Free ACL admissions tool
ACL Writing Assessment Practice
Write to the released LCPS prompt under real time, then score yourself on the five indicators LCPS uses. Free, no sign-up, and your writing never leaves this browser.
1. Open the released prompt
LCPS publishes one released practice prompt and its scoring rubric in a single PDF. Open the 2026-2027 Fall Admissions Writing Prompts & Scoring Rubric (it is also linked from the LCPS admissions page) and keep it next to this window.
Expect a real-world science scenario that puts you in the role of an expert advising a decision. It asks three things: what questions you would ask, what evidence you would use and how you would judge it, and how you would present your case and handle people who see it differently. Bullets, an outline, or paragraphs are all fine, and grammar and spelling are not held against you.
2. Write
LCPS’s current released directions give 30 minutes.
Ready when you are.
Self-check, not an official score
3. Score your response
Reread what you wrote, then give each indicator 0, 1, or 2 points. Be strict: score what is on the page, not what you meant.
0 / 10
Out of 10. 0 of 5 indicators scored.
This is a self-check based on our plain-English reading of the LCPS indicators. It is not an official score and does not predict an admissions decision.
What to work on
You gave yourself full points on every indicator. Ask someone else to score the same response cold, or try it again with a new scenario and a stricter eye.
Want a second reader?
The free ACL diagnostic includes one ACL-style writing response and two STEM reasoning problems. You get a preliminary readiness report by email, and an instructor may refine the feedback after reviewing the saved responses.
Take the Free ACL DiagnosticHow to Practice
- Write one timed response a week. Use the full 30 minutes and stop when the timer ends, the same as test day.
- Score it the next day, not right away. A night away makes it easier to read what is actually on the page.
- Pick one indicator to fix. Take the lowest score and use its note under What to work on as the goal for your next response.
- Rewrite the same prompt once. A second pass on the same scenario shows whether the fix worked before you move on.
The Five Indicators, in Plain English
LCPS scores the response on five indicators, each worth 0, 1, or 2 points, for a total out of 10. The names below are LCPS’s. The descriptions are ours; the official wording is in the PDF.
- Questioning and Processing
- Rewards specific, open questions that dig into the problem and test what everyone is assuming.
- Information Gathering and Analysis
- Rewards naming more than one kind of evidence, checking whether it can be trusted, and reasoning from it to an answer.
- Fluency and Originality of Ideas
- Rewards three or more distinct ideas tied to the scenario, each explained, with at least one fresh angle.
- Presentation and Reasoning
- Rewards a case a reader can follow, tied to the real situation, that takes on an opposing view directly.
- Point of View and Perspective
- Rewards thinking about who the decision affects, across many groups or one group with a major stake.
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ACL Writing Assessment: Common Questions
How long is the ACL Writing Assessment?
LCPS's released directions for 2026-2027 give students 30 minutes to submit a response. The response can be bullets, an outline, paragraphs, or a mix, and grammar, spelling, and syntax are not held against the student.
How is the ACL Writing Assessment scored?
LCPS scores the response on a rubric with five indicators: Questioning and Processing, Information Gathering and Analysis, Fluency and Originality of Ideas, Presentation and Reasoning, and Point of View and Perspective. Each indicator gets 0, 1, or 2 points, for a total out of 10.
Where do I find the official practice prompt?
LCPS publishes a released prompt and the full scoring rubric in one PDF, linked from its Academies of Loudoun Admissions and Outreach page. Open it there and write to the released prompt on this page.
Is the self-check score official?
No. It is a self-check you give yourself, using our plain-English reading of the five indicators. Only LCPS scores the real assessment. For a second opinion, the free ACL diagnostic includes a writing response.
Is my writing sent anywhere?
No. Your response and your self-check stay in this browser, saved on this device only. Nothing is uploaded. Clearing your browser data or using a private window removes the saved draft.
When is the Writing Assessment?
8th grade applicants take the Writing Assessment with the 2026 Academies of Loudoun Admission Test on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during the school day. Private school and homeschool students test at the Academies of Loudoun.
Sources, last checked September 26, 2026
- LCPS: Academies of Loudoun Admissions and Outreach
- LCPS: 2026-2027 Fall Admissions Writing Prompts & Scoring Rubric (PDF)
The released prompt and scoring rubric are ©2026 Loudoun County Public Schools. This page links to them and describes the indicators in our own words; the PDF is the official record. Questions go to the LCPS admissions office at AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org or 571-252-1992. AcademiesPrep is an independent prep program and is not affiliated with the Academies of Loudoun or Loudoun County Public Schools.
Practice is better with a second reader.
The free ACL diagnostic includes one ACL-style writing response and two STEM reasoning problems, with a parent-friendly readiness report.
Take the Free ACL Diagnostic