The Entry-Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) is a University of California reading and writing proficiency requirement that all first-year students must satisfy. This requirement is not an admissions requirement. The ELWR must be satisfied either before beginning courses on a UC campus or during the first year of enrollment. For information about individual high schools’ success rates in preparing their students to satisfy the ELWR, please go to the UC Office of the President website.
There are a variety of ways incoming students can satisfy the ELWR both before or after they officially matriculate (enroll full-time).
Students may satisfy the ELWR by any one of the following ways:
Students who have not satisfied the ELWR before beginning as full-time students must enroll in one of UCR’s Entry-Level Writing courses during their first quarter on campus. The Director of the University Writing Program determines the appropriate course based on the students' AWPE exams, and placements are made available to students electronically.
The Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE) determines if entering students can read and write at the level expected to satisfy the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). The AWPE will be administered to new incoming UCR freshmen who have not yet satisfied the ELWR. The exam is only available to students who have completed their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). Students who write satisfactory exams satisfy the ELWR and are eligible to enroll in the first course of the UCR Freshman Composition sequence (English 1A - Beginning Composition). Students whose exams are determined to be unsatisfactory are given instructions to enroll in a particular ELWR course. UCR urges all new students to satisfy their ELWR before becoming a full-time student in the fall.
Students who have not officially satisfied the ELWR in one of the UC approved methods must complete the AWPE. Completing the online AWPE on one of the test dates in May or June will ensure that students have placement information before registering for fall quarter classes when attending their Highlander Orientation Session in July or August.
You will be given a prose passage to read carefully. The passage is followed by a question or topic related to the prose passage but intended to give you the opportunity to express your own opinions and ideas. Respond to the topic by writing an essay that is controlled by a central idea and is specifically developed.
You will have two hours to read the passage and complete your essay. The question requires no specialized knowledge. We are interested in your thoughts on the issue you write about and in your presentation and expression of them. Your essay will be evaluated on the basis of your ability to develop your central idea, to express yourself clearly, and to use the conventions of written English.
Each essay is scored independently by two readers, who measure it against the 6 point scoring guide, written by the experts who developed the examination. Papers with composite scores (sum of the two readers’ scores) of 8 and higher satisfy the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement. Results from exams will be sent to each student via their UCR email address. Students who complete the online exam in May or June will have the results before the first Highlander Orientation Session. Results are final; your essay will not be re-evaluated after the University-wide scoring session.
The fee for this exam is $100 and will be automatically added to your student account after completing the essay exam. Students who receive a fee waiver for the UC Application Fee will also receive a fee wavier for the Analytical Writing Placement Exam.
Students who have not satisfied the Entry-Level Writing Requirement must take the Analytical Writing Placement Exam.
| Test Date: | Exam Start Time*: | Exam Location: | Registration Link | Registration Closes** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 10:00 AM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | 05/16/2024 |
| Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 5:00 PM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | 05/16/2024 |
| Sunday, May 19, 2024 | 10:00 AM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | 05/16/2024 |
| Sunday, May 19, 2024 | 5:00 PM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | 05/16/2024 |
| Saturday, June 22, 2024 | 10:00 AM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | EXTENDED: 06/19/2024 |
| Saturday, June 22, 2024 | 5:00 PM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | EXTENDED: 06/19/2024 |
| Sunday, June 23, 2024 | 10:00 AM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | EXTENDED: 06/19/2024 |
| Sunday, June 23, 2024 | 5:00 PM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | EXTENDED: 06/19/2024 |
| Saturday, August 3, 2024 | 10:00 AM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | 07/31/2024 |
| Saturday, August 3, 2024 | 5:00 PM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | 07/31/2024 |
| Sunday, August 4, 2024 | 10:00 AM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | 07/31/2024 |
| Sunday, August 4, 2024 | 5:00 PM | Online (Canvas/eLearn) | Registration closed | 07/31/2024 |
| Final Test Date: Monday, September 23, 2024 | 4:00 PM | *In Person* UCR Main Campus: Student Success Center Room 229 | Register | 09/19/2024 |
*Exam times are based on the Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
**Registration closes at 11:59 PM
Questions about the Analytical Writing Placement Exam should be addressed to the University Writing Program: uwp@ucr.edu.
If students have not satisfied the requirement upon entrance as full-time students, they must satisfy the ELWR within three quarters of full-time enrollment.
Students who have not satisfied the ELWR after three quarters of university residence (three quarters of enrollment during the regular academic year) are not normally eligible to enroll for a fourth quarter at the University of California.
For students placed in BSWT001 or BSWT003, this three-quarter residence rule begins after satisfactory completion of BSWT003 or the start of their fourth quarter of regular enrollment at UCR, whichever comes first.
