1. What is the ACT Composite Score With Writing?

The ACT Composite Score With Writing combines your standard ACT composite score with your writing test score, adjusted by a criteria factor that reflects the importance of writing for your specific application.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( CS \) — Composite score with writing (1-36)
• \( CS_{no\_w} \) — Composite score without writing (1-36)
• \( WS \) — Writing score (2-12)
• \( C \) — Criteria factor (0-1)

Explanation: The formula balances your standard ACT score with your writing performance, weighted by how important writing is for your specific needs.

3. Importance of Writing Criteria

Details: The criteria factor allows customization based on how much weight writing should have in your composite score. For writing-intensive programs, use higher values (0.7-1.0). For STEM programs, lower values (0.3-0.5) may be appropriate.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your standard ACT composite score (1-36), writing score (2-12), and select a criteria factor (0-1). All values must be within their valid ranges.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical criteria factor value?
A: For most colleges, 0.5 is standard. Competitive writing programs may use 0.7-1.0, while technical programs may use 0.3 or lower.

Q2: How is the writing score scaled?
A: The ACT writing test is scored from 2-12 by two readers who each give 1-6 points, then summed.

Q3: Does this match official ACT reporting?
A: No, this is a custom calculation. Official ACT reports show separate scores for composite and writing.

Q4: When should I use this calculation?
A: Useful when programs want a single weighted score that incorporates writing ability.

Q5: Can I use this for SAT scores?
A: No, this formula is specific to ACT scoring scales. SAT uses different ranges for its components.