Testing and Exams (AP/IB/SAT)
What is the role of my SAT or ACT, AP, and IB scores?
If you received certain scores on these tests, you will be placed into Writing 2, and your course recommendation will reflect this and offer resources based on your DSP responses. See details on the ELWR page.
What should I do if I have scores to satisfy ELWR (from AP/IB/SAT), but they aren’t yet in my student portal?
You have two options: (1) You can look at your test scores, and if you are sure that you meet the ELWR criteria, and select Writing 2 as your placement. (2) Or, if you feel Writing 1 is best for you and are not totally sure your scores meet the ELWR criteria, you can place yourself in Writing 1. If your scores do end up meeting the ELWR criteria, you will have be automatically re-placed into Writing 2.
What happens if I already took a California community college course in English composition?
If you have taken an approved community college course, you may not need to take Writing 1 or Writing 2. If you know that you already took courses that meet Writing 1 and Writing 2 and are just waiting for your transcripts to be processed, do not enroll in Writing 1 or Writing 2.
Is the directed self-placement process a writing exam?
No, it is not an exam. UCSC’s DSP process asks you to review real Writing Program course materials and reflect on how ready you are to meet the expectations of our courses. You will answer survey questions about these materials, and your answers will be used to generate a course recommendation for you. Note that you won’t choose your writing course at the end of this survey. You’ll receive the Writing Program’s course recommendation via email within a few weeks and then respond to that email. If you do not respond to the email, you will be automatically enrolled in the course recommended by the Writing Program. More details are at DSP@UCSC.
What about the AWPE that I’ve heard about?
The directed self-placement process replaces the Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE), which was a timed writing exam that historically placed students in writing courses at UCSC. The AWPE no longer exists.
Still have questions?