A: By doing so, students can begin their first quarter enrolled in the required English Composition sequence (ENGL 001ABC), thus taking a step toward finishing their undergraduate degrees within four years. There are a variety of ways to satisfy the ELWR before beginning in the fall, several of which are summer opportunities.
A: Testing early gives students placement information in ample time for them to exercise the option of enrolling in summer school if their results are unsatisfactory. It also helps ensure that all students will be able to register for their fall quarter courses when they come to UCR during the summer Highlander Orientation.
A: Yes. We strongly encourage any student who has not officially satisfied the Entry-Level Writing Requirement to take the exam in May or June. While the University Writing Program will offer a couple additional exam administrations in August and September, these exams are primarily designed as make-up test dates. Students will enroll in fall quarter classes during their Highlander Orientation session, and will be unable to enroll in the appropriate writing course without official placement information in the system.
A: If you did not pass the May or June AWPE, you can enroll in an ELWR course during Summer Session E. Session E is deliberately scheduled after most of the Highlander Orientation sessions to accommodate students who decide, as a result of their Orientation experience, to satisfy the writing requirement during the summer. Incoming students are encouraged to consider participating in the Highlander Early Start Academy.
A: The Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE) is designed to match you to the course that will best address your needs in writing. The AWPE is scored by two or more readers who have significant placement experience and have undergone extensive training. If you would like to appeal the placement decision, you may do so by clicking this link. Appealing the placement decision involves filling out a survey, and, possibly, submitting a formal letter of appeal and participating in an interview. All appeals need to be received no later than two weeks after a student has learned about the placement decision.
A: Register online at orientation.ucr.edu.A: If you are considering taking a course that will satisfy the ELWR and earn transfer units for ENGL 001A, use www.assist.org to identify these courses at community colleges and CSU campuses. For approved courses from other colleges or universities, check with the UCR Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
A: If the University has not received evidence that you have passed the AP exam, you will receive information about taking the AWPE in May or June. We recommend that you take the exam on one of these test dates to increase your chances of passing the Entry-Level Writing Requirement. A passing score on either exam (the AP or the AWPE) is enough to satisfy the writing requirement; a score of 3 or better on the AP examination will also enable you to be exempted from one or two of the required Freshman Composition courses (ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B). If you do not earn a passing score on the AP English exam and have not satisfied the ELWR in one of the other methods, you will need to complete the AWPE. Taking the AWPE if you have not already earned a passing score on the AP English exam will ensure that you will be able to register for the appropriate classes during Highlander Orientation.
A: Yes, there is a $100 fee for the Analytical Writing Placement Examination. The fee will be automatically added to your student account after you complete the essay exam. This fee will be waived if you have already received a waiver of your UC application fees.
A: You will not have satisfied the Entry-Level Writing Requirement and will need to repeat the course in the following quarter. Register for the same English course again via R'Web during open enrollment. R'Web can be accessed on the web at https://rweb.ucr.edu.
A: Check your grades on R'Web. You will be able to see if you passed your English course with a grade of “C” or above. If you receive a “C” or above in ENGL 004, you will have fulfilled the Entry-Level Writing Requirement and can register for the first course in the Freshman series of English Courses, ENGL 001A (Beginning Composition). If you received a “C-“ or lower as a grade in the ENGL 004 course, you will need to repeat the course to try to attain a “C” or above.
A: You must repeat the course. You have three quarters of academic residence to satisfy the Entry-Level Writing Requirement. After this time, students who have not satisfied the Entry-Level Writing Requirement are not typically allowed to register for a fourth quarter.
A: Yes, full-time students eligible for financial aid will have their fees paid in accordance with their financial aid package allocations for the repetition of ENGL 004.
A: First year UCR students have their first three (3) quarters to earn a satisfactory grade in ENGL 004. Students who have not fulfilled the Entry-Level Writing Requirement by the end of this time period will not be allowed to register in courses for the following (fourth) quarter. No extra fees will be charged for repeating the course during a student’s first three quarters of enrollment.
A: Talk with your instructor. Make use of office hours. You can also go to the UCR Academic Resource Center. The ARC provides assistance through an English “drop-in” tutoring program. UCR students are available to help you with your work. To check the drop-in tutoring hours, please consult the ARC website. The ARC website also explains the many programs offered to assist students. They are there to help you.
A: Go to the home page of each of your local community college and/or CSU campuses and follow the prompts to the summer schedule. Look for courses in basic writing or preparatory writing. Remember that on this pathway you take a preparatory English course, pass with a C or better, and then retake the AWPE at UCR in September. For complete information about this option, view the ‘Summer Options’ listed above.
