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I'll be taking both these tests, since the writing is now incorportated into the New SAT, i shouldn't take the new optional section of the act should I?

By Drusba (Drusba) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 09:01 am: Edit

It depends on the colleges to which you intend to apply. Many (particularly many of your higher ranked schools) will require the writing section of the ACT for 2006 applicants if you intend to rely on the ACT for admission. Taking the new SAT does not change that rule, i.e., they will not consider your ACT score at all unless it includes the writing section.

By Celebrian23 (Celebrian23) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 03:40 pm: Edit

but i'm taking both tests, so i don't need writing for act for schools that require just 1 test right?

By Drusba (Drusba) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 05:12 pm: Edit

Only if you intend to rely on the ACT for admission to a college that requires its writing section. Assume you intend to apply to a college that requires either the new SAT or the ACT with its writing section, then:

1. If you don't take the ACT writing, the only score it will consider is your score from the new SAT. Submitting your ACT without its writing section is useless at that college. In other words, the fact that you have the writing section from the new SAT does not mean that college will consider your ACT score without its writing section.

2. If you take that writing section with your ACT, then you can submit both and the college will determine which one -- ACT or SAT -- it considers to be the higher score and use that for admission.

3. Thus, taking the writing section for the ACT hedges your bets at such a college. If you bomb the new SAT but do very well on the ACT with its writing section, you will still have a high score (the ACT) to submit for admission.

By Celebrian23 (Celebrian23) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 05:36 pm: Edit

thanks...i'm still not sure, i thought i would submit the act w/o writing just as a supplement, not for them to actually compare the 2 scores