Do Ivy Leagues look at ACT writing?
Asked by: Zoie Wilderman | Last update: September 29, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (60 votes)
Fact Check: Most Top Schools Don't Require ACT Writing In recent years, many top schools, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Duke, and Brown have stopped requiring the ACT Writing test. Currently, none of the Ivy Leagues require ACT Writing.
Do Ivy Leagues require ACT writing?
Top Colleges
It may come as a surprise to many, but most top schools in the nation actually do not require you to submit your ACT Writing score. Recently, top schools like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford have dropped their ACT Writing requirement. In fact, none of the Ivy Leagues currently require the test.
Does Harvard look at ACT writing?
In other words, for the upcoming admissions cycle, Harvard is not test-optional. Applicants must submit results from the SAT and/or ACT in order to apply to Harvard. That said, the ACT Writing section is optional for all applicants.
Do colleges care about ACT writing?
Taking the ACT with writing can give you an edge in college admissions by showcasing your writing skills and adding depth to your college applications with a special ELA score (English language arts).
Does MIT look at ACT writing?
We do not require the ACT writing section or the SAT optional essay. We accept both the paper and digital SAT. While MIT does not require the ACT writing section or SAT optional essay, MIT does value writing and communication highly.
The unspoken truth about getting into the Ivy League.
Does Yale want ACT Writing?
The writing section is optional. Applicants not reporting results from the ACT or SAT should report results from all AP or IB subject exams completed prior to applying. There is no minimum number of subject-based exam scores required.
Is 34 ACT good enough for MIT?
MIT is one of the most selective colleges in the world, and the admitted students usually have very competitive standardized test scores. For MIT, the middle 50% range for the ACT is 34 to 36.
Is a 7 on ACT Writing bad?
As you can see from this table, the mean, or average, score on the ACT Writing section is 6. It's a good idea to aim for at least the 75th percentile, so in this case a good ACT writing score would be an 8 or above. A 9 or above would put you in the 97th percentile, which is great!
Does Princeton require ACT Writing?
SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements
Princeton considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration.
Does Cornell require ACT Writing?
Cornell University does not and will not require the essay section on the ACT, and the essay portion of the SAT was discontinued in 2021.
Does Stanford look at ACT Writing?
Though we do not require the writing/essay section of the ACT or SAT, if you took the exam with writing/essay, we request that you be honest and transparent and report your score as required by the application and as a section integral to the sitting of the exam you took.
Is a 33 ACT good for Harvard?
ACT Requirements for Harvard
At Harvard, the typical ACT score is 34. Harvard is now Very Competitive for ACT scores with this score. ACT scores range from 33 to 35, with 35 representing the 75th percentile.
Does Georgetown require ACT Writing?
Georgetown accepts the ACT in lieu of the SAT. Applicants who take the ACT more than once will have their highest Composite score considered in the evaluation process. The optional Writing section on the ACT is not required, nor is the Writing subscore used in the application review process.
Is a 9 good on ACT Writing?
National Ranks for ELA and Writing Test Scores
For example, the national rank for a writing score of 9 is 97. This means that 97 percent of recent high school graduates who took the ACT writing test achieved a writing score of 9 or lower.
Is the ACT or SAT harder?
15. Level of Difficulty: Is the ACT Test Harder Than the SAT Test? In general, the tests are too similar to determine whether one test is harder than the other.
Does Dartmouth require ACT with writing?
The ACT Writing Portion is an optional part of our review process. Not submitting this score will not prevent your candidacy from receiving a full review by the Admissions Committee. If you submit the ACT with writing, we will include it in our review of your application.
Does Yale require ACT with writing?
Applicants reporting results from the ACT should include scores from the English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science sections as well as a Composite Score. The writing section is optional.
What is the easiest Ivy League to get into?
Cornell is considered the "easiest" Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate. While statistically speaking, it's easier to get into Cornell, it's still challenging.
Should I submit a 33 ACT to Princeton?
A low ACT score within Princeton University's score range is still relatively high—the lowest quartile of scorers achieved up to a 33. However, aiming for at least the lower quartile score of 33, if not higher, would be beneficial.
Is 14 a bad ACT score?
Scores below a 15 on the ACT are considered low at just about any four-year college. You can overcome low scores with a great GPA or an outstanding college application. But even if you're accepted, the school may ask you to take some remedial courses before enrolling.
Is a 9 good on the best writing test?
But in general, students who are interested in attending competitive universities should aim for a writing test score of at least a 9, with scores of 10, 11, and 12 being increasingly beneficial. Practice is extremely helpful with timed writing exams.
Is a 4.7 GPA good for MIT?
Final Admissions Verdict
To be safe, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1570 SAT and a 4.19 GPA or higher to be above average. This is only part of the challenge - after this, you'll need to impress them beyond your academic scores, with your accomplishments and extracurriculars.
Can I get into Cornell with a 34 ACT?
Therefore, an ACT Math score of 34 would place you in the middle 50% of scorers at Cornell. While these scores are slightly lower than the English section scores, they are still quite high. However, as with other sections, there is no specific benchmark that applicants must meet.
What is a perfect ACT score?
What is a Perfect ACT Score? A perfect ACT score is 36. This is the highest possible score a student can achieve on the test. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36, with each section receiving a score between 1 and 36, and then a composite score is calculated by averaging the scores from the four required sections.