essay writing for placement test

College Placement Test

Free Math and English Online Practice Exams

English Placement Test Essay Examples

You will find English placement test essay examples for your college entrance exam on this page.

In the writing section of the test, you will see literary nonfiction, essays, and informational passages.

The passages are around 300 words in length and there are five questions on each one.

Our free study guide will help you learn all of the grammar rules that are covered on the test.

Here is a free sample from our writing test PDF download :

Instructions: Read the first of our English placement test essay examples below and answer the questions that follow.

(1) The Department of Education in our state recently stated that more discipline is needed in the classroom. (2) Can you believe it? (3) It comes a bit late – I’m sure you’ll agree – but then the employee’s at the Department have had a great deal to think about over the years. (4) I don’t generally put much stock in the Department of Education’s opinions. (5) For several years, I’ve seen bad behavior in some schools and nothing serious being done about it. (6) In the meantime, the Department of Education has insinuated through its silence that everything was just great. (7) Evidently, however, now it’s not.

(8) Consider for instance, one of the children in my gifted class. (9) Since the school is discontinuing the program, he has to move back into the main school, understandably, he’s told me that he doesn’t want to go. (10) He wants to stay where there are very high standards of behavior and work. (11) He’s done so well. (12) His parents can’t believe the high level he achieves. (13) How great is that?

1. What is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 3, reproduced below?

It comes a bit late – I’m sure you’ll agree – but then the employee’s at the Department have had a great deal to think about over the years.

A. Leave it as it is now. B. employees C. employees’ D. employees’s

2. What is the best decision regarding the underlined portion of sentence 7, reproduced below?

Evidently, however, now it’s not.

A. Leave it as it is now. B. Remove the comma after “Evidently” C. Remove the comma after “however” D. Delete “Evidently,” from the beginning of the sentence

3. What is the best decision regarding the underlined portion of sentence 9, reproduced below?

Since the school is discontinuing the program, he has to move back into the main school, understandably, he’s told me that he doesn’t want to go.

A. Leave it as it is now. B. Place a period after “school” and begin a new sentence with “Understandably,” C. Use a dash after “school” instead of a comma D. Use a colon after “school” instead of a comma

English Placement Test Essay Examples – Answers

1. The correct answer is B. The word “employees” forms the grammatical subject of the sentence. The writer is speaking about all of the workers at the Department of Education, so we need to use the plural form. An apostrophe is not required since we do not need the possessive form.

2. The correct answer is A. The sentence is best as it is written in the original essay. A comma needs to be placed after “evidently” as it is a transition word used at the beginning of the sentence. A comma also needs to be used after “however, because it is used within the sentence. The use of both words in this sentence serves as a logical connector to the previous argument that the writer is making.

3. The correct answer is B. We have two complete sentences here since each has its own grammatical subject and verb. So, a period should be used after “school” and a new sentence should be made starting with the next word.

Online Placement Test Sample

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Sentence Skills

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Writing Placement Test

In This Section

To demonstrate college-ready writing skills, review the testing scores summary to determine if you need to take placement testing.

Writing Placement Test FAQ

What is the Accelerated Learning Program?

Rather than taking two semesters to complete ENG-098 and ENG-101, if you're placed into ENG-098 can take both classes in just one semester. Some ENG-098 students take the ENG-101 course, with students placed directly into ENG-101. The ENG-098 class meets immediately following their ENG-101 class for additional support.

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Who needs the writing placement test?

All new degree-seeking students are required to demonstrate initial placement levels in English upon entry to the College in order to register for their first semester.

Additionally, any student wishing to register for courses may also need to demonstrate specific placement levels in order to satisfy a particular course prerequisite.

• 19 or higher on the English portion of the ACT; or 480 on SAT or PSAT reading and writing; valid for 5 years; or
• 4 or higher on the PARCC reading and writing assessment; or
• Successful completion with a C or better of ENG 098 or LTC 099 at ECC or an equivalent course at a regionally accredited college (official transcripts required); or
• Successful completion with a C or better in college-level courses at another college/university (official transcripts required); or
• High school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on an unweighted 4.0 scale; or
• GED score of 165 or higher or HiSet score of 15 or higher plus essay score of 4; or
• A minimum score on AP, CLEP, or IB exam .
• Attain the specified level from the ECC English placement test (valid for 5 years).

How does the test work?

Using a computer, you will write an essay of approximately 2 pages in length. You will select one of three topics to focus your essay response. You are allowed to use a single piece of scratch paper. 

An effective essay will include each of the following:

• A thesis or main idea;
• Several paragraphs of sufficient, relevant, and specific detail or examples related to the topic selected based on your experience, observations, or readings;
• Good organization, including an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion;
• Correct grammar, spelling, and sentence structure.

Before you submit your essay, you should proofread (reread and correct) your essay. You can use spell-check and scratch paper. 

We strongly recommend that you take a few steps to get ready before taking your writing placement essay test. Students who review first typically do much better than those who do not. You can prepare by reviewing the sample scored essays .

Placement test results will be available within 7 business days.

How can I prepare for the test?

We strongly recommend that you take a few steps to get ready before taking your Writing placement essay test. Students who review first typically do much better than those who do not. You can prepare by:

• Review the sample scored essays .

When will I get my score?

Writing placement test results will be available within 7 business days. Please plan accordingly to have the Writing placement test results completed prior to registration. You can view all placement test results on the  accessECC portal .

What does my score mean?

If your writing placement test score is:

• Prepare to retake the placement test.
• Developmental course required. Enroll in LTC-099 (College Literacy)
• Developmental courses required. Enroll in ENG-098 and ENG-101 (Accelerated Learning Program (ALP))
• No developmental course required. Enroll in college-ready courses, including ENG-101.

If you are not happy with your first attempt, you may retake the placement tests twice, providing you have not started a reading or English course. Once you have completed a reading or English class at ECC, you may retest with the approval of the placement coordinator. Your reading and writing placement results are valid for five years.

Testing Center

Building B --> Building B , Room B115 847-214-7150 Fax: 847-608-5474 testing@elgin.edu

Hours Monday through Thursday: 8 am to 7 pm Friday: 8 am to 3 pm Saturday: 9am to 3pm

*Note: The Testing Center is closed Tuesdays from 2 to 3 pm for a department meeting. All tests and materials are collected 15 minutes before closing.

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Information on English Placement Exam

The following information refers only to the Placement Exam on the Columbus campus. For information about English Placement on another Ohio State campus, please contact your advisor.

The English Placement Exam asks students to respond to a prompt that requires critical reading, summary skills, and an original essay in response. Students read a short opinion piece (approximately 500-750 words) and are asked to summarize and then respond to it.

