The ACT Writing Section—is it required?

You are welcome to include the Writing Section when you take the ACT to illustrate your academic strengths.

The ACT Writing Section 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.

It's Not All About the Numbers. Standardized testing isn't the ultimate factor we use in evaluating an application. Testing, in conjunction with your secondary school report and recommendations, helps us better understand your academic preparation. We strongly advise students to focus on the many holistic elements of the application that showcase academic excellence and their personal narrative. Dartmouth has practiced holistic admissions review for more than a century, and that ancient ideal of the whole person continues to guide our application review process for candidacies.