ACT Exams Test Writing

By Jane Eastwood |
  • It's a 40-minute essay exam where students analyze an issue and argument presented in a source text.
  • The prompt provides a short passage on some topic of broad interest and requires identifying/analyzing the author's argument.
  • Students must develop an organized response assessing the logical soundness of reasoning and use of evidence from their own perspective.
  • Writing should be cohesive, focused, and in a formal style suitable for an academic audience.
  • Scoring is holistic based on demonstration of ideas, organization, language usage, and conventions on a 2-36 scale.
  • Strong essays show comprehensive understanding of nuances/complexities, offer insightful analysis/evaluation from multiple viewpoints.
  • While grammar is considered, the main focus is on critical thinking, persuasive analysis and logical development of ideas.
  • Successful responses establish a clear position but also acknowledge alternative perspectives fairly.
  • Pacing is key as the prompt and planning time is limited, requiring rapid critical reading and writing.
  • The goal is to rigorously assess written communication and analytical skills for college/career readiness.

TIPS

Here are some specific tips and strategies for the ACT writing test:

  • Carefully read the source text multiple times to fully understand the author's argument and position.
  • Take notes on the key points, evidence used, and logical flow or flaws in the reasoning.
  • Plan your response before writing by outlining your position, main points of analysis, and how you will structure the essay.
  • In your intro, summarize the argument and state your own clear thesis on the soundness of reasoning and use of evidence.
  • Analyze specific aspects of the argument and how well evidence supports conclusions. Look at assumptions, alternative viewpoints.
  • Use direct quotes from the passage to support your analysis and show engagement with the source text.
  • Organize your response with topic sentences and smooth transitions between paragraphs.
  • Varied, sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structure enhances organization and persuasiveness.
  • Maintain formal, academic tone without informal language or personal opinions.
  • Conclude by restating your thesis and emphasizing significance of your analysis.
  • Budget most time for planning (15 mins) and writing (20 mins), leaving 5 for editing.
  • Check for grammatical errors, sentence structure, logical flow and development of ideas.
  • Practice analyzing sample prompts under timed conditions to experience pacing.
  • Ask teachers or peers to review practice essays to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
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