Writing Placement Exam

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What is the Writing Placement Exam?

The Writing Placement Exam is an essay exam that determines what level writing course you should be assigned to. You will have two hours to compose an essay in response to a question. The time frame allows you to make full use of the writing strategies you have learned.

Registration Notices:

  1. Registration seating is limited to the number of seats for each exam date.
  2. Walk-in seating will only be available after those who have registered have been accomodated.
  3. All students, registered or not, must check in at the exam site no later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled exam starting time.
  4. All currently enrolled students must bring their UH Hilo photo ID. All newly accepted students must bring their acceptance letter and a photo ID.

Who takes the exam?

You should take the exam if you:

  • have been accepted and intend to enroll at UH-Hilo
  • are an entering non-native speaker of English
  • have not already satisfied the Written Communication Requirement

Who does not take the exam?

Do not the exam if you meet one of these criteria:

  • you plan to attend a community college or other university
  • you scored a "4" or "5" on the Language and Composition Advanced Placement Exam. (NOTE: The Literature & Composition A. P. Exam or the International Baccalaureate exam do not satisfy the Writing Placement Exam/Written Communication requirement.)
  • you are a native speaker of English and have passed a course at another college that is officially equivalent to ENG 100. (You must have verification of acceptance of this transfer course from the UH-Hilo Admissions Office.)
  • you took the Manoa Writing Program's Writing Placement Exam. (You must have your exam score transferred to UH Hilo. Contact Karla Hayashi for instructions.)

What is the purpose of the exam?

The exam is the University's way of placing you into the course that will best prepare you for academic writing. On the basis of faculty members' evaluation of your essay, you will be assigned to one of these courses:

  • English 100H
  • English 100
  • English 100T
  • Pre-English 100
  • English as a Second Language (ESL) 100
  • Pre-ESL 100
  • ESL 100T

Registration Instructions

You must reserve a seat for the exam by completing the online registration form. See the left sidebar for contact information if you unable to use the online registration form.

  1. Registration seating is limited to the number of seats for each exam date.
  2. Walk-in seating will only be available after those who have registered have been accomodated.
  3. All students, registered or not, must check in at the exam site no later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled exam starting time.
  4. All currently enrolled students must bring their UH Hilo photo ID. All newly accepted students must bring their acceptance letter and a photo ID.

What happens on the day of the exam?

  1. You must bring your registration email confirmation, a pen, photo ID, and proof of UH ID number or Social Security number to the exam. Please also bring your own dictionary.
  2. You will write a complete essay during the two-hour exam. You will have half an hour to plan and draft. You will have one additional hour to write, revise, and edit your essay. All students will be asked to leave at the end of the testing session.
  3. Paper will be provided for you. You may not bring any reference materials with you.

Who can I call if I have questions about the exam?

You may call Karla Hayashi, Writing Placement Exam Coordinator, at (808) 974-7545 or leave a message at (808) 974-7479 for questions about the exam and/or, special arrangements.

Note: If you will need disability accomodations to take the exam, you must contact the Exam Coordinator at least 10 working days prior to the scheduled exam.

What are the exam dates, time, and locations?

These are the upcoming exam dates:

Registration for the January 4, 2010 exam is open. Please register only one time. Multiple registrations for the same person will be deleted.

All students MUST remember to bring their own pens, pencils, dictionary, photo ID, and proof of UHH Student ID no. to the exam.

Students should be at UCB 100 no later than 8:45 a. m. on exam day.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Exam Date Location Building/Room Exam Time Seats Available
Monday, January 4, 2010 UH Hilo UCB 100 9am to 11 am 167 of 187

Complete the online registration form to sign up for an exam.

How and when may I get my results?

Before you take the exam, the exam proctor will give you an estimated time of results availability. When they become available, you may find the results online at http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/academics/wpe/search.php.