Writing Placement at WSU
All WSU students planning to enroll in English 101 or an equivalent course must complete the Writing Placement Assessment.
Fall 2023 Writing Placement Assessment
October 31 – January 2, 2024 Writing Placement Assessment
This link closes at 11:59 pm on January 2, 2024. Placement results for this link will be available to advisors the first week of classes for Spring 2024 semester.
You will have 48 hours to finish the assessment and your time begins when you click on the link. Use the same computer, Internet browser, and link if you need to take a break and return to the assessment later; do not clear your history or cache. Submissions are read by the evaluation team after the link closes. Results are available to advisors during NCO.
Most Common Questions
- Students who have earned scores of 4 or above on the AP test in English: Language and Composition will receive credit for English 101 and do not have to complete the Writing Placement Process.
- Students who earned scores of 5 on the AP test in English: Literature and Composition will receive credit for English 101 and do not have to complete the Writing Placement Process.
- Students who have earned scores of 4 or above on the Higher Level IB English A: Literature or the Higher Level English A: Language and Literature test will receive credit for English 101 and do not have to complete the Writing Placement Process.
- Students in the Honors College do not need to complete the Writing Placement Process and should contact their advisor or the Honors College for instructions on registering for English 298.
- Students who are transferring in college English credit should use the Transfer Course Search tool to verify their credit will meet the WRTG requirement. So long as the transfer credit fulfills WSU’s first-year writing course requirement, students will not need to participate in the English Placement Process.
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.
Results are not distributed through email. Your advisor will access your results through My.Wsu during your advising meeting during NCO. If you do not attend NCO or you do not have an advising meeting, you can email us with that information and a request for 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.
The Writing Program hosts writing placement assessments throughout the school year. Typically, there is one assessment link available until about mid-semester (with results posted in time for spring registration) and another from mid-semester until the end of the term. During the summer, it’s best to complete assessment before your scheduled NCO so that they can talk with you about your assigned class, and possibly get you enrolled in that class (if seats are available), but it is not detrimental to complete writing placement at a later time.
Check out our Placement FAQ page if your question is not answered here.