General Directions for the Placement Exam

The Placement Test asks you to read a short essay, write a one-paragraph summary of that essay, and write a response to that essay.

You have a few choices about the document type you use to write and submit your essay:

You may write your essay in Word, Pages, or Google Docs and copy and paste it into the submission text box once you have completed it and submit it there.

You may type your essay directly into the text box in the Testing area and submit it through the submission function.

Please read the essay before you begin writing. When you have finished reading the essay, respond to it in two ways.

Step 1: Write a one-paragraph summary of the essay that provides a good idea of what the essay is about. Be sure to identify the central argument in your summary and to include the title of the essay and the author’s name in the summary.

Step 2: Write an essay of your own that responds to the author's argument. In your essay, do your best to demonstrate your composition skills and familiarity with edited American English. While much academic writing requires finding and working with outside sources, this placement essay should consist exclusively of your own writing. While you may quote from the placement reading, do not include the work of other writers

You should work to display the following attributes in your writing:

A clearly defined central idea (thesis).

A clear and logical organization (clearly defined organization and logical paragraphs).

Strong supporting details drawn from experience, observation, and/or from the reading. No sources outside the reading should be included.

An understanding of the reading and argument presented in it.

Grammatically correct and effective sentences.

You may take some time to to free-write, plan, or outline your thoughts before you write the essay. If you are writing in Word, Pages, or Google Docs to copy and paste into the text box, be sure to include a header or separation between your notes and Steps 1 and 2. If you are typing directly into the submission text box instead of in a file that you will cut and paste, please indicate the location of your planning notes in the text box with a heading such as notes , brainstorming , or free - writing .

NOTE: The writing you submit should be your own . This is not only because the Student Code of Conduct requires that you do your own work, but also because it is essential for our assessment process that the writing you submit is typical of your writing. If you get help with your response, you may be placed in a class that is too difficult for you.

Please make an effort to proofread your work before you submit it. At the least, make sure that the separation between pre-writing notes and Steps 1 and 2 is clear.

We strongly recommend that you write both your summary and your response using Word, Pages, or Google Docs and then copy and paste them into the submission area. If you write in the textbox itself, you may lose your work if you have an internet interruption or your browser times out .

Once you have submitted your test, our team of readers will read the summary and response to determine which of the following English courses will be the best for you:

Level 4: either English 1110.01 or 1110.02 (3 credit hours)

Level 5: English 1110.03 (3 credit hours) and 1193 (1 credit hour) simultaneously (a total of 4 credit hours)

Level 6: English 1109 (4 credit hours). After completing 1109, you must enroll in English 1110.03 and 1193 simultaneously (4 credit hours) to complete your first-year writing requirement.

We will send your results to be posted to your Student Testing Profile in SIS. Once the results are posted in your Buckeye Link profile, you will be able to work with your advisor to schedule for first-year writing. (Results will not be entered in Carmen.)

Carmen works best using Chrome on a PC or Mac. We do not recommend using the Carmen app for the exam. The app offers a limited version of Carmen and can make it harder to find and access some features. In addition, your work may not properly upload into the submission area.

We recommend taking the test on a tablet or computer, not your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Placement exams are read and assessed every business day. Unless there is a technical issue or complication with your exam, you can expect to see your results in Carmen within 1-2 business days. After your result is posted in Carmen, it is sent to the Testing Center to be added to your Buckeye Link account. Your advisor will be able to see your result in SIS 24 hours after Testing updates it.

Please email us at [email protected] to request accommodations such as extended time at least two business days before you plan to take the exam. You should also register with Student Disability Services .

No. If you have taken the ESL Composition Placement test, you will be placed into EDUTL or English classes on the basis of that test. Please email us at [email protected] if you are asked to take both tests.

A placement result of 4 means you can register for English 1110.01 or 1110.02. A placement result of 5 means you must register for English 1110.03 and 1193. A placement result of 6 means you must register for English 1109.

If you experience technical difficulties, email [email protected] . We can reset your attempt and allow you to take the exam again. You will receive a new exam and have to begin again.

No. You can retake the exam if you have technical difficulties, but we do not reassess placement exams. If you have questions about your placement, you can contact Scott DeWitt ( [email protected] ) and Ashleigh Hardin ( [email protected] ).

Probably. Ask your advisor if placement procedures have changed since you were assigned the placement exam. You can also email [email protected] .

The best way to prepare for the Placement Exam is to ensure you're able to take the exam in a distraction-free environment with a reliable internet connection. You should also make sure you can devote the full 75 minutes to the exam. Take the exam when you're not sleepy or hungry. Read the instructions fully before you begin the exam. Other than these preparations, students should not need to "study" for the English Placement Exam.

Yes, unless you also took a First-Year Writing course at another school as well. We do not recognize placement exams from other institutions.

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Sample Essays

Below are two sample essays. Both essays are in response to the writing prompt below. The first sample essay demonstrates a readiness for English Composition I (a writing course required in all degree programs). The second contains weak areas demonstrating a need for additional support to foster success in English Composition I.

Penn College faculty evaluate essays based on the following:

• organization
• development of ideas
• sentence structure
• word choice
• punctuation

The Faculty Evaluation section explains how effectively the student addressed each essay component and provides a rationale for each student’s placement.

English Composition I (ENL 111)

Write about a sport, hobby, or extra-curricular activity that you were involved with in high school and the impact that sport or activity had on your life. Be sure to clearly identify the sport or activity, and use specific details how this involvement made an impact on your life.

Student Essay:

One hobby or skill I pride myself in is my ability to cook, one that I have only obtained in my last 2 years working as a cook. When I started at Rotelli (an Italian restaurant in State College) it was right after my senior year in High school.

Fresh out of High school with no prior experience in the “real world” I was more or less forced to mature to meet the basic standards of a high-end kitchen employee. Allowing people to walk all over me due to my nonthreatening appearance and stoic resolve was no longer an option. Most of my coworkers were/are gruff, seasonal restaurant employees who will verbally “go for the throat” without a moments notice.

After several months of this environment and dreading going to work, I picked up on things to sharpen my wit, making what was before an entire night of being picked on into just playful verbal abuse. After this realization literally everything seemed less of a hassel, as well as near complete immunity to any sort of heckling. I even pushed the envelope by getting my lip pierced to “draw more heat” but no such insidents occurred.

In summation, the restaurant not only turned me into a good cook but also prepared me for the hassel and hardships of the real world, something that will be a definite benefit to me in the future.

