ACT Writing: Do You Even Need to Take It? (2026 Guide)

Every year, one of the most common questions we hear from parents is some version of: "Should my student take the ACT Writing section?" It's a fair question — and the answer has changed dramatically over the past few years.

Here's the short version: in 2026, almost no colleges require the ACT Writing section. The long version involves understanding what the Writing section is, why it used to matter, why it mostly doesn't anymore, and how to make the right decision for your specific student.

Let's walk through all of it so you can make an informed choice and stop worrying about something that, for most families, doesn't need to be a factor at all.

What Is the ACT Writing Section?

The ACT Writing section is an optional, 40-minute essay added to the end of the standard ACT. It presents your student with a topic and three perspectives on that topic, and asks them to write a persuasive essay analyzing the perspectives and presenting their own position.

Key facts:

• •Duration: 40 minutes
• •Format: One essay prompt with three perspectives
• •Cost: $25 extra on top of the standard ACT registration fee
• •Scoring: Scored on a scale of 2–12 by two human readers
• •Impact on composite: None. The Writing score is reported separately and does not affect the composite score (the 1–36 number)

That last point is important and often misunderstood. Even if your student writes a mediocre essay, it won't drag down their English, Math, Reading, or Science scores. The composite score — the number that appears on college applications, scholarship calculations, and school reports — is entirely unaffected by the Writing section.

The History: Why Writing Used to Matter

To understand the current landscape, it helps to know how we got here.

A decade ago, the ACT Writing section was widely required. Major university systems — the UC system, many private colleges, and even some state schools — mandated it as part of a complete application. The SAT had its own essay section too. Both tests positioned writing as an essential demonstration of college readiness.

Then things started shifting:

• •2016: The SAT redesigned its essay, making it optional.
• •2020: The University of California system — one of the largest and most influential drivers of ACT Writing requirements — dropped the essay requirement entirely.
• •2021: The College Board discontinued the SAT essay altogether. It no longer exists.
• •2022–2025: A cascade of colleges followed suit, dropping ACT Writing requirements across the board.

The trend is clear and accelerating. Colleges realized that a single 40-minute essay, written under test conditions by a nervous teenager, didn't meaningfully predict college success. Application essays, writing samples, and high school transcripts turned out to be much better indicators of a student's writing ability.

Who Still Requires ACT Writing in 2026?

As of 2026, the list of colleges that require the ACT Writing section has shrunk to nearly nothing. Only two U.S. institutions still mandate it:

1. 1.Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minnesota) — a small liberal arts college affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
2. 2.Soka University of America (Aliso Viejo, California) — a small private liberal arts university

That's it. Two schools. Unless your student is specifically applying to one of these institutions, no college in the United States requires the ACT Writing section.

What About "Recommended" vs. "Required"?

Some colleges use softer language — they may say the Writing section is "recommended" or that they'll "consider" it if submitted. Here's how to interpret that:

• •"Recommended" usually means: "We'll look at it if you send it, but we won't penalize you for not taking it." In practice, admissions officers have told us that a missing Writing score has essentially zero impact on an application.
• •"Considered if submitted" means: "If it's there, we might glance at it." This is even weaker than "recommended."
• •"Not required" means exactly what it says. Don't overthink it.

If your target schools don't explicitly require the Writing section, your student almost certainly doesn't need to take it.

The $25 Question: Is It Worth the Cost?

The ACT Writing section costs an extra $25. That's not a huge sum, but it's worth asking: what does that $25 buy?

• •An additional 40 minutes of testing at the end of an already long test day
• •A separate score that most colleges will never see or care about
• •Additional stress and fatigue that could potentially affect your student's focus (though since Writing comes after the composite sections, it can't impact those scores)

For most families, the calculus is simple: if no target school requires it, the $25 and 40 minutes are better saved.

When It Might Make Sense to Take It

Despite the overall trend away from requiring the Writing section, there are a few scenarios where taking it could make sense:

Your School Administers the ACT for Free

Many states and school districts administer the ACT for free during the school day — often in the spring of junior year. In many cases, these school-day administrations include the Writing section at no additional cost.

If your student is taking a free, school-administered ACT that already includes Writing, there's no reason not to take it. It costs nothing, and having a Writing score on file gives your student options. Think of it as a free baseline — if the score is strong, great. If it's not, it doesn't matter because colleges aren't requiring it.

Pro tip: If your student gets this free school-day ACT with Writing, wait for those scores before deciding whether to retake the ACT. There's no point paying for a retake (and potentially paying extra for Writing) until you see how the free attempt went. Use that initial score as your baseline, identify areas for improvement, and then prepare strategically for a retake if needed.

Your Student's Intended Major Involves Writing

If your student is planning to major in English, journalism, creative writing, communications, or a similar field, a strong ACT Writing score can serve as an additional data point supporting their application. It won't make or break an admissions decision, but it's one more piece of evidence that your student can write well under pressure.

