The ACT writing section is a new addition to the ACT exam introduced in September 2015. During the writing portion, students are presented with a prompt and asked to craft a well-developed essay to respond to the given issue. Students have 40 minutes to plan, write, and revise their response. The writing section is scored separately from the other subject areas on the ACT test on a scale of 2-12 based on ideas and analysis, development and support, organization, and language use and conventions.
Because the writing section is new, many students may feel less prepared to craft an effective essay response within the given time constraints compared to sections they have had more practice with like English, math, reading, and science. There are strategies students can employ to maximize their performance on this section. By understanding the prompt, thoroughly planning their response, and carefully editing and revising their writing, students can write an essay that adequately addresses the issue and earns a high score.
The prompt provides the context and parameters for the essay. It is crucial for students to carefully read and comprehend the prompt before beginning to write. They should identify the specific issue or argument presented in the prompt and determine the task being asked of them, such as discuss your perspective on the issue. Students should also identify the salient factors involved in the issue that must be addressed in their response. Underlining or annotating key details in the prompt can help with comprehension and reminder of necessary elements to include. Taking the time up front to fully grasp what the prompt is asking for will better guide the structure and substance of the ensuing response.
With a solid understanding of the prompt, students can then begin planning their essay. The ACT recommends utilizing the remaining 20 minutes allotted for planning, writing, and reviewing to spend 10 minutes crafting an outline and 10 minutes writing the essay. The structure of the essay should mirror standard five paragraph essay format, though students are not required to explicitly label each paragraph. The introduction should begin by restating the prompt and issue in the student’s own words to demonstrate comprehension. It should also provide a clear thesis statement outlining the student’s perspective or position on the issue. Each body paragraph should focus on supporting the thesis with well-explained evidence, facts, examples, or opinions. Strong supporting details go beyond restating the prompt and include specific examples to illustrate key ideas. The conclusion should reiterate the thesis and leave the reader with a memorable culminating thought. During the outline stage, students should brainstorm potential supporting points for each body paragraph, with a minimum of three well developed ideas. Bullet pointing or mapping ideas will help organize scattered thoughts and allow for efficient writing.
Once the outline is complete, transfer of thoughts to paper should flow readily within the allotted 10 minutes. Students are advised to write legibly so graders can decipher their response. They should continue developing ideas from their outline, rather than launching tangents, in order to stay focused and on track. Transitions between paragraphs are important to develop logical flow. Given time constraints, perfection is not expected at this stage. What matters most is conveying ideas clearly through sufficient explanation and elaboration. Grammar, diction, and mechanics do factor into scoring but are secondary to development of content. If time permits after a first draft is written, students may return to proofread and correct errors. But spending too long polishing risks running out of time before completing content expectations.
Upon completion of writing, students should take the remaining few minutes to review what they have written. This provides an opportunity to catch any significant errors, strengthen weak points, and ensure all components of the prompt were addressed. Effective self-editing enhances flow and cohesion between ideas. Students may also want to jot a few words in the margins summarizing each paragraph to stay focused on development. Time spent planning and writing should be prioritized over extensive revising, which risks running out of allowed time or diverting too far from pre-plotted content. The review period aims to catch obvious oversights rather than drastically altering what has already been written.
For the highest likelihood of success on the ACT writing test, preparation and practice are key. Prior to the actual test, students should familiarize themselves with various writing prompts and produce sample timed responses in order to gain experience. Beyond just brainstorming and outlining, they need training actually writing under pressure to build stamina and efficiency. Review of scored sample responses can also provide insight into what graders look for in terms of structure, development, and language mechanics expected at various score levels. Feedback from instructors is invaluable for improving strategy and addressing weaknesses. Students who approach this section strategically through understanding what is expected of them and devoting serious practice time are best equipped to demonstrate their rhetorical and composition skills on test day. Comprehension and application of the above best practices for prompt response planning, writing, and reviewing will optimize performance on the ACT writing section. With effective preparation, focus, and time management, students can feel confident in their ability to show what they know.
The ACT writing test presents students with an opportunity to display their abilities beyond just basic mathematics, science, English, and reading knowledge. By comprehending what each unique prompt requires, thoroughly crafting an outline, writing a focused response adhering to standard essay structure, and self-editing for flow and clarity, students empower themselves to shine on this brand new component. Implementing strategic techniques like annotating prompts, mapping outlines, and practicing sample essays under testing conditions readies test takers for 40 minutes of writing success. Those who invest serious preparation applying the above guidance gain confidence and control over demonstrating the compositional skills that are increasingly vital for college and career readiness in the 21st century. With diligent practice of these proven methods, students can feel confident and satisfied with their written performance to complement other strengths on test day.
Andrew Stroud