• About Entry Level Writing
• Entry Level Writing Information
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Analytical Writing Placement Examination
• Examination Schedules
• Class Schedules
• Contact Information

Frequently Asked Questions About Entry Level Writing / Analytical Writing Placement Examination / Linguistics Courses

How do I fulfill the Entry Level Writing Requirement before entering UC?  By receiving a score of
• 30 or better on the ACT Combined English/Writing test; or
• 680 or better on the College Board SAT-II Writing Test; or
• 680 or better on the College Board SAT Reasoning Test, Writing section; or
• 3, 4 or 5 on either Advanced Placement (AP) Examination in English; or
• 5 or above on an International Baccalaureate High Level English A exam; or
• 6 or above on an International Baccalaureate Standard Level English A exam; or
• a grade of C or better in an acceptable college course in English composition; or
• a passing score on the Analytical Writing Placement Examination (AWPE)

I have already fulfilled the Entry Level Writing Requirement, but I still got a letter saying I have to take the exam. As the admissions process involves many steps, some applicants may receive exam notices even though they have cleared the Entry Level Writing Requirement. Simply disregard the exam invitation.

I received a 5 on my AP English test last year. Does UCD have this score? If you sent the score to UCD last year when you took the test, the score was discarded because it could not be matched with an application for admission. You will need to send the AP score to the Admissions Office again.

How do I know if the college course I took fulfills the Entry Level Writing Requirement? The course must be three semester English composition units or four quarter units; it must be a UC transferable course; and you must have received a grade of C or better. You can obtain the information you need by going to the Assist web site and selecting "UC Transferable Courses".

What if I can't make the May Analytical Writing Placement Exam? Any students who miss the May test will take another form of the Analytical Writing Placement Exam before fall quarter at UCD. The Fall Exam will be administered on:

Tuesday, September 23, 8:45 to 11:00 a.m. in 194 Chemistry

No exam reservations are necessary (or accepted). To be admitted to the exam session, a student must bring a black ink pen and a photo ID, preferably one bearing a signature. No latecomers will be admitted for any reason.

What if I don't get an exam notice to take the May Analytical Writing Placement Exam? Applicants in need of an exam notice may not have received it because of various reasons, including an applicant's change of address. Applicants may best clarify their circumstances by calling AWPE Customer Service at (800) 839-8507.

Where is the exam being given? You will automatically receive in the mail an exam notice of admission to an exam site near your school. With the ticket will come instructions for requesting a special administration of the examination necessitated by physical disability or religious observance and a payment invoice if your admission application fee was not waived.

I have misplaced my ticket. What should I do? Call AWPE Customer Service at (800) 839-8507 for instructions.

Is there a fee for the Analytical Writing Placement Exam? Yes, there is a $65.00 fee for the Analytical Writing Placement Exam. You will receive a payment invoice in the mail from the UC Office of the President. Note that this fee is waived if you have already received a waiver of your UC application fees.

I lost the envelope to send in my fee. Where should I mail my check? University of California, Analytical Writing Placement Exam, File 50112, Los Angeles, CA 90074-0112.

Where can I get an Analytical Writing Placement Examination booklet? You may download a copy of the booklet at:

http://www.ucop.edu/sas/awpe/index.html

How will I find out how I did on the Analytical Writing Placement Exam? About a month after you take the examination you will receive a letter from AWPE Customer Service informing you whether your essay satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement.

What do I do if I fail the exam? Can I take a course over the summer to fulfill the requirement? Many students learn that they have satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement when they receive the results from the AP Exam. Other students elect to take a college writing course during summer. If you choose this option, be sure the course is UC transferable, is either three semester or four quarter units, and is graded on a letter grade basis. (You must receive a grade of C or better to have the course count. Visit Assist for more information.

How many times am I allowed to take the AWPE?  UC policy specifies that students may take the AWPE only once. Thus, if you took the AWPE in May and failed, you may not take the exam again; you must enroll in either Workload 57, the writing course offered by Sacramento City College on the Davis campus, OR Linguistics 21, 22, or 23 (depending on the placement indicated by the Linguistics program). If you were unable to take the May exam, you must take the Fall Quarter AWPE offered on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. 

How do I fulfill the Entry Level Writing Requirement at UC Davis? Students will satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement by receiving a course grade of C or higher in Workload 57.

What kind of course is Workload 57?  Workload 57 is a preparatory writing course that will introduce you to the kinds of analytical writing you'll encounter at the University. You will read and discuss professional essays and write a number of papers and shorter assignments both in and out of class. The in-class assignments typically include practice AWPEs to help you prepare for the AWPE final exam. As you might expect, doing well in Workload 57 will allow you not only to fulfill the Entry Level Writing Requirement but also to do well in writing assignments for many of your other University courses. 

Why do I need to take one or more Linguistics courses before taking Workload 57?  Assessment of your AWPE has indicated that Linguistics coursework will be crucial to your success in Workload 57 and University writing. The Linguistics courses, limited to 18 students per section, are taught by highly experienced instructors who specialize in working with the writing of non-native speakers of English.

How soon must I satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement?  If you are not held for coursework in Linguistics, you must fulfill the requirement within your first three quarters at the University (Academic Senate Regulation 636).  If you are held for coursework in Linguistics, you have three quarters to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement plus the number of quarters you are held for coursework in Linguistics.

Should I try to enroll in Workload 57 in the fall quarter or wait until later in the year?  Because basic writing skills are so critical to your success at the University, and because you cannot receive General Education "writing experience" credit before satisfying the Entry Level Writing Requirement, you should plan to enroll in Workload 57 as soon as possible. When you enroll in the class or receive a place on the waiting list, be sure to attend the first day of class or you may lose your space! 

Is it possible to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement by taking a community college course during the summer?  Yes, but only if you do so now, before you begin classes at UCD. Once a student has enrolled at UC, s/he is not allowed to satisfy this requirement outside the UC system. (Senate Regulation 636).

Page expires after June 2009