Is it essential? No. Is it a nice-to-have? For writing-intensive programs, potentially yes.

You're Applying to One of the Two Schools That Requires It

This one's straightforward. If Martin Luther College or Soka University of America is on your student's list, they need the Writing section. Register for it accordingly.

Your Student Is a Strong Writer and Wants to Showcase It

Some students are genuinely strong writers who perform well under timed conditions. If your student is confident in their writing ability and wants another opportunity to demonstrate it, the Writing section is a low-risk way to do that. A score of 10 or above is impressive and worth having on record.

When You Should Definitely Skip It

• •Your target schools don't require or recommend it. This covers the vast majority of applicants.
• •Your student is already fatigued by the main test. The ACT is a long test — roughly three hours of focused testing before Writing even begins. Adding 40 more minutes to a day when your student is already mentally drained can be counterproductive, even though it can't hurt the composite score.
• •Your student hasn't practiced timed essay writing. The ACT essay rewards a specific, practiced approach. An unprepared essay is likely to score in the 5–7 range, which isn't impressive and doesn't add value to an application.
• •You're paying for the ACT out of pocket and money is tight. Save the $25. It won't affect admissions outcomes at 99.9% of colleges.

How to Check Your Target Schools' Requirements

The easiest way to determine whether your student needs the Writing section is to check each target school's admissions website directly. Here's what to look for:

1. 1.Go to the admissions page of each college on your student's list
2. 2.Search for "standardized testing requirements" or "ACT requirements"
3. 3.Look for specific language about the Writing section (not just the ACT in general)
4. 4.Check the most recent information. Policies change frequently. What a school required in 2024 may not be what they require in 2026.

If you can't find clear information on the website, call the admissions office. A quick phone call can save your family unnecessary stress and expense.

For additional guidance on navigating testing requirements, check out our FAQ page where we address the most common questions families have about ACT preparation and college admissions.

The SAT Comparison: Why This Trend Isn't Reversing

Some parents wonder whether colleges might start requiring the Writing section again. Based on everything we're seeing, the answer is almost certainly no. Here's why:

The SAT — the ACT's primary competitor — eliminated its essay section entirely in 2021. It's gone. College Board doesn't offer it anymore. This means that any college requiring the ACT essay would be creating an unequal requirement: ACT students would need to write an essay, but SAT students wouldn't have the option to submit one even if they wanted to.

Colleges don't want that asymmetry. As long as the SAT doesn't have an essay, colleges have very little incentive to require the ACT's. The trend is toward fewer testing requirements, not more.

What to Do Instead of Worrying About ACT Writing

If your student isn't taking the Writing section (which is the right call for most families), here's where to redirect that energy:

Focus on the Composite Score

The composite score is what matters for admissions and scholarships. Every hour your student spends preparing for the four main sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — has a direct impact on the number that colleges care about most.

Strengthen College Application Essays

The Common App essay, supplemental essays, and school-specific writing prompts are where your student's writing ability actually matters in the admissions process. These essays are read carefully by admissions officers, are weighted heavily in decisions, and provide a much more meaningful window into your student's thinking, personality, and writing skill than a 40-minute standardized test essay ever could.

If your student wants to demonstrate strong writing, invest time in crafting compelling application essays — not in the ACT Writing section.

Build the Rest of the Profile

Extracurriculars, leadership, community service, academic rigor, letters of recommendation — these are the building blocks of a competitive college application. The ACT Writing section isn't one of them.

Our Recommendation

Here's our bottom-line advice for families in 2026:

1. 1.Check your target schools. If none of them require ACT Writing, skip it.
2. 2.If your school offers a free ACT with Writing, take it. Free is free. Use it as a baseline.
3. 3.Don't pay $25 for something colleges don't want. That money and time are better spent on composite score improvement.
4. 4.If you're aiming for a writing-intensive program, consider taking it — but only if you've practiced timed essay writing.
5. 5.When in doubt, skip it. The ACT Writing section is the definition of optional in 2026.

Ready to Focus on What Actually Matters?

If your student is preparing for the ACT, the biggest bang for your buck is improving the composite score — and that's exactly what our programs are designed to do. Whether your student needs help with Math fundamentals, Reading strategies, Science data interpretation, or English grammar, we have a structured, proven approach that delivers results.

Check out our ACT Blueprint program for a comprehensive, personalized prep plan. Or visit our FAQ page for answers to the most common questions families ask about ACT preparation, scoring, and college admissions.

And if you still have questions about the Writing section — or anything else related to your student's ACT prep — reach out to our team directly. We're happy to help you figure out the right approach for your family.

The ACT Writing section may be optional, but your student's preparation shouldn't be. Let's focus on what moves the needle.