Faculty Evaluation:

The essay shows a significant degree of organization . In the opening paragraph, the student mentions the specific hobby (cooking) that will be the subject of the essay, and then each paragraph relates to this particular hobby and its impact on the student’s life. The development of ideas occurs in each paragraph because the student writes about how the experience at this restaurant has impacted the student at the restaurant and the possible impact on the student’s future. There are some minor errors in punctuation , word choice , and spelling , but they do not take away from the reader’s ability to understand the paragraphs individually and the essay as a whole. The sentence structure is consistently strong throughout the essay, and evident in each paragraph. The essay contains specific details. The student connects the paragraphs to the prompt, clearly showing the impact that the experience at this restaurant has had on the student’s life. This student was placed in ENL111.

English Composition I (ENL 111) with English Composition Lab (ENL105)

Write about a sport, hobby, or extra-curricular activity that you were involved with in high school and the impact that sport or activity had on your life. Be sure to clearly identify the sport or activity, and use specific details about how this involvement made an impact on your life.

For my essay I will be choosing number two. The activity I will be writing about is highschool wrestling. I chose this sport in nineth grade. The reason I chose it was because I herd it had good rewards. I will be writing to you about the difficulties, rewards, experience, all what I learned from challenges.

There are multiple problems with word choice and spelling.

I will start with the difficulties. The one major difficulty for most people is eating. You must keep your weight minimal or you shouldnt even show up. What you learn from this is disapline. The second is fear with anciaty. You may want this actualy before a match. You get scared and prepare better. Your anciaty gives you speek and strength when you get on the mat. This teaches you how to use your weakness.

The ideas are not developed here. For instance, there are no details on why weight is a problem.

The last difficultie is physical pain and edurance. The best way to deal with it is to ignore it. Your mind is whats telling you it hurts and you need to stop. Tell it to ignore it and over time it will. This teacies you the more important thing which is you can do anything if you beleive you can. Those are some of the Difficulties and lessens you learn from wrestling.

In addition to spelling, punctuation, and grammar problems, this paragraph does not connect the ideas to each other, nor to the prompt.

The rewards you experience are great. The greatest reward is self greatness. When you train and win you feel accomplishd. You also have respect from your team and coach. It feels like you have some power. The last reward is the body. You get a great body from it and you feel great. Girls will offten give you attention for having it. Those are some of the rewards of wrestling.

Spelling issues are present and the ideas are listed, but not developed.

Over all highschool wrestling is a great way to improve yourself. I have learnd many skill and discipline from it. I have changed my life because of it. There will always be difficulties but you will always get somthing out of it. That is what I have to discuss on my activity.

While the student demonstrates some understanding of five paragraph format, there are numerous errors overall and little idea development in the essay.

The essay shows a degree of organization . In the opening paragraph, the student mentions three points to be made in the essay: difficulties, rewards, and experience. In the body of the essay, however, there is very little development of ideas . In the second paragraph, the student does not develop the idea of disciplined eating or anxiety. Paragraph four is a list of three rewards from wrestling, but the ideas are only listed, not developed. While there are some errors in punctuation , there are significant problems with sentence structure throughout the essay, especially with grammar , word choice , and spelling . These are pervasive throughout the essay. This student was placed in ENL111 with the additional support of ENL105.

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Writing Placement

Welcome to UWP Writing Placement!  Please read through the important placement information on this page.  After reading, please proceed to the Writing Placement website by clicking below.  

Purpose of the Placement

Research has shown that test scores aren’t an accurate indicator of your success as a writer. To more accurately place you into one of our three writing courses, we would like to read a writing sample that is more reflective of the processes writers engage in when they write.

Your Writing Placement

Your writing placement will consist of three parts:

An essay: an original essay based on one of three writing prompts.

A revision plan: a plan for how you might improve your essay if you had more time.

A survey: a survey about your writing experiences creates a snapshot of your incoming freshman class as writers for the University Writing Program.

How Your Placement Is Read

Your placement is anonymously read by experienced instructors in the University Writing Program, and you will be placed into WRIT 1010, 1110, or 1120 based on their evaluation of your placement.  

Essays that place into WRIT 1120, our most advanced writing course, answer the prompt fully, have a focused main claim that is developed with specific evidence, demonstrates adaptation of structures taught in high school, use varied and complex sentence structures, and have few sentence-level errors.

Notes on Completing Your Placement

• You need to be an undergraduate student entering BGSU and have access to your BGSU email account to access and write your placement.
• Do not obtain any form of assistance while taking the Writing Placement. This includes consulting with a teacher, parent, or friend for proofreading or editing your written essay. This extends to the use of artificial intelligence language models like ChatGPT. It is imperative that you honor this important part of the placement guidelines. It is to your disadvantage to receive a score higher than your actual abilities. A score that is too high would place you in a course beyond your capabilities with a limited probability of success.

You have 24 hours to complete your placement, which gives you time to explore ideas, draft your essay, revise to improve, and edit to polish. We’re looking to see what you can produce when given more than the standard two-hours in standardized tests, so make the most of the time given you. Your placement determines how many writing classes you are required to take!

You may access the site an unlimited number of times within the 24-hour period, and you may submit your placement at any point within the same 24-hour period. When the 24-hour window ends, however, you will no longer be able to submit work.

You are required to wait one year to resubmit a placement.

You may only submit one placement for consideration.

Your placement results will be emailed to your BGSU email address. You can also learn your placement from your advisor.

When You Should Complete Your Placement

We encourage incoming students to complete the writing placement as soon as possible or no later than two weeks before your scheduled orientation date. The placement website is online and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

We strongly discourage you from writing your placement the day of your scheduled orientation date or writing your placement on your phone. Again, your placement determines how many writing classes you take.

Message for Second Language and Multilingual Speakers/Writers of English

All undergraduate students are required to complete the UWP writing placement. Second language and multilingual speakers/writers of English may be required to complete ESOL writing courses as prerequisites to the University Writing Program’s WRIT courses. Completing an ESOL speaking/listening placement may also be required. See ESOL Placement Assessment Information or contact [email protected] for more information.

Message for AP Students

Students who score a 3 or higher on AP English Language and Composition Test or the English Literature and Composition Test are not required to complete a placement essay. If you plan to take an AP test this year, you still need to write a Placement essay before May 1 because the AP scores will not be submitted in time for you to be enrolled in your Linked Courses.

I am ready to proceed to the Writing Placement Website (Link)

University writing program (uwp).

215 East Hall Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403 419-372-7885

Dr. Neil Baird, Director [email protected]

Tifanie Knauff, UWP Secretary [email protected]  

English Department

Stephannie Gearhart, Chair English Department Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403 419-372-7540 [email protected]

Jeanne R. Berry (she/her/hers) Secretary to the Chair [email protected]

Updated: 06/23/2023 01:52PM

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Writing Placement Assessment

Good writing skills are essential no matter what you're studying in college. The Writing Placement Assessment will gauge your writing ability to determine if you require remediation. It will ensure that you are placed in the correct classes during your first semester at Columbus State. 

