If you're making plans to take your standardized college entrance exams, make sure you've checked out what to expect! For instance, did you know that the ACT includes a hand-written section? Even if you already know about it, you might not be aware that the ACT Writing Test is currently optional, as long as the schools you're sending your scores to don't require it.

However, even if it's not required, you may want to take it anyway — if you’re a good writer, it could be the perfect addition to your enrollment application.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it
The Writing Test is a 30-minute addition to the standard ACT with a pretty straightforward format. After being provided paper to record your answer, you’ll be given a written prompt introducing your topic. The prompt will lay out differing views on the topic and ask you to either support one of those viewpoints or to provide a different angle of your own.

It’s important that whichever route you choose to go, your essay provides reasons for your opinion, as well as information or examples that support it. Scoring is based on your ability to express your point of view in a focused, organized, and logical manner. Since you have a limited time to write your response, take a few minutes to organize your thoughts. (Perhaps jot down short notes or a brief outline.) Then start writing away! Form your thoughts clearly and pause between sentences or paragraphs to ensure that your writing is focused and flowing in a sensible way.

Stick to a tried-and-true design (introduction, body, and conclusion), but don’t go overboard — this isn’t a 10-page research paper. It’s more important to develop the essay well than to try to make it as long as possible.

How the test is scored
The skills that you need to master the essay are concepts taught in high school English and composition classes. If you’ve been paying attention instead of nodding off in class, you should have everything you need to know to successfully complete this task!

Your final product gets scored by real people, not a computer. How do they qualify? These folks aren’t random people off the street, but rather ACT-certified readers whose scoring performance is constantly monitored via ongoing training and accuracy outcomes. Two readers will rate your essay based on your effective use of writing skills and expression.

If their scores differ by more than one point, a third reader will also review your test. Your essay will be given a score ranging from 1 (the lowest) to 6. Each reader’s scores are added and your overall essay score will range between 2 and 12. When you receive your results you’ll see an essay sub score, as well as a scaled score between 1 and 36, which combines your Writing and English results.

The bottom line
Overall, the Writing test is just a brief addition to the ACT that may or may not be required by your college of choice. Whether or not you choose to take this portion of the test, boning up on your writing skills will provide a solid base for success in your future college exams.

You'll need to know if you're going to take the writing section at the time you register for the ACT. If you are, request the ACT Plus Writing Test.

Do Colleges Require the ACT Writing Test?

Well...yes, no, and maybe! As yet, there isn’t any one rule. Each school makes its own decision about requiring this portion of the ACT — some require it, others don’t, and still others will accept it, but not require it. Sound complicated? It isn’t, really. If the school you want to attend requires the scores, then you’re going to have to take it to be considered for admission.

But I already wrote an essay…
Even if you wrote an essay as part of your college application, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Although several colleges feel that their pre-existing writing requirement is adequate, some have decided they want to see how you do on the ACT Writing Test, too. Why? It provides an example of your writing without hours and hours of editing. Schools like this want to have as much data as possible on which to base their decision.

Other schools might only use the ACT test as a reflection of your writing skills…but that’s not to say that this couldn’t change. If you aren’t applying for school for a while, and the schools on your list currently require the test, check back with them before you apply. Some are evaluating the effectiveness of the new test in assisting with admission decisions and will decide later whether to continue to use it or lose it.

I don’t have to take it. Should I?
If the school you’re applying to doesn’t require the test, but will accept the scores, decide for yourself if it’s in your favor to take it. It never hurts to put in a little extra time and effort, especially if you’re an awesome writer and really excel in that area. It could further your chances for admission because most schools are very interested in learning about the areas in which you excel. If timed writing totally freaks you out, don’t count yourself out just yet. It might be a good idea to practice — you could surprise yourself!

Really, there are no hard and fast answers. Check out search engines, surf your school’s site, or just give them a call; you’ll need to know what’s required first. If it turns out that you have the option of not taking it, you can then decide how to proceed.

Article complements of Peterson's. Learn more tips about testing college entrance exams and take a free practice tests by clicking here.