) are just as viable as current events, as long as you keep your example focused and concise.
#2: Trying to correct every error—the grammar and spelling do not have to be perfect to score a 12 in the Language Use domain.
#3: Adding as many vocabulary words as you can—you only need enough to avoid repeating the same basic words or phrases multiple times; you'll max out fancy vocab's potential at two words per paragraph.
Find out more about how to write an ACT essay with this step-by-step example .
Use our analysis of the ACT Writing Rubric to learn about how your essay will be scored—and discover strategies you can use to get the score you want.
Want to aim for perfection on the ACT with a 36? Read our guide on how to score a perfect ACT score, written by our resident 36 scorer.
Make sure your ACT score is high enough for the schools you want to apply to. Find out how to find your ACT target score .
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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.
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Each ACT essay is scored by two different graders on a scale of 1-6 across four different domains, for a total score out of 12 in each domain. These domain scores are then averaged into a total score out of 12. NOTE: The ACT Writing Test from September 2015-June 2016 had a slightly different scoring scale; instead of averaging all the domain ...
Below, I've listed the four key factors that determine essay length. #1: Vocabulary. The more advanced vocabulary you use, the fewer words you'll need to get your point across, which might result in a shorter essay. This difference can be seen on the word count graph above: the 5-scoring essay is longer than the 6-scoring essay.
An image of your essay will be available to your high school and the colleges to which you have ACT report your scores from that test date. Taking the writing test does not affect your subject area scores or your Composite score. However, without a writing test score, no English Language Arts (ELA) score will be reported.
The ACT essay might seem daunting, but understanding its structure and scoring system and applying the right strategies can significantly improve your score. With enough practice, you can ace the ACT essay and showcase your writing skills to colleges. Remember, the key is to effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas while engaging ...
The scoring system for the resulting essay is fairly complex. Two graders score your essay in 4 domains from 1-6, giving you a total potential score of 12 in each domain. Your scores between the four domains are then averaged to get your overall score from 2-12. For more on ACT Writing scoring, see our complete breakdown.
This is an average of your 1-36 scores in each of the four multiple-choice sections (Reading, Math, English, and Science). It doesn't take your essay score into account. In other words-does the ACT writing score affect composite scores? It doesn't. With that said, the essay score will affect your ELA subscore on the exam.
ization, and style). The Writing Test is a 30-minute essay test with a s. ngle writing prompt. It is designed to evaluate students' ability to make and articulate judgments, develop and sustain a position, organize and present ideas logically, and communicate clearly. in original writing.The Composite score and subscores for the multiple ...
Your argument, organization, and supporting examples are the most crucial pieces of your essay, but these four writing tips can help boost your score. 1. Go Long. Yes, ACT graders really do tend to reward longer essays. Try to write at least four paragraphs spanning two to three pages.
Here are a few more factors to consider: 1. Your School or State Requires It. Some colleges, highs schools, and states require the ACT writing test. Check this early on to avoid surprises. 2. You Want Your Application to Stand Out. A strong writing score can make your application more competitive.
The test is graded on a score from 1-6, six being the best and one needing the most improvement. Your essay is graded by two separate people and they will combine those scores. So, you can reach a maximum score of 12. ACT Practice Writing Prompts When you get your prompt, it will be centered around an important societal issue.
Since this is the only section of the test that is unable to be graded by a computer, the ACT has two separate evaluators read each student's essay and give it a score on a scale of 1-6. These two scores are then combined to give the student a total score out of 12. The fact that a human scores the writing section of the ACT can be a positive ...
Planning. Time: 8-10 minutes. #1: Decide on your thesis, choosing one of the three sides. You can try to form your own, fourth perspective, but since you have to compare your perspective with at least one other perspective, you might as well argue for one of given perspectives and save some time for writing.
The ACT Writing Test—colloquially referred to as the ACT essay—is an optional 40-minute test that does not affect your overall ACT score. But just because the writing test is optional when you register, it doesn't necessarily mean it's necessarily optional for you. Select schools, maybe even your dream university, actually do require the ACT essay as part of the admissions application.
ACT Scoring 101. The ACT has 5 sections, in this order: English. Math. Reading. Science. Essay ( optional) Every section except the ACT essay is scored on a scale of 1-36. 1 is the lowest score you can achieve on an individual section, while 36 is the highest score possible. ACT Section.
Tip 5: Pay attention to timing & your energy level. For the essay section, you will get 40 minutes. This includes time for planning, writing, and editing, so make sure you dole out the appropriate amount of time for each part of the process. You can practice this by timing yourself to write an essay from a sample prompt at home.
Writing Test Description for the ACT. If you register for the ACT with writing, you will take the writing section after the four multiple-choice sections. Your score in the writing section will not affect your scores on the multiple-choice or your Composite score. The writing section is a 40-minute essay test that measures your writing skills ...
The ACT Writing section comprises 40 minutes of the total testing time of 3 hours and 35 minutes. In these 40 minutes, you must read the passage, perspectives, and prompts, develop your argument, and write a thesis. To make the most of your time, follow a structured essay template that contains a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Thank you. You will have your act composite score of the 4 main subjects, and then a score based just off your writing. Your writing will not negatively affect your score, especially if your school doesn't require it. It could slightly make your test look better but only if you score in like the 11/12. It's not factored into your composite ...
The first thing to understand about ACT scores is that the score you get for each subject area, between 1 and 36, is a scaled score. That scaled score is converted from your raw score. The reason the ACT (as well as other standardized tests) uses scaled scores is to make sure their scores are consistent across multiple test dates.
Length: three hours and 30 minutes. Sections: four required (English, math, reading, science), one optional (writing) Number of questions: 215 (plus an essay prompt) Types of questions: multiple choice, essay (writing section only) Score range: 1-36. Cost: $46 without the writing section, $62.50 with the writing section.
Because it's optional, the Writing Test is scored separately from the rest of the ACT. If you choose to take the Writing Test, your scores for that section will be separate from those for the other four sections and will not affect your composite score in any way. Instead of operating on the 1-36 scale, your essay score will range from 2-12 ...
Use your My Colleges tab to double check the standardized test policy for each of your colleges. If your colleges do not require 'ACT with Essay' or 'SAT with Essay', you do not need to report your writing scores. If you don't want to report your ACT or SAT writing scores when they are optional, please use the following steps.
Part II: The Difference Between a 10 and a 12. If we asked the ACT what the difference is between a 10 and a 12 ACT essay, they would direct us to their scoring criteria (replicated in the table below) that describes the difference between the 5 and 6 essay scores in each domain. As you may already know, a total domain score of 12 comes from ...
Key Takeaways. Paying off a loan may lower your credit score, but if you practice good credit habits the effect will be minimal. Paying off a loan early can reduce your debt-to-income ratio, which ...