Colleges Take Different Approaches to Assessing Student Writing Skills

July 31, 2003

IOWA CITY, Iowa—One size does not fit all. ACT is receiving that message as colleges and universities across the nation announce decisions on whether or not they will use new standardized writing tests. Early responses to a letter from ACT CEO Richard L. Ferguson indicate that slightly more than half will not require a writing test, about one quarter will recommend but not require a writing test, and about one quarter will require one. These findings are consistent with research conducted by ACT that resulted in its decision to make the ACT Writing Test optional.

ACT is developing an optional writing test to be part of the ACT Assessment beginning in February, 2005, for students applying to college for the fall semester of 2006. ACT's writing component is being made optional because a large number of schools indicated they did not need a writing score from a national standardized test. In contrast, a mandatory writing test is one of the changes being made to the SAT I.

"ACT strongly believes students need good writing skills," said Ferguson. "However, many colleges and universities already use their own writing assessments. Many other schools are satisfied with the information they are now receiving about students, including valuable information on writing skills contained in ACT English Test results. In making our writing component optional, we are supporting the individual needs of all postsecondary institutions."

"For schools that are looking to make better admissions decisions, it is quite possible that the writing test will not significantly increase predictive power over and above that already provided by existing ACT tests," said Ferguson. "If this is the case, schools will have to decide if it is appropriate to ask students to take another exam and pay higher test fees."

Brigham Young University is among the schools that will not require a writing test. "We're satisfied with the information we currently require," said BYU's Director of Admissions, Tom Gourley. "This includes an essay that students submit with their application as well as the ACT English Test results. We don't see a need to require students to incur the additional expense and time of taking a writing test at this time."

Clemson University is one of the institutions that has decided to require all freshman applicants to take a standardized writing test as part of the ACT or SAT, beginning with students seeking to enter Clemson in the fall of 2006.

According to Clemson admissions director Robert Barkley, "Clemson University has traditionally placed a great amount of emphasis on writing and other forms of communication. To require the writing section of these examinations reinforces this emphasis, and helps to ensure that the students admitted to Clemson have the necessary writing skills to compete in the classroom and earn their degree."

Other schools are hoping that a writing test can help them make better admissions and course placement decisions, and will conduct research to determine the contribution that writing tests can make. For example, The Ohio State University will require writing scores, beginning with students who apply to enroll in the fall semester of 2006.

"Writing scores will be evaluated during a two-year period," said Mabel Freeman, Assistant Vice President of Ohio State. "At the end of that period, we will be able to determine to what extent or how best to use writing scores in consideration of a student's admission decision and/or course placement decision at Ohio State."

Many colleges and universities have not yet made decisions about writing exams. On many campuses, faculty committees will be convened during the 2003-2004 academic year to determine institutional policy of requiring, recommending or not requiring that students submit scores from a national standardized writing exam. ACT is partnering with numerous institutions to conduct research to evaluate the contribution of the ACT Writing Test scores in making admission and course placement decisions within their own institutional context. These services are being offered to all postsecondary institutions at no charge.

When ACT's new writing component is introduced, the rest of the ACT Assessment will not change. The curriculum-based achievement test will still include tests in English, reading, mathematics and science, and scores will continue to be reported on the 36-point score scale.