Practice is The Best Preparation

Before you test, be sure to review. Proper placement is important to your success in college. Your scores will determine if you will be required to take remedial writing course(s) or if you start with a college-level course. 

It's important to understand that, while remedial writing courses are critical for some students, they do not count toward your degree. Scoring 5 or higher on your Writing Placement Assessment will allow you to begin your first semester in college-level courses that apply toward your major, saving you time and money!

Practice Tests

Click the links below to take practice tests. This is an important step because it will help you get an idea of what the test is like, and what your score might be if you took the test today. It also reviews material that will be on the test to help you achieve your best score.

• Resources for Students - Accuplacer Assessments
• Accuplacer Writing Sample Questions
• WritePlacer Essay Study Guide
• WritePlacer Essay Guide
• English Study Guide - Mesa Community College

Taking the Test

Test format.

For the Writing Placement Assessment, you will be asked to:

• Read a short passage that ends with a writing prompt.
• Develop an opinion with supporting reasons, explanations, and examples.
• Write a 300-600 word formal academic essay (on a computer) in standard, edited English.

Timing, Cost, and Testing Rules

• There is no charge to take the Writing Placement Assessment. You are eligible to retake the assessment one time in two years. 
• Most students take the Writing and Reading Placement Assessments at the same time. Neither assessment is timed, and most students take 45 - 60 minutes for each part. Plan to spend two or more hours in the testing location. 
• You must complete the Writing Assessment in one sitting. If you run out of time, the Reading portion can be completed on a separate day. 

Assessment Scores

Department contact.

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2024 Writing Placement Process

All incoming students will be placed into UC Irvine writing courses by UC Irvine faculty during Summer 2024.

Language Tests

Writing assessment, physical science tests, placement tests.

Writing Placement

All incoming students will receive a placement into UC Irvine writing courses. UC Irvine writing faculty will be placing students into courses during summer 2024.

In order for students to receive their writing placements before they attend their academic advising session during summer orientation, students must do the following:

• Complete the Writing Course Placement Portfolio 
• Submit their scores, if they have them, from tests such as AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP Research, or AP Seminar; the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT); American College Testing (ACT); and/or the International Baccalaureate (IB).
• These scores, if available, should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by July 1, 2024. If scores are not available by July 1, students should submit them as soon as possible after that date.

The writing placement process takes into consideration all relevant information from students’ records. Providing the scores requested will assist greatly in placing students in writing courses best suited to foster their academic success.

All incoming students will be notified of their placements or whether further steps must be taken to determine placement.

Submissions will be open in early Summer. 

How will my writing placement be determined?

Your placement will be determined through a combination of the following: 

• Standardized test scores from the SAT, ACT, AP, and IB.
• College credits that transfer from another institution.
• Your submission of the Writing Course Placement Portfolio, which includes a brief survey on your high school writing experience, two writing samples, and a written reflection on your writing.

Is there a fee for the UCI Writing Placement process?

A $45 Writing Placement Fee is assessed for all first-year students as part of the Student Service Fee . 

Do I need to complete the Writing Course Placement Portfolio?

Yes, every incoming student needs to complete this in order to receive a writing placement. You cannot enroll in a writing class until you receive a writing placement.  

I have qualifying scores and/or transfer college credit, do I need to complete this?

Yes, we are asking that EVERY student complete the portfolio. 

How do I complete the Writing Course Placement Portfolio process?

The UCI’s Writing Course Placement Portfolio Process includes submitting a survey and writing samples that will help place you into your first writing course. The entire process should take 1-2 hours total.

Here are the steps the process will entail:

• Take a survey that asks you to recount your previous writing and literacy experiences (10 minutes)
• Provide personal information relevant to your writing-course placement (10 minutes)
• Upload 2 samples of your writing
• Write a brief reflection on your writing experiences (up to 500 words)

W hat are type of writing samples would you like to see?

For writing sample #1, we want to see the most advanced work for a class in the last year. If you do not have anything to submit for sample #1, see below:

If you don’t have a quality writing sample #1 written for a class this year, you can choose your best work from the previous year.

If you don’t have a quality writing sample #1 written for a class this year in English, you can submit your best work written in English, for class or for a different occasion, and explain this choice in your reflection.

For writing sample #2, choose something from your high school years (perhaps from a class, creative writing, community engagement, or extra-curricular experience, etc.). If applicable, include instructor name, date of submission, and course title. If this second writing sample is not from a course, please include any header information that specifies when, for whom, and on what occasion the piece was written.

Do you want to see a variety of writing samples?

Yes, if that shows the range of your best work. However, it’s fine if you submit two samples from the same class.

Does my writing sample need to be typed or can it be handwritten?

If you only have a handwritten draft, you can submit that.

Can I submit collaborative writing?

Your first writing sample should not be collaborative. However, if a collaborative writing sample is the most advanced work you have, you can submit it as writing sample #2, along with a detailed explanation in your reflection explaining exactly what you contributed.

I no longer have access to my writing assignments from high school. How should I fill out the sample section of the survey?

Please submit any writing sample that you may have, even if you did not complete it for a class. This could be something like a cover letter, a piece of creative writing, or a document written for a club/organization. You might think about talking about some of the essays that you wrote in high school but could not submit in your survey reflection. 

How do I view my placement?

You can view your placement here after mid-July: https://web.due.uci.edu/testing/services/student.asp

If you have any questions about which class you should take, please consult with your academic advisor.

Test Scores

What scores can be used to determine my writing placement .

Scores from these tests: AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP Research, or AP Seminar; the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT); American College Testing (ACT); and/or the International Baccalaureate (IB) .

Please submit any and all scores for any of these tests . Any score that you have for any of these tests can help determine placement. For more information on how to send your scores, please see the “Sending Test Scores” section here: https://admissions.uci.edu/admitted/official-documents.php    

What is the Entry-Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)?

To see all the ways that ELWR can be satisfied, please see the 2024 ELWR chart here .

What if I don’t have a relevant test score?

If you do not have a score, your placement will be determined by a review of your Writing Course Placement Portfolio.

Please submit any and all scores for any of these tests : AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP Research, or AP Seminar; the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT); American College Testing (ACT); and/or the International Baccalaureate (IB) . 

How do I check if my scores or transcripts have been submitted?

You can check to see whether your transcripts and test scores have been received by referring to your UCI Admitted Student Portal .   

I submitted scores when I applied for college. Do I have to submit them again?

