The ACT Writing Test is an optional section of the ACT Exam that asks you to write an essay. It gives you a prompt about a real-world issue and three different perspectives on that issue. Your job is to write a clear and well-organized essay that shares your own point of view, explains how it relates to the given perspectives, and supports your ideas with strong reasoning and examples. This test isn’t just about grammar or spelling—it’s about how well you think, organize, and communicate your ideas.

Your writing is scored in four main domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. Each domain is scored on a scale of 1 to 6 by two different readers, giving you a total Writing score between 2 and 12. So, what do these scores mean?

• A score of 6 means your essay is clear, insightful, and very well-developed.
• A 5 shows strong writing with only minor flaws.
• A 4 means it’s adequate but may lack depth or organization.
• A 3 is more basic and may miss key points.
• A 2 is unclear or very limited in ideas, and
• A 1 struggles with structure and clarity.

Predict your ACT Scores using our Free ACT Score Calculator!

Did You Know Facts About ACT Writing Score?

• ✍️ Scored Separately: Your ACT Writing score doesn’t count toward your overall ACT composite score—it stands alone on a scale of 2 to 12. So it’s its own thing!
• 👥 Two Evaluators: Two trained graders will each score your essay in four key areas: Ideas & Analysis, Development & Support, Organization, and Language Use. That means your essay gets lots of attention!
• 🧠💻 Computer Backup: If the two graders disagree by more than one point, a third expert—or even a computer— steps in to double-check. So yes, your essay might get read by a robot. 🤖
• 📌 Optional but Important: The Writing section is optional, but some colleges require or recommend it. Always double-check with the schools you’re applying to before deciding to skip it!
• 📊 Average Score Insight: Most students score around a 6 or 7 on the Writing test. If you score 8 or above, that’s considered a strong performance—great job! 🌟

What is a Good ACT Writing Score?

A score of 8 or above that is generally considered good, as the average score lies between 6 and 7. So anything above 7 puts you above average, a score of 9 or 10 is strong, and 11 or 12 is excellent. The ACT Writing Test is a 40-minute, handwritten essay where you respond to a prompt about a current issue. You’ll be given three different perspectives on the topic, and you’ll need to write an essay that presents your own viewpoint.

You should also explain how it connects to or differs from the given perspectives. The goal is to show how well you can think through an issue, organize your thoughts, and clearly support your ideas with reasons and examples.

• Each area gets a score from 1 to 6 by two different graders, and those scores are combined to give you a total score between 2 (lowest) and 12 (highest). 
• On average, students usually score between 6 and 7. If there’s a decimal in your score after averaging the domain scores, it’s rounded to the nearest whole number.
• Also, your high school and any colleges you send your ACT scores to will receive a copy of your essay along with your score, so it’s a good idea to take it seriously—especially if a school you're applying to recommends or requires it!

Check ACT Writing Prompt Here!

Breaking Down the ACT Writing Rubric

The ACT Writing Test uses a Six-Point Holistic Rubric to evaluate your essay, meaning your writing is graded based on a set of criteria that looks at the overall quality of your response, not just one aspect of it. This rubric scores essays on four main domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. The goal is to assess how well you can develop a clear argument, organize your ideas logically, and support your opinions with relevant examples while maintaining clear writing and few errors. 

The ACT essay is graded by two evaluators, each giving a score between 1 and 6, for a combined total score ranging from 2 to 12. Here is a breakdown of the ACT essay scoring rubric, outlining the key criteria for each score level:

1. Score = 6 The essay clearly addresses the task, with well-developed ideas, good organization, and minimal errors.
2. Score = 5 The essay shows a clear understanding, with organized ideas and few errors, though some sections may be less detailed.
3. Score = 4 The essay is adequate, with clear ideas and simple organization, but lacks full development or depth.
4. Score = 3 The essay shows basic understanding, but the ideas are underdeveloped or repetitive, and organization is weak.
5. Score = 2 The essay has weak understanding, lacks support for the position, and may be poorly organized with many errors.
6. Score = 1 The essay shows little understanding, lacks clear development, and has frequent errors that disrupt meaning.
7. No Score = 0 The essay is blank, off-topic, illegible, or not in English.

Note- Keep in mind, the Writing Test does not affect your composite ACT score, but it does impact whether you’ll receive an English Language Arts (ELA) score, so it’s essential to focus on delivering a strong essay. 

ACT Writing Scoring Guide: Key Areas for Success

To improve your ACT writing, focus on the key areas below. These tips will help you score higher on the essay:

Also, Get to Know How Long is the ACT Exam?

Should I take the ACT with Writing?

Should I take the ACT with Writing? It depends on the colleges you're applying to. Most colleges no longer require the ACT Writing section, and many students say it’s not really worth the extra time or cost unless a school specifically asks for it.

Also, it’s important to know that the ACT Writing score does not affect your Composite score. Your Composite is based only on the four multiple-choice sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The Writing score is separate, ranging from 2 to 12. While it does factor into an ELA (English Language Arts) subscore—which averages your English, Reading, and Writing scores—most colleges don’t even look at that ELA score.

Honest opinion: If you’re not a strong writer, and none of your colleges require or recommend the Writing section, you can skip it. But if you’re aiming for competitive schools or just want to keep your options open, it doesn’t hurt to take it. It’s only one extra essay at the end of the test and might give your application a small boost.

📌 Read about the ACT Syllabus here!

Conclusion

The ACT Writing section can be helpful if you’re applying to colleges that recommend or require it, or if you want to show off your writing skills. But for most students, it’s not a must. It won’t affect your Composite score, and many schools don’t even consider it. So, check your college list before deciding. If you’re unsure, taking it can keep more options open without hurting your overall score.