Writing Placement Testing
On this page:
- Logging in to Register for a Placement Test
- Register for the Writing Placement Test
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Policy
Logging in to Register for a Placement Test
For both incoming and College Credit Plus (CCP) students, the writing placement test is facilitated remotely. You will need your campus username (w123abc) and password (sometimes referred to as your Wright State Credentials) to register for the placement test. To obtain your username and password, follow the steps below:
If You Have Never Logged In to Your Campus Account
- Log in to the Admissions Portal using the email address and password you set up when applying to the university.
- Click the Access your Student Portal link.
- Follow the steps listed on that page to set up your campus "w" account.
If You Have Previously Logged In to Your Campus Account, but Have Forgotten Your Login Information
- Log in to the Admissions Portal using the email address and password you set up when applying to the university.
- Click the Display your Wright State Account Info link to recover your campus ‘w’ username.
If you have questions about logging in with your campus "w" account, call the CaTS Help Desk at 937-775-4827.
Register for the Writing Placement Test
Writing placement testing is facilitated remotely. You will need your campus username (w123abc) and password to register for the placement test.
Register for the Writing Placement Test:
- Log in to the Admissions Portal.
- Click the Writing Placement Test link under Next Steps.
Wright State's writing placement test is an online assessment tool used to determine the correct writing course for you to take. It asks you to read a brief essay, write a summary of it, and then write an essay related to the essay’s topic. You have 12 hours from the time you begin the test to do the reading and writing and submit your work online. Please allow ten business days for your writing placement assessment to be scored.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I need my writing placement score because I have Orientation tomorrow. How can I test?
While we encourage you to have your placement testing completed 10 days prior to Orientation, if you have not had the opportunity to complete your online Writing Placement assessment, your next best option is to complete these important steps as soon as you can, even if this means that you attend Orientation without the expected preparation. This means that you must still attend your scheduled Orientation, but when you come, your academic advisor might not be able to place you into your ideal writing course. You will be able to register for other courses.
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What is the Writing Placement Test
Wright State's Writing Placement Test is an online assessment tool used to determine the right writing course for you to take. It asks you to read a brief essay, write a summary of it, and then write an essay related to the essay's topic. You have 12 hours from the time you begin the test to do the reading and writing and submit your work online. Your writing will then be evaluated by two or three faculty in the writing program. Based on your performance on the test, or your HS GPA submitted in your Admission's record, your ACT English or other standarized test score, you may be placed into one of several courses.
If you have earned credit for ENG 1100 through advanced placement (AP), or transfer credits, be sure to verify equivalency and document requirements with your academic advisor.
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When is the Writing Placement Test recommended?
Wright State's Writing Placement Test is available for students who would like the opportunity to try to place at a higher starting level in English than their HS GPA or standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) indicate. The Wright State Writing Placement Test is recommend for students who do not have a HS GPA or valid standarized test scores (ACT or SAT).
Policy
Wright State considers multiple factors in the writing placement process. The writing placement process accepts the highest of any of the following criteria as acceptable for placement: High school GPA in the student's admissions record, Valid unexpired standardized test scores (ACT or SAT), the Wright State University writing placement level (WPL) after completing the online writing assessment process. ACT and SAT scores are valid for two years.
| Course | ACT/SAT Score | Wright State Placement Level* |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1100 Academic Writing and Reading |
Students with the following test results should not take the Wright State Writing Placement Test:
|
50 |
| ENG 1100 Academic Writing and Reading for Non-Native Speakers-English/Second Language | Based on placement test | 40 |
| ENG 1030 English/Second Language: Advanced Writing Does not apply toward Wright State core requirements or graduation |
Based on placement test | 30 |
|
ENG 1140 Intensive Academic Writing and Reading
Four-credit-hour course that meets four days/week
|
|
20 |
|
DEV 0920 Foundations of College Reading & Writing (Lake Campus) Does not apply toward Wright State Core requirements for graduation
DEV 0100 Foundations for Academic Writing & Reading + ENG 1100 Academic Writing & Reading (Dayton Campus) |
|
10 |
Policy Information
- Wright State's Academic Integrity Standards and Process for Misconduct apply to all students engaged in testing. The consequences of misconduct may be serious. University Writing Program: Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
- Wright State’s writing placement is an online test. Students have 12 hours from the time they start the process to complete and submit work online.
- Effective March 2, 2021 there are no longer fees for placement testing in Writing.
- Standardized test scores (ACT and SAT) are valid for two years. Readmitted students with expired test scores should take the Wright State writing placement test unless prior placement was at ENG 1100 level. Students may use the highest valid non-expired score.
- Students may fulfill the Wright State core writing requirement with previous college composition credit of a grade C or higher or posted AP credit for ENG 1100. If students have such credit, they need not take the writing placement test.
- Transfer students who do not have transfer credit (within two years) for an equivalent Wright State English course should determine placement by the highest of the following criteria: HS GPA in student's admission record, valid non-expired standarized test scores (ACT or SAT), the Wright State University writing placement level (WPL) after completing the online writing assessment process.
Retesting
- Wright State writing placement test scores are final. There is no retest before the two-year expiration date, at which time the student may test again unless they were placed into the ENG 1100 level with a prior test.
- Non-native speakers with writing placement scores of 30 or 40 will take a diagnostic test on the first day of class to verify placement.
- College Credit Plus students who tested at least 12 months prior (1 full year) should contact testing_services@wright.edu to see if updated transcripts or additional documentation meets eligibility requirements for renewed test access.
Remediation-Free Standards
Students with valid non-expired ACT English scores of 18 (or above) or SAT Reading/Writing scores of 490 (or above) cannot be placed in DEV 0100 (Main Campus) or DEV 0920 (Lake Campus) due to state remediation-free standards.