Yes. The transcripts that were submitted to UC are not officially submitted to UC Irvine, so you will need to submit them to UC Irvine specifically. Please make sure your test scores are sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For more information on how to send your scores, please see the “Sending Test Scores” section here: https://admissions.uci.edu/admitted/official-documents.php    

Transfer Course Credit

I took a college-level writing course at another institution. what should i do.

Please request that an official transcript be sent to UCI directly from your previous institution for review. For more information on how to send transcripts to UCI, please visit https://admissions.uci.edu/admitted/official-documents.php  

If your transcript is not received in time for your advising and registration session, please be sure to have a copy or other access to your course completion record that you can show to your academic advisor during Orientation. They can appropriately advise you at that time on your writing placement and whether or not you will enroll in a writing course for Fall 2024.

For questions about the writing placement process, please email [email protected] .

Writing Placement at WSU

WSU students planning to enroll in English 101 or an equivalent course must complete the Writing Placement Assessment.

The Writing Placement Assessment:

• Is only required for students who plan to enroll in English 101 or an equivalent course.
• Asks students to reflect on their writing skills and experiences in a few multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
• Provides an article for students to read (students select between two articles chosen by the English department).
• Prompts students to write a short essay (600-800 words) in response to the article and upload it into the platform.
• Is evaluated by trained readers who are also the teachers of first-year writing courses.

Pullman & Global: [email protected] 509-335-7959

Tri-Cities: Writing placement website [email protected]

Vancouver: Writing placement website [email protected]

The Writing Placement Assessment

Please read this information carefully before starting your Writing Placement submission:

• You must complete Writing Placement at least one week prior to your advising meeting (or to your orientation dates).
• You will be prompted to enter your WSU account (i.e., Butch.Cougar) and your password in order to enter the assessment platform.
• As noted above, this assessment includes reading an article and writing a short essay, as well as several reflection questions. Plan to spend anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days on this assessment.
• You can exit the platform and return to your saved submission.
• You will need to use a composing program such as Word or Google Docs, and you will need to upload your completed essay into the assessment platform in a Word file type or a PDF.

If you have any questions, please reach out to The Writing Program (for info about the assessment or placement) or Crimson Service Desk (for help with your WSU account).

Click this link to enter the Writing Placement platform.

A note from the Writing Program:

We are currently transitioning Writing Placement to a new platform. We appreciate your patience in the coming weeks. Our office will prioritize the evaluation and processing of currently enrolled students through the end of spring term. We recognize that some currently enrolled students plan to enroll in an English course in the summer session. In early May, we will expand our focus to new and incoming students.

Most Common Questions

Do i need to complete the writing placement assessment.

• If you scored 4 or above on the AP test in English: Language and Composition, you have satisfied a WRTG designation and do not need to complete Writing Placement.
• If you scored 5 on the AP test in English: Literature and Composition, you have satisfied a WRTG designation and do not need to complete Writing Placement.
• If you scored 4 or above on the Higher Level IB English A: Literature or the Higher Level English A: Language and Literature test, you have satisfied a WRTG designation and do not need to complete Writing Placement.
• If you are in the Honors College, you do not need to complete Writing Placement. Contact your advisor or the Honors College for instructions on registering for English 298.
• If you are transferring in college English credit, use the Transfer Course Search tool to verify your credit will meet the WRTG requirement.  So long as the transfer credit fulfills WSU’s first-year writing course requirement, you do not need to complete Writing Placement.

Additionally, WSU students can complete the UCORE WRTG requirement by taking all three of these 1-credit courses: WRITE 111, WRITE 112, and WRITE 113. See the Writing Program’s WRITE courses in the course catalog for more information.

What about placement results?

Results are not distributed through email. An advisor will access your results through My.Wsu during your advising meeting. If you do not attend orientation on your campus or you do not have an advising meeting, you can email us with that information and request your course placement.

Students are placed into the English course that most supports their unique needs as writers. The placement options include:

• English 100: This course prepares students for the rigors of academic writing that will be found in English 101. Students must successfully complete both English 100 and English 101 to receive the [WRTG] credit. (My.WSU code 0)
• English 101: This course provides instruction to develop students’ academic writing, critical thinking, rhetorical strategies, reading and library skills. Successful completion of this course fulfills the [WRTG] credit. (My.WSU code 1)
• English 101+ 102: Placement into these concurrent courses indicates a level of readiness for academic writing, but also a need for structured assistance with academic writing while completing English 101. The Writing Center administers English 102 through the Small Group Collaborative program. (My.WSU code 2)
• English 104: This course is designed to introduce non-native speakers of English to writing and reading in the university. This course prepares students for English 105 with focused attention on grammar, syntax, and academic styles of writing. To receive [WRTG] credit, students must successfully complete English 104 and 105. (My.WSU code 4)
• English 105: This course provides instruction designed to develop academic writing, critical thinking, reading, library skills, and rhetorical strategies for non-native speakers of English. It is an equivalent course to English 101 and carries [WRTG] credit. (My.WSU code 6)
• English 105+ 107: Placement into these courses provides an introduction to academic writing for multilingual writers whose first language is not English. This placement indicates a writer’s need for structured assistance with academic writing while completing English 105. The Writing Center administers English 107 through the Small Group Collaborative program. (My.WSU code 5)

For more information on the 1-credit classes (Eng 102 and 107) visit the Undergraduate Writing Center’s Courses page .

If you feel an error was made in the evaluation of your essays, you are welcome to contact the Writing Program.

NOTE : Some WSU campuses currently offer only English 101 and English 101 + 102. Contact the appropriate campus Writing Assessment office with questions.

Do I have to complete writing placement in the summer?

The Writing Program hosts writing placement assessments throughout the school year. During the summer, it’s best to complete assessment at least one week before your scheduled orientation dates so that you can get enrolled in an appropriate course during your advising meeting, but it is not detrimental to your WSU experience to complete writing placement at a later time.

Check out our Placement FAQ page if your question is not answered here.

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Writing and Reading Placement Testing

All incoming first-year students will compose a brief essay off campus, on their own time. This score along with high school GPA and SAT scores will help determine which first-year English course you will take. Incoming transfer students may also need to write an essay if English courses were not transferred from a previous institution. If you are a transfer student, you will be informed which exams and assessments you need prior to registration.

Our English Department offers sample student essays along with feedback to help incoming first-year students prepare for the writing placement essay. Students are also encouraged to visit  the Writing Studio  in the Academic Achievement Center for free one-on-one tutoring in writing. Click on the links below to access a particular resource:

• Sample Writing Placement Essays for Incoming First-Year Students
• The Writing Studio in the Academic Achievement Center

Incoming first-year students will complete the essay portion of their placement testing off campus, on their own time. Click here to access the Prompt & Submission page .

