Assessment and Testing QuestionsAdditional help: English 1301 Final Exam Topics
1. How are students assessed or tested for placement into English classes?
1. According to the Texas Success Initiative mandated by the Texas Legislature, all students not eligible for an exemption or waiver must take approved placement tests in reading, writing, and mathematics prior to enrolling in any Texas public college or university. Writing tests usually include a writing sample and may include reading and grammar components. Assessment scores are valid for one year. Students should contact academic advisors for additional information.
2. What should I study in order to do well on the English assessment?
2. Since a writing assessment measures a student's general writing skills, it is not a test that students can study for. Students with areas needing improvement in writing need to take courses such as the ENGL 0300 courses or the ESLW 0300 courses to review organization and development and reinforce all areas of sentence construction in a setting that provides numerous closely graded writing assignments. This instruction and practice should result in a student's improvement in writing skills so that he/she can be successful in credit English courses.
3. I am a very strong writer. May I test out of some English courses and receive college credit?
3. CCCCD awards college credit on the basis of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) for the first-semester course in English Composition. CLEP exams are given by appointment in the Testing Centers. Students who pass the ENGL 1301 CLEP exam receive credit on their transcript for ENGL 1301 and are eligible to enroll in ENGL 1302. For an appointment and information about fees to take the CLEP exam, call SCC Testing Center at 972-881-5922.
4. Is there a CLEP (credit by exam) test for English 1301? If so, what is it like and how is it graded?
4. Yes, there is a CLEP exam for English 1301. The exam consists of a multiple-choice section as well as an essay section. The essay section is scored independently by two different readers (college English faculty). Each reader awards the essay a score on a scale of 1 to 8. The college English teachers who score the essay expect that the writer has a command of English grammar and sentence structure and can use words precisely; they also expect that the essay will be organized, the ideas will be presently logically, and the examples will be pertinent. These are the basic requirements for a minimum passing score of 5. If an essay writer fails in any of these important aspects of a good essay, then the essay is given a score below 5 (not passing). If the essay does any of these very well or displays additional qualities of good writing, particularly a strong development of the argument, then the essay receives a score of 5 or above (passing).
5. Are there CLEP tests for other English courses?
5. Yes, there are CLEP exams for some of the sophomore literature courses. Students should visit the Testing Center web site for information about available CLEP exams.
6. I took AP (Advanced Placement) English classes in high school. Does CCCCD award AP credit in English classes?
6. Beginning freshmen who have received college level training in secondary schools and who present scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the appropriate Advanced Placement Examination will be granted, on request, placement and credit for comparable courses at CCCCD. After enrolling, students must complete six semester hours before placement and credit is given. AP credit is available for English 1301 and 1302. The College Board Advanced Placement Examinations are offered each year in May and are administered by the College Board. All requests for information should be directed to the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board, Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671.
7. I am an international student and although I have assessed into English 1301, I know I need special instruction to continue to improve my syntax, diction, and vocabulary? What should I do?
7. International students who assess into English 1301 can continue to improve their English skills by visiting the Writing Center regularly and/or by taking upper level English Second Language Writing (ESLW) and Grammar (ESLG) courses while taking English 1301. Also, beginning Fall 2004, students may wish to enroll in English 1301 for International Students to receive specialized instruction while completing the requirements for English 1301.
8. I am an international student with an advanced degree in my own country. Why must I take an English assessment before being allowed to take English 1301?
8. Students with degrees from institutions outside the United States are required to have their degrees evaluated to determine U.S. equivalence. International students are required to take the English assessment to determine their reading and writing proficiency in the English language. CCCCD offers both credit and non-credit courses for non-native speakers to study and master the English language. Students can check the College Catalog or the Continuing Education schedule for the various levels of ESL writing, grammar, reading, and conversation courses.
9. I was placed in ENGL 1301 at another college, but I did not pass the class. Do I have to retest at CCCCD before I can take ENGL 1301?
9. Students who have completed ENGL 1301 with a passing grade at an accredited college or university (and submit a transcript as documentation) may enroll in ENGL 1302. Students who have taken ENGL 1301 at another college or university but did not earn a passing grade must take the English assessment to determine placement at CCCCD.