Is an SAT Essay Score of 16 Worth Submitting?
Your SAT score report isn't just about one section: The essay score will be part of a comprehensive report sent to colleges. Whether or not you should include this score depends on your specific college requirements and how each institution handles it.
Understanding Official Score Reports
College Board's Perspective: When submitting your official score report through the College Board, you don't have the option to exclude the essay section. If you took the SAT with the essay portion, the entire score report must be submitted. On the other hand, self-reported scores on college applications provide more flexibility if not all sections are required.
College Policies and Practices
Most U.S. Universities Ignore the Essay Score: The majority of U.S. institutions don't consider the essay section score in their admissions process. Admissions officers have no control over which sections to include; they receive the complete score report. However, it's crucial to research each college’s policy. Last year, only one of the several universities my daughter applied to considered the essay section score.
Visibility of Scores: For schools that don't consider essay scores, the final score report from the College Board usually doesn’t include the essay section. When the scores are displayed on a portal system, the highest math and English multiple-choice scores are often what appears. This indicates that the admissions committee might only see these scores.
How Universities Utilize SAT Scores
Individual Section Emphasis: Even when universities do consider the essay section, they generally don't combine the section scores into a composite. The SAT essay section's unique Analysis score is often given less weight than the Reading and Writing scores. The average Analysis score in 2020 was reported as a 2, and low scores in the Reading and Writing portions may be more concerning to universities.
Composite Scores: The SAT essay score is not typically a part of a composite score calculation. Colleges often prioritize the Reading and Writing scores, even if the Analysis score is part of the official report. Therefore, it’s important to focus on these sections if you're aiming for a stronger overall score.
Conclusion
While an SAT essay score of 16 might be worth sending for some colleges, it's not a substantial factor for most. Focus on the overall score report, including the Reading and Writing sections. Always research each college's specific requirements and practices to ensure you're making an informed decision.
Best of luck with your college admissions process.