This essay measures students' ability to write effectively--a critical component of academic success. Essays will be read by a panel of English faculty members at BSU, who will then place students into the composition course most appropriate for their skill level. 

A satisfactory essay should develop a central idea in response to the essay prompt. Ideas in the essay should be organized into logical paragraphs that include specific details and connect to the author's central idea.

In addition, faculty readers expect students to:

• Make a central claim about the topic;
• Provide supporting reasons and evidence for all claims;
• Recognize the complexities of the topic;
• Display competence in logical development and organization;
• Display competence in sentence variety, paragraph development, and usage.

Transcripts

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students who wish to transfer their placement test results to another institution, or obtain a copy of their placement test score report(s), must fill out and submit an official placement test score transcript request form.

Click here for the placement test score transcript request form. +

Take the next step

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Writing placement exam.

This exam is designed to help each incoming student find the writing support and instruction most suited to his or her individual skill level. Eligible students will receive an email notification to take the exam. We recommend that you meet with your advisor as they can provide the most support, but if there are questions, please contact Careen Szarmach at [email protected] and include your name, student information, and the detailed nature of your inquiry. Thank you!

I. Who needs to take the exam, and how are transfer credit/exam exemptions evaluated?

Q: who has to take the placement exam.

A: You must take the writing placement exam unless at least one of the following criteria is true:

• Your SAT Writing & Language Test score is 31 or higher. This is a two- digit score and is not the Evidence-based Reading and Writing portion of the SAT which is a three digit score.
• Your ACT English composite is 23 or higher
• You are transferring WRT 110-specific credit to CCSU from a previous institution ( Note: ENG 1xx credit insufficient )
• You earned a 3 or higher on English Language & Composition AP exam ( not the English Literature & Composition AP Exam)
• You have been admitted to the Honors Program

Students who have course credit that transfers as WRT 110 (not WRT 1xx), who are in the Honors Program, or who have successfully completed the Summer Bridges Program do not need to take the placement exam. If you meet the criteria to take the test and have not received an invitation or if you have received an invitation but meet the criteria for exemption, please email Careen Szarmach at [email protected] with your full name, contact information, student ID# and bluenet ID (if you have them), and an explanation of why you need to be enrolled/exempted.

Q: My test scores aren't in that range, but I still received the letter!

A: Please ensure that CCSU has received your transcripts and test scores; you received the letter because, most likely, we have not yet gotten your scores. If your scores were properly received and you are either above or below the score threshold, please email Careen Szarmach at [email protected] with your full name, contact information, and student ID# and bluenet ID (if you have them).

Q: I have AP Credits; do I still need to take the Writing Placement Exam?

A: A score of 3 or higher on the English Literature and Composition Advanced Placement Exam or the English Language and Composition Advanced Placement Exam will award WRT 110 credit. Please note: It is your responsibility to ensure that your test results have been received and processed by CCSU, and the English Department is not able to do that for you or give you any credit until your exam scores have been officially received by the university.

Q: I have taken a class at another college/university and I want transfer credit for WRT 110; how do I do this?

A: If you have taken a class at a member of ConnSCU (one of the other regional CT universities or a CT community college), please visit this page to find out what transfer credit a class will grant: https://webapps.ccsu.edu/CTAB/CCSU_TransCourses.aspx . If you went to a school not on that list, please contact your advisor to for further information. Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that all transferring credits are received by CCSU; you will not be given any credit or exam exemption until they are processed.

Q: I took/am taking the UCONN ECE course - do I still need to take the placement exam?

A: If you successfully complete the program then no, you do not need to take the placement exam. You do need to inform your advisor and to ensure that your credit is sent to and received by CCSU, however, to ensure that you are properly enrolled and that your record is updated.

Q: I am in the honors program. Do I still need to take the placement exam?

A: No. Please contact your adviser to ensure that your record accurately reflects this.

Q: What if I don't care what writing class I get into? Do I still need to take the exam?

A: Yes! And you should care about the class you take as it's a crucial component of your college career!

II. Test Directions

Welcome to the CCSU Writing Placement Test! This test is designed to place you into the class that will offer you the best support. To complete the exam effectively, please make sure you have...

• At least 2 hours and 15 minutes of uninterrupted, undisturbed time available
• A stable internet connection
• No other applications running, and no other tabs open (this can cause your laptop or browser to crash)
• Full power to your computer (if you are using a laptop, please make sure you plug it in; don't rely on the battery!)

You are free to take notes as you prepare your essay. It is also fine for you to refer back to these instructions or to print them out. When you have read everything in this section, please return to the test and complete the Demographic questions before proceeding to the essay section.

The Placement Exam includes demographic questions and an essay section. Each part of the Placement Exam is mandatory, and you cannot continue to the next step until you’ve completed the step you are on. Both your answers to the demographic questions and written response will be used to determine your placement into a writing class.

III. Scoring Criteria

After you submit your essay, it will be read and scored by a member of the English Department’s writing faculty. Your essay will be evaluated on three areas: (1) thesis/controlling idea, (2) use of the reading/citation, (3) and writing genre, tone, and mechanics You can earn up to 4 points for each area. The highest score an essay can receive is 12 points. The grading rubric is on the next page of this document.

Your answers to the demographic questions will be considered in combination with your essay to determine whether a writing class that supports English language learners would be more beneficial to you.

IV. Finding Your Placement and Descriptions of Writing Courses

How to Find Out What Your Placement Is:

After submission, your exam will be evaluated by faculty in the CCSU English Department and your writing course placement will be determined: WRT 100, WRT 105/105P, WRT 110, ESL 100, or ESL 105/105P. Your placement result should be available no later than 2-3 weeks after you take the test. You can ask your advisor to tell you which class you have been placed into.

If you’d like to look up your placement yourself:

1. Navigate to Central Pipeline

2. Click the WebCentral—Banner Web button in the middle of the page on the left side.

3. Log in to WebCentral with your email address and password

4. Click on the “Student” tab and scroll down to the Student Information Link

5. Look under Test Scores for your Writing Placement Test score, which indicates your placement. 0=WRT 100 3=ESL 100 1=WRT 105/105P 4=ESL 105/105P 2=WRT 110

Students cannot request to be placed into a different class. However, if you believe you would benefit from more writing support or from a writing class for English language learners and you are not placed into one, you can contact the Director of Composition, Dr. Elizabeth Brewer at [email protected] .

Writing Course Descriptions

Descriptions of the first-year writing classes are below if you would like to know more about them:

WRT 110: Introduction to College Writing is an introductory course in college-level academic writing. It asks students to read complex texts and analyze them, craft arguments in response to them, and conduct their own research on issues. WRT 110 satisfies CCSU’s first-year writing requirement and is 3 credit hours.

