Don't Skip the SAT® Essay and ACT® Writing Test in the “Test Optional” Era
The SAT® Essay and ACT® Writing Test are optional test sections that students can opt to tack onto their Test Day experiences. While there are schools that require students to submit scores from one of these writing assessments, over the past few years many have moved to making these writing sections elective. This has left students to decide whether or not to sign up for the ACT® Writing Test or SAT® Essay - especially considering the additional financial and time investments to do so.
Fast forward to today. Students are now facing the decision of whether to even take the SAT® or ACT® at all. The majority of top schools and universities have moved to “Test Optional” entrance policies due to the challenges and interruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. If the entire testing process is now considered optional by many schools, does that mean that the already optional writing sections are even less crucial?
In a word: no.
Know Your Audience
Writing is an essential skill in higher education. That said, the abilities to wield language effectively and display strong persuasive writing skills (primary focus areas of the SAT® Essay and ACT® Writing Test) are areas many colleges regularly express that they feel compelled to remediate with incoming freshmen.
One of the key determinations an admissions officer has to make is how college-ready a candidate actually is. The stronger the student, the more probable it is that he or she completes a degree and brings prestige (and revenue) to the institution. However, according to a U.S. Department of Education report, undergrad students who have to begin their college careers with remedial coursework are 75% less likely to graduate.
Once you add in the challenges of the current educational landscape (grade inflation, limited testing opportunities, pandemic-hampered instruction, etc.), the admissions office’s charge becomes infinitely more difficult. When a student is able to provide scores and writing products that demonstrate an acceptable level of college readiness (read: a level that does not demonstrate a need for remediation), it increases that student’s acceptance odds versus students who do not provide said evidence.
Even though the SAT® Essay and ACT® Writing Test are nearly universally considered optional for the coming admissions season, students should strongly consider taking advantage of the option as a way to more clearly showcase their college readiness and stand out from the competition.
Deciding Between the SAT® Essay and ACT® Writing Test
Just like with other areas of the SAT® and ACT®, there are definite similarities and differences between the SAT® Essay and the ACT® Writing Test (for our breakdown of all the similarities and differences between the entire tests, check out our free guide here).
The SAT® Essay gives test takers 50 minutes to read a lengthy text and craft an essay analyzing its argument. All the pertinent information is provided, so it is possible to write an incorrect or inaccurate response that can result in a drastically lowered score. That said, students with strong reading comprehension and general analytical skills should be able to showcase those strengths in this format.
The ACT® Writing Test is more focused on writing craft than reading comprehension and analysis. Students have 40 minutes to read a series of short introductory statements, create a persuasive thesis, and then compose a written defense. In doing so, key points and ideas come from the test taker, not a pre-selected text. Scoring emphasis is focused on using language to construct a piece that is clear, suitable to the task, and appropriately complex.
It may not make sense to base a student’s test selection on the writing portions, but it is something worth considering (granted, this is moot if opting for a dual-test strategy). Ultimately both test sections assess college-readiness skills, just in slightly different ways.
The SAT® Essay is comparable to short college essay work where undergraduates are asked to respond to an assigned syllabus reading. The ACT® Writing Test draws upon the skills students would need to establish a written position on a topic or contribute to a class discussion. Demonstrating either skill set (or both) effectively is a strong way to round out a college application - especially in times like these.
To see first-hand how Clear Choice curriculum materials can help you support students on these writing-focused test sections, click the link below to schedule a free consultation today.
