ACT Scoring Rubric with Writing?

Yo guys! I'm prepping for my ACT, and I've decided to take it with the optional writing section. However, I'm a bit lost on how it's scored. Can anyone break it down for me?

The ACT Writing Test, also known as the ACT Essay, is an optional section of the ACT test. It's a 40-minute test that asks you to write a persuasive essay on a given topic. Here's how the scoring works:

There are four domains to the ACT Writing Test: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. Each of these domains is scored on a scale of 1-6 by two independent scorers, who will evaluate your essay based on these criteria:

1. Ideas and Analysis: This domain measures your ability to generate productive ideas and engage critically with multiple perspectives on the given issue.

2. Development and Support: This evaluates your ability to discuss ideas, offer rationale, and bolster an argument with relevant evidence.

3. Organization: This examines your ability to clearly present your ideas in a logical manner, with a clear progression of ideas.

4. Language Use and Conventions: Checks your command of language, syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

The scores for each domain from both independent scorers will be added, leading to a domain score ranging between 2-12. These four domain scores are then averaged to get your overall writing score, on a scale from 2-12.

Do note that the ACT writing score does not impact your composite score out of 36. It's reported separately. However, some universities might require or recommend the Writing Test, so having a decent score might benefit your college application.

As for prepping for the Essay section, practice is key. You can use prompts from previous exams, writing essays under timed conditions, and then self-evaluating your essays based on the aforementioned criteria.