WRT 105: Enhanced Introduction to College Writing is an introductory course in college-level academic writing for students who would benefit from additional individual and small-group writing instruction. Students in WRT 105 take the equivalent of the 3-credit WRT 110, supplemented by two additional hours of tutorial assistance in a smaller group. WRT 105 satisfies CCSU’s first-year writing requirement and is 5 credit hours.

WRT 100: Fundamentals of Composition focuses on improvement of basic writing skills to prepare students for WRT 110. The course introduces students to academic writing genres, processes, and practices. Students who are required to take WRT 100 must pass the course with a C- or better before successful completion of 30 hours of coursework at CCSU. WRT 100 does not satisfy CCSU’s first-year writing requirement, but it fulfills a general education Skill Area I requirement, and passing the course with a C- or better qualifies a student to take WRT 110. WRT 100 is 3 credit hours.

Writing Courses for English Language Learners:

ESL 105: ESL Enhanced Introduction to College Writing is an introductory course in college-level academic writing for English language learners would benefit from additional individual and small-group writing instruction. The course shares WRT 110’s focus on reading and responding to complex sources, writing from inquiry, academic conventions, and the writing process. Students in ESL 105 take the equivalent of the 3-credit WRT 110, supplemented by two additional hours of tutorial assistance in a smaller group of English language learners. This tutorial focuses specifically on reading and writing skills for non-native English speakers. ESL 105 satisfies CCSU’s first-year writing requirement and is 5 credit hours.

ESL 100: ESL Fundamentals of Composition focuses on improvement of basic writing skills to prepare students for WRT 110. The course introduces English language learners to American academic writing expectations by teaching sentence and paragraph formation and the development of coherent essays. Students who are required to take ESL 100 must pass the course with a C- or better before successful completion of 30 hours of coursework at CCSU. ESL 100 does not satisfy CCSU’s first-year writing requirement, but it fulfills a general education Skill Area I requirement, and passing the course with a C- or better qualifies a student to take WRT 110. ESL 100 is 3 credit hours.

IV. How does the test work and what do I need to do to prepare for it?

Q: how do i take the exam.

A: Log into Blackboard and sign in with your bluenet ID and password. Once there, look to the top-right of your screen and click on "Organizations@CCSU." The link to the Writing Placement Exam should appear; click on it to begin the process (the timer does NOT begin at that moment, so you can browse the materials before you begin). If you do not see the Writing Placement Exam link, please email Careen Szarmach at [email protected] with your full name, contact information, and student ID# and bluenet ID (if you have them).

Q: What is the exam like? How long do I have to take it?

A: You will be asked to read a selected text of approximately 500 words and to respond to specific prompts in a coherent, organized, formal essay of 500-600 words. You will be given two (2) hours to read the text provided and to compose, edit, and submit your essay.

Before you begin, you will be given some information about what we are looking for in your essay, how it will be evaluated, and how that evaluation will determine your placement in a writing class. You may review this information for as long as you like, and any time spent reviewing it will not count against the two (2) hours you have to complete the exam. If you wish, after reviewing the information you may log off and return at another time to write your essay.

After reviewing the evaluation information, you will be asked to answer some demographic questions about your language and writing background. This data will help our faculty decide which writing class is the best fit for you, and your responses will help us better understand the characteristics, goals, and abilities of our student population so that we can improve our program. The time you take to answer these questions will not count against the two (2) hours you have to complete the exam. If you wish, after answering the demographic questions you may log off and return at another time to write your essay.

If you choose to continue, be sure that you have two uninterrupted hours to write your essay because once you begin the process you cannot stop and start again. You will have only one opportunity to take the Placement Exam. When you begin, you will be given a short text to read along with a specific writing prompt to which you will be asked to respond. You will have two hours to read the text, develop your ideas, write your essay, and revise your work before submitting it. After submission, you will be asked to answer two more brief demographic questions that are not part of the two hour, timed writing exam.

Q: Do I need to schedule an appointment?

A: No! The exam is taken online and can be done so at any time, day or night (though taking it as soon as possible is definitely a good decision).

Q: Does the exam cost anything?

A: No, the test is free and requires only access to the internet and a computer. If you do not have internet access at home, you may take the exam from the student computing center on campus, or at any other public terminal.

Q: How do I prepare for the exam?

A: You do not need to prepare for the exam; there isn't a particular subject to study or skill to practice. The goal of the exam is to determine which class best supports your current level of writing ability, so artificially inflating (or depressing) your ability can only hurt you. Just make sure that when you do take the exam, you give yourself 2.5-3 hours of uninterrupted and distraction-free time and a stable internet connection.

Q: What is the deadline to take the exam?

A: You should take the exam as soon as possible. You cannot enroll in a composition course until you do so, and they fill very quickly, so you are in jeopardy of not being able to take a required course if you delay, which may end up delaying your graduation date! We usually offer the exam for newly-admitted Fall semester students from March until the Fall Semester Add/Drop Deadline, and then we re-open it from mid/late October until the add/drop deadline in Spring Semester.

Q: I have a disability and/or need special accommodation. How do I receive support?

A: Please contact Student Disability Services (SDS) and they will ensure that you receive any necessary accommodations. The English Department cannot assist you until you contact SDS and ensure that you are registered, at which point, we will be contacted; we will accommodate you in any way possible.

V. Technical Problems

Q: i don't know how to get my bluenet id/student id# or my login is not working what do i do.

A: Please contact the IT Help Desk at [email protected] or (860) 832-1720 and include your full name and a description of the exact problem you are experiencing.

Q: While I was taking the test, my computer restarted/shut down/lightning struck my roof/the internet exploded and now I can't get back to my exam is there anything you can do?

A: In the event of a legitimate, technical problem in which you already began to take the exam and then were unable to finish, please email Careen Szarmach at [email protected] with your full name, contact information, student ID# and bluenet ID, and a detailed description of the issue. There is no guarantee of restoring any work done, or of being able to retake the exam, but we will make every effort to address the situation fairly.

Q: I took the test, but I'm not sure my essay was properly submitted and now when I go back to view it on Blackboard, it's not there! Did it get lost?

A: When an essay is submitted for examination, it is no longer available for you to view (which occurs for security reasons). If you believe that there was a technical error, please email Careen Szarmach at [email protected] with your full name, contact information, student ID# and bluenet ID, and the nature of your concern.

VI. How is the test scored/Questions about placement

Q: how is the exam graded what does "placement" mean.

A: After submission, it will be evaluated by faculty in the CCSU English Department and your writing course placement will be determined: WRT 100, WRT 105/105P, WRT 110, ESL 100, or ESL 105/105P. Your placement result should be available no later than 2 weeks after you take the test. To determine your score, login to WebCentral and look under Test Scores.

