Writing Placement

About Your Writing Placement

Research shows that test scores alone don’t accurately indicate your success as a writer. Our writing placement asks for a sample of your writing to place you in a course tailored to your success in both our courses and across the university. Placement is more about your writing process than the final product.

What do I need to complete?

1. A short essay (based on one of three writing prompts)
2. A revision plan (describing how you would improve the essay with more time)
3. A survey (related to your previous writing experiences)

These items combined give us a snapshot of both you and the incoming freshman class of writers in the University Writing Program. Experienced Instructors in the University Writing Program read your work anonymously and decide where you will be most successful based on your samples. 

Who should complete a writing placement essay?

All incoming new students should take writing placement, except for:

• Students who have completed college composition coursework at another college or university and have received transfer credit for WRIT 1110 or WRIT 1120.
• Students who have earned a score of 3 or higher on either the AP English Language and Composition or AP English Literature and Composition exam.
  • NOTE: Students who have taken either of the above AP Composition courses but have not completed the AP exam or have not yet received their exam scores should still complete the writing placement essay. (Note: Your advisor will update your writing placement and/or course schedule as needed upon receipt of your AP exam score(s) later in the summer. For now, please plan to complete the writing placement essay.)

When should I complete the placement?

Please complete the placement as soon as you can, and you should finish at least two weeks before your scheduled orientation date (so that you can secure a spot in your writing course).

NOTE: Please do not complete your writing placement the day of your orientation. This makes it more difficult to secure the appropriate course for your incoming semester.

What do I need to begin placement?

In order to begin placement, you will need to:

• be an undergraduate student entering BGSU
• have access to your BGSU email account (to access and write the placement)
• complete the placement within 24 hours (which gives you more time than a standard test and allows you time for ideas, drafting, revision, and editing)
• use the full 24 hours (remember that this placement decides how many writing courses you must complete, and you can only access the placement an unlimited number of times during the 24-hour period, not after)

For Second Language and Multilingual Speakers/Writers of English

All undergraduate students must complete the UWP writing placement, and second language and multilingual speakers/writers of English may be required to complete ESOL writing courses as prerequisites to the University Writing Program’s WRIT courses. 

NOTE: You may also be required to complete the ESOL speaking/listening placement. See ESOL Placement Assessment Information or contact esolprog@bgsu.edu for more information.

For AP Students

NOTE: If you plan to take an AP test this year, you still need to write a Placement essay before May 1 (AP scores will not be submitted in time for you to be enrolled in your Linked Courses).

Students who have a completed score of 3 or higher on an AP English Language and Composition Test or the English Literature and Composition Test are not required to complete a placement essay.

Change your world through writing in UWP!