What is the significance of the optional Essay on the ACT?
In February, 2005, ACT, Inc., added an optional 30-minute Essay writing component to the ACT Assessment to complement the English section of the test. It is likely that ACT, Inc., added the writing component to respond to the evolving needs of colleges and universities. Not all colleges and universities require the writing sample, so the ACT affords students the option of taking only the tests that are required for admission to their prospective schools. Like the writing section of the SAT, the English component of the ACT gauges students’ understanding of grammar, usage, sentence structure, and punctuation. The inclusion of an optional essay suggests that the two tests are converging to some extent.
