This study assessed the predictive and incremental validity of a prototype version of the forthcoming SAT® writing section that was administered to a sample of incoming students at 13 colleges and universities. For these participants, SAT scores, high school GPA, and first-year grades also were obtained. Using these data, analyses were conducted to assess the validity of SAT writing scores for predicting first-year college GPA and GPA in English composition courses. Also assessed was the incremental validity of SAT writing. Consistent with the results of prior research, the weighted-average correlation between SAT writing scores and first-year college GPA was 0.46 when corrected for range restriction. Furthermore, the SAT writing scores resulted in a weighted-average increment of 0.01 to the predictive validity already provided by SAT verbal and math scores and high school GPA in predicting first-year college GPA. Also consistent with previous research, the weighted-average correlation between SAT writing scores and GPA in English composition was 0.32 when corrected for range restriction. In light of the study constraints, these results are encouraging and suggest that the new SAT writing section should be a useful addition to the SAT in terms of predicting academic performance during the first year in college. Tables are appended.