Due To State Cut, Some Students Must Take ACT Twice

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The State of Illinois decided to scrap the writing portion of the ACT to save money, and for some students, that has turned out to be a problem.

In fact, some high school juniors in Illinois will need to take the entire ACT twice.

The Chicago Tribune reports after the students take the ACT in the spring as part of the state assessment, they will have to take it again with the writing section if they plan to apply to a university that requires a writing score for admission.

Less than 25 percent of four-year colleges and universities nationwide even require the writing competency test, but many elite schools do, the Tribune reported.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign used to require the writing score, but eliminated the requirement after the state dropped it from its assessment, the Tribune reported.

The University of Chicago, Notre Dame University and Loyola University Chicago are among the other schools that do not require the writing assessment. But Northwestern University does, the Tribune pointed out.

High school teachers and counselors are concerned that students who take the ACT twice might be adversely affected if they are less-than-stellar writers. Also, some cannot afford the $49.50 cost of taking the ACT a second time with the writing test, the Tribune reported.

The state dropped the writing exam last summer, in an effort to save $2.4 million.

In 2010, lawmakers cut the elementary school writing exam, but kept the exam for high school juniors.