Writing Assessment Office

Writing Placement Exam

Summer Hours:

Mon.: 10:00-3:00
Tues.: 12:00-4:00
Wed.: 10:00-3:00
Thurs.: 12:00-4:00

Quick Links

Placements

Testing Dates

Writing Placement Signup Form

 

The WSUV Writing Placement Exam requires students to write two essays that tackle the same kinds of writing tasks students will encounter in the English 101 program courses. Students will have two full hours to write their essays, with fifteen minutes of the exam session devoted to pre-writing. The exam requires students to write about a passage of text with college-level intellectual strategies. The passage is written at a level of sophistication common in college courses. Assessed by experienced writing instructors, the Writing Placement Exam is evaluated on how well students comprehend the passage as well as by how well they focus, organize, support, and proofread their writing.

All students wishing to enroll in English 101, including international students and transfer students with no [W] credit, must take the exam. Placement results from other universities or testing centers are not accepted at WSUV.

Writing Placements

Based on their written exams, students are placed into one of the following:

English 100: Basic Writing. Placement into 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 [W] credit.

English 101: places students into the course that provides an introduction to academic writing at the university.

English 101 + 102: this placement means that students are mostly ready for the challenges of academic writing, but have demonstrated a need for additional assistance in at least two major areas of composition (focus, organization, support, style, mechanics, etc.). English 102 is a one-credit writing tutorial that helps students work on strategies to meet the requirements of English 101 courses. English 102 is taken concurrently with English 101.

Exempt: this placement means that students demonstrate a sophisticated knowledge of the conventions of academic writing. Students receive credit for taking English 101 based on their placement exam results.

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Testing Dates

Sign up for the Writing Placement Exam you prefer at the Writing Assessment Office (VMMC Ground Floor Reception Area) or via the Writing Placement Signup Form.

Space is limited, so sign up early! Bring two pens and a photo ID to the exam site. Your student account will be charged the current exam fee.

For the current semester registration, the Writing Placement Exam is given on the following dates and times. Please arrive promptly at the beginning of the session.

2009

WRITING PLACEMENT EXAM SCHEDULE

Please double check the location of the exam ~

Monday, August 17 10-12 noon in VMMC 6

Wednesday, October 28 1-3 pm in VMMC 6

Friday, November 20 1-3 pm in VMMC 6

Friday, December 4 1-3 pm in VMMC 6

 

Questions about writing placement can be directed to Katherine Olson at 360-546-9260 or at

 

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