National Average Score for the ACT Writing Section

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The writing section of the ACT is optional, but it can be a great way to show off your writing skills and initiative to potential colleges. Some schools require it from their applicants, including Martin Luther College, United States Military Academy (West Point), and University of Montana Western. Currently, the national average score for the ACT Writing Test are between a 5 and 6. Let’s explore what this means and why it matters.

What is the ACT Writing Test?

The ACT Writing Test is a 40 minute optional portion of the ACT. It assesses your writing skills. Students will read a prompt and be asked to write an essay explaining their perspective on the issue. Each prompt will have some perspectives that you can pull from, but you are more than welcome to write about your own ideas, too, as long as it answers the main idea of the question. Your perspective doesn’t affect your final score.

How is the ACT Writing Test Scored?

The ACT Writing test is scored between 2 and 12 on four different skills:

• Ideas and Analysis. This is scored on your ability to generate ideas and engage with the material and perspective.
• Development and Support. This reflects your ability to discuss your perspective, ideas, and rationale, as well as your ability to showcase your understanding of the issue.
• Organization. This score reflects your ability to organize your thoughts clearly and effectively.
• Language Use and Conventions. This section is based on your use of the written language, style, tone, grammar, and mechanics.

ACT Writing Test Average Score and Percentiles

For the 2021, 2022, and 2023 ACT Writing tests, the average score was between a 5 and a 6. Register for a FREE College Raptor account to see how your scores compare with admitted students in the colleges on your list.

Here’s a look at the ACT writing test data:

So if you scored a 10 on the ACT Writing, you’d be in the 99th percentile of students taking the test, meaning you did better than 99% of the students sitting for the exam.

Tips for Scoring Well on the ACT Writing Test

While the ACT Writing portion of the ACT is very different from the rest of the exam, it is possible to increase your score. Here are a few tips to get you started!

1. Get Organized

Before you start writing, create an outline. Think about your perspective on the prompt and the argument you’re going to try to make. Your introduction should contain your thesis statement – the main idea of what you’re going to be discussing and “proving” in your essay.

Next, consider what points you’re going to make during the body of your essay. You should have three body paragraphs, each with a separate idea but with transitions between the three.

Your conclusion should summarize your points and thesis, concluding with why you think your perspective on the prompt is correct.

Even a bare bones outline of a few words can pay off big time and help your thoughts stay organized throughout the writing!

If you’re struggling to write the introduction or thesis, I’d recommend starting with the body paragraphs first. Sometimes it’s difficult to “start”. This will usually clear up any confusion and writer’s block, and you’ll likely find the introduction comes easy after you write the rest of the article. It’s personally what I used to do when I’d find it difficult to begin!

2. Write Strong Introductions and Conclusions

Whether you write your introduction first or last, it needs to be strong, as does the conclusion. You need to have your thoughts organized and presented well. The intro will hook the reader and get them interested in what you have to say, while the conclusion will sum up everything you wrote about it in a clear and concise manner.

Keep in mind, too, if you don’t have an introduction or conclusion, you likely won’t score high on the ACT Writing.

3. It’s Okay to Not Know Facts

You don’t have to pull on a breadth of knowledge in order to write an ACT essay. While facts can help you get organized and keep you on task, you can write with the knowledge you have. Facts are not part of the grading process! Taking this approach can help you keep your essay from becoming too vague, but try to keep it at least in the realm of reality.

4. Read Over Past Essays

Reading over your past essays and teachers’ notes can show you where you need to improve in your own writing. Go through your pieces and try to pick them apart. How could you have improved your thesis statement? Or the conclusion? Were there better body paragraphs or arguments you could have made to support your theory or topic?

You don’t want to write essay after essay to prepare for the ACT Writing, but taking the time out to look at past work can give you a path for moving forward.

5. Practice Time Management

As with the rest of the ACT, time management matters on the Writing portion. You only have 40 minutes to write a cohesive essay. The first few minutes should be devoted to reading over the prompt, making sure you understand it, deciding on a position, and developing your outline. Keep the outline bare bones so you have more time to actually write.

Next, you’ll want to dive right into the writing. Start with the body paragraphs or the introduction, following your outline. Aim for more than a single page. Total length doesn’t really matter, but you need enough space to present your argument. Make sure your writing is legible.

Once you have five paragraphs, including the intro, 3 body paragraphs, and the conclusion, read it over. Make adjustments for readability, clarity, and grammar.

While the ACT Writing test is optional for most colleges, taking this portion of the exam can be a great way to highlight your English and writing skills while also showing you take initiative when it comes to your education. As with the rest of the ACT, planning ahead can be key to doing well on this part of the test and scoring above the national average.

Understanding what a college is looking for from a student on the ACT can help you know what to aim for on the test. College Raptor provides insights into ACT scores, SAT scores, and more. Get started here.