The ACT Writing score is reported on a scale from 2 (lowest) to 12 (highest). This score is the rounded average of four domain scores, each also scored from 2 to 12. The four domains evaluated are Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. Two graders each score the essay in these four domains on a 1-6 scale, and their scores are combined to produce domain scores out of 12, which are then averaged to get the final writing score out of 12
. The average ACT Writing score typically falls between 6 and 7. Higher scores, such as 8 and above, are considered good and can be important for admission to selective universities. A perfect score of 12 places a student in the 100th percentile nationally
. In summary:
- ACT Writing score range: 2 to 12
- Four domain scores (Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, Language Use and Conventions), each 2-12
- Final writing score is the average of the four domain scores, rounded
- Average score: about 6-7
- Highest score: 12 (top percentile)
This score is separate from the composite ACT score and does not affect the composite score calculation
