Overview of the ACT Writing section

What is the ACT Writing section?

The last section of the ACT is the Writing section, and it is the only optional section of the ACT. In the Writing section, you are allowed 40 minutes to write an argumentative essay based on a given prompt.

So, if this essay is optional, why would you choose to take it? There are a couple reasons why you might choose this:

1. Some universities require that you report a Writing Section Score. Be sure to check if any of the schools you are applying to require this.
2. If you do well on the Writing section, your university may allow you to test out of certain university courses or take more advanced English courses rather than being required to start at beginner level courses. The Writing, English, and Reading section scores come together to create an ELA (English Language Arts) subscore which helps universities determine which classes you have the potential to test out of. But, without a Writing score, there will be no ELA subscore reported, and that opportunity is lost.

What is the essay like?

In the Writing section, you will be given a prompt to write about. These prompts present a complex issue and provide three different perspectives to consider. Your job is to develop your own perspective on the issue. Your perspective can match one of the three given perspectives or be entirely different. Your essay must analyze the relationship between your chosen perspective and one or more of the other perspectives. Here’s an example of an essay prompt you might see on the test:

Notice that under the “Essay Task” box, you are told what is expected of your essay. There is also a rubric to help your grader score your essay, which is what we will talk about next.

How is the essay scored?

Your essay will be scored on a scale from 1 to 12 based on the rubric shown below. The rubric only goes to 6, but because your essay will be graded by two people, the score will add up to a possibility of 12 (hence the 1–12). Know that getting a perfect score on the essay is EXTREMELY rare, so don’t get too worked up about not getting a 12.

Source: The ACT Writing Test Scoring Rubric

You will be graded on four things:

1. Ideas and analysis
2. Development and support
3. Organization
4. Language use

Let’s talk a bit about each one.

Ideas and analysis

To get a top score in this area, you need to:

1. Create an argument from the given issue that critically engages with multiple perspectives
2. Create an argument that establishes and employs an insightful context for analysis of the issue and its perspectives
3. Create a thesis that reflects nuance and precision in thought and purpose
4. Create an analysis that examines implications, complexities and tensions, and/or underlying values and assumptions

In other words, you need to craft a clear argument throughout your essay that has intelligent thought and purpose.

Development and support

To get a top score in this area, you need to:

1. Develop your ideas and support the claims you make such that they deepen insight and broaden the context of what you’re discussing
2. Skillfully reason and effectively illustrate the significance of your argument
3. Support your ideas and analysis as well as provide counterarguments

You need to support your ideas and claims well. An important way to do this is through story-telling. We discuss this more in the [Know your audience] chapter.

Organization

To get a top score in this area, you need to:

1. Have a main idea or purpose that unifies everything you write
2. Present a logical progression of ideas throughout the essay that increases the effectiveness of your argument
3. Provide smooth transitions in and between paragraphs to strengthen the relationships among ideas.

Basically, you need a skillful organizational strategy for your essay. The next chapter “How to structure your ACT essay” will teach you an effective way to organize your ideas.

Language use

To get a top score in this area, you need to:

1. Use language that enhances your argument
2. Choose precise and skillful words
3. Structure your sentences so they are consistently varied and clear
4. Write in a tone and voice that is strategic and effective
5. Not have any grammar errors that impede understanding

Use clear, effective language to enhance your writing. Often, students assume that sounding smart is the goal. They try to use complicated, flowery language, but without a clear point to make, their efforts fall flat.

Instead, go for clarity. Clarity is what your audience is looking for; it’s what is being graded at the end of the day. Clarity will get your point across and make your argument much more effective. Good writing is not complicated writing. Your goal is to answer the prompt, so get rid of the fluffy, filler language and get to the point. Clarity is key.

Common filler words to avoid putting in your essay:

• To a certain extent
• As a whole
• Additionally
• Perspective one, two, and three
  • It’s lazy to number the perspectives. Say what the perspectives are rather than labeling them “one, two, and three” in your essay
• I disagree/agree with…
  • You need evidence behind each claim you make, and agreeing or disagreeing with a perspective is not effective evidence. Even the mention of it ends up being a nonessential filler.
• Good/bad
  • There are better, more descriptive words to use to convey your point. Get creative and don’t rely on cliches.

Now you know the framework for the essay portion of the ACT. You also got some tips for how to get a top score on your essay. Next, you will get a step-by-step guide on how to structure your essay so you can excel at all four areas on the rubric: Ideas and analysis, Development and support, Organization, and Language use.