• WRT 100, WebCentral Score 0
• WRT 105/105P, WebCentral Score 1
• WRT 110, WebCentral Score 2
• ESL 100, WebCentral Score 3
• ESL 105/105P, WebCentral Score 4

ESL writing classes are designed for students whose first language isn’t English, and they meet the same university general education requirements as their WRT equivalent courses. If you placed into WRT 110 but feel ESL 108 or 109 might be a better fit, you can take one in addition to your writing class. You can register for either class voluntarily, any semester. If you have questions about this, you may contact. Dr. Elizabeth Olson to inquire.

Q: How long will it take to get my score, and how do I view it?

A: You may check back on WebCentral at anytime; when your exam has been scored, the number will be visible. If more than 2 weeks have elapsed since you submitted your exam and you still have not received a score, please email Careen Szarmach at [email protected] with your full name, contact information, student ID# and bluenet ID (if you have them), and the nature of your inquiry.

Q: I took the exam and I disagree with my score...can I retake it and/or challenge my score?

A: We have a very rigorous training program for our placement exam graders, and we make our grading rubric and criteria visible to students even before they take the exam (which you can view on the exam itself), so we feel confident in our results. We do not allow students to retake the exam unless there are exceptional circumstances, but if you believe there is an error that needs to be redressed, please email Careen Szarmach at [email protected] with your full name, contact information, student ID# and bluenet ID (if you have them), and a carefully-written explanation of your concern and warranted action.

VII. My test in BlackBoard Learn has an old date and won't open.

Tests not stay open indefinitely. The testing period runs from March - drop/add in fall semester, and October - drop/add in spring semester. When drop/add comes to a close, the tests do as well. If the tests in your BlackBoard Learn are closed, you will need to be added to a new test. Please email your student ID and bluenet user ID to Careen Szarmach at [email protected] . Tests are emailed every Thursday morning, so manual additions must be emailed to Ms. Szarmach by Wednesday morning.

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ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

The ACCUPLACER Writing test is a computer-adaptive test comprised of 25 questions that assess your English and writing skills. To help you prepare for this section of the ACCUPLACER, this page contains everything you need to know, including what topics are covered, how many questions there are, and how you can study effectively.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free ACCUPLACER Writing practice test!

What’s on the Test?

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How many questions are on the test?

There are 25 questions in total on the ACCUPLACER Writing subtest.

How do you pass the ACCUPLACER Writing test?

There is no “pass/fail” scoring system for this subtest. Your score will be placed on a score range of 200-300. Your placement on that range will indicate your English and writing knowledge and abilities.

To achieve a high score, you will need to spend an adequate amount of time studying for the test.

What is a good score on the ACCUPLACER Writing test?

Your test score will be placed on a score range of 200-300. Within that range are five score bands:

A good score to aim for is the 263-275 score band.

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by Mometrix Test Preparation | This Page Last Updated: February 29, 2024

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Department of Writing & Rhetoric Studies

College of humanities, main navigation, writing & rhetoric studies' first-year writing assessment.

First-Year Writing at the University of Utah

As part of statewide general education requirements, all University of Utah students need transcripted credit for two first-year writing courses: WR1 and WR2.

We've created a  Required Writing Pre-Orientation to make sure all incoming students :

• Understand the first-year writing requirements at U of U.
• Determine whether they have fulfilled WR1 and/or WR2 through transfer credit or qualifying AP, IB, or CLEP exam scores .
• Become familiar with important writing resources on campus.

Writing Pre-Orientation begins with a series of questions to help you determine whether you are arriving at the University of Utah with first-year writing credit.

If you do not have credit for WR1 or WR2 , Writing Pre-Orientation will invite you to complete the First-Year Writing Assessment.

What is the First-Year Writing Assessment?

The First-Year Writing Assessment will help you decide whether you think you would benefit most from starting first-year writing in WR1 or going directly into a WR2 course.

If you decide you would benefit from going directly into a WR2 course, the First-Year Writing Assessment gives you the opportunity to make your case in a 500- to 750-word essay . This essay will be reviewed by a team of first-year writing instructors. 

If the team approves your case, you will be eligible to receive transcripted credit for WR1 without taking WRTG 1010 : Introduction to College Writing. 

If you do not have WR1 credit and you do not complete the First-Year Writing Requirement, you will need to earn a C- or higher in WRTG 1010: Introduction to College Writing before taking a WR2 course.

How do I complete Writing Pre-Orientation ?

You complete Writing Pre-Orientation online by clicking HERE.

You complete Writing Pre-Orientation at your own pace and on your own device. Please use a device that will enable you to do your best possible writing. 

The First-Year Writing Assessment can take 2 or more hours to complete.

When should I complete Writing Pre-Orientation ?

If you do not have first-year writing credit, you should complete Writing Pre-Orientation at least 5 days prior to your orientation date . 

If you do not complete Writing Pre-Orientation at least 5 days prior to New Student Orientation, you might not be eligible to enroll in your preferred first-year writing course.

What if I didn’t complete Writing Pre-Orientation before New Student Orientation?

Students who have already attended New Student Orientation can access Writing Pre-Orientation at any time to take the First-Year Writing Assessment.

Please allow 5 business days for our team of instructors to review your First-Year Writing Assessment essay and enter their decision into the registration system.

What if my case is not approved?

If you submit your case for WR2 placement and it is not approved, you can retake the First-Year Writing Assessment one time.

If your retake essay is not approved, you will need to enroll in WRTG 1010.

Who do I contact with questions?

If you have questions about Writing Pre-Orientation, the First-Year Writing Assessment, or your first-year writing course options, please email [email protected] .

Transfer Credits

If you have first-year writing transfer credits from another college or university, those credits might satisfy either one or both of required first-year writing courses at the University of Utah, depending on which class or classes you took elsewhere.

The following test scores will count for WR1 credit:

• A score of 3 or higher on the AP English Language and Composition exam 
• A score of 4 or higher on the IB Language and Literature Higher Level exam
• A score of 50 or higher on the CLEP College Composition exam

An AP Seminar exam score of 3 or higher will count for WR2 credit.

A score of 4 or higher on either the AP Language and Composition or the AP English Literature and Composition exam will only count for WR2 credit  if the exam was taken by the end of Summer 2022.  More information can be found at the Utah Admission's  Advanced Placement Credit page

After August 2022, public college and universities in Utah will accept the AP English Literature and Composition exam for English elective credit but not for WR1 or WR2 credit. 

If you do not have transfer or exam credit for WR1 and choose not to complete First-Year Writing Assessment, you will receive a default placement into WRTG 1010.