# Are scores from state-mandated ACTs acceptable on college applications?

**URL:** <https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/are-scores-from-state-mandated-acts-acceptable-on-college-applications/7560>\
**Category:** Answers\
**Tags:** collegeapplications, act-scores, act, collegeadmissions\
**Created:** [January 30, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/are-scores-from-state-mandated-acts-acceptable-on-college-applications/7560 "2016-01-30T04:59:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sam\_prepscholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@sam\_prepscholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/sam_prepscholar)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/are-scores-from-state-mandated-acts-acceptable-on-college-applications/7560/1 "2016-01-30T04:59:26Z")

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I live in a state where all high school students have to take the ACT. Are my scores from the state-mandated test ok to submit to colleges? Or do I need to take the ACT again independently and submit those scores instead?

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**Author:** ![sam\_prepscholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@sam\_prepscholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/sam_prepscholar)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 5:10am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/are-scores-from-state-mandated-acts-acceptable-on-college-applications/7560/2 "2016-01-30T05:10:58Z")

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There is no difference between a state-mandated administration of the ACT and an ACT that you take independently (besides the fact that you won't have to pay for the first kind). **There is usually no need to take the test again if you're satisfied with your score from the ACT administered by your school.**

The only exception is if your state ACT doesn't include the Writing section and your colleges of choice [ask that you submit Writing scores.](https://blog.prepscholar.com/complete-list-which-colleges-require-act-writing-all-schools) **States that administer the ACT _without_ the Writing section include:**

Colorado  
Kentucky  
Louisiana  
Mississippi  
Tennessee  
Utah

Two other states where you _may_ take the ACT without Writing in school are **Arkansas** (it's determined by district whether students have to take the ACT or not, but it's always without Writing) and **North Dakota** (where students can choose to take either the ACT without Writing or [ACT WorkKeys](https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/workforce-solutions/act-workkeys.html).

[Source](https://blog.prepscholar.com/which-states-require-the-act-full-list-and-advice)