Why do I need to take the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) or pass ENGL 2113?
MSU requires all students seeking a Bachelor's Degree to fulfill their Writing Proficiency Requirement. A student may fulfill the requirement by either taking and passing the WPE or enrolling in and passing ENGL 2113.

What is the Writing Proficiency Exam?
The Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) is a two-hour essay test, which is administered each fall, spring, andsummer. If you pass the WPE, you have met the Writing Proficiency Requirement. If you fail the WPE, you must enroll in and successfully complete English 2113-Composition Skills at MSU. The WPE may not be retaken nor may credit for the test or the course be transferred from another school.

Who should take the WPE?
Students who are seeking a Bachelor's Degree who have over 60 credit hours and have passed both ENGL 1113 and 1123, Rhetoric and Composition. Students may take the exam only once.

Can I take ENGL 2113 instead of taking the WPE?
Yes. MSU policy states that a student must pass either the WPE or ENGL 2113 prior to having 90 credit hours in order to obtain a Bachelor's Degree.

What if I am a new transfer student to MSU with over 90 credit hours?
MSU policy states that new students transferring into MSU with over 90 credit hours must take the WPE during their first semester at MSU and, if necessary, enroll in and pass ENGL 2113 in their second semester.

How do I sign up to take the WPE?

*On-campus students: Pay the testing fee of $25.00 at the Business Office. Bring the receipt, a photo id, and a pen or pencilto the test site.

*Students at a Distance: Students taking an exam that is proctored at an off-campus testing site will be charged an additional $15.00 handling fee.Bring a $40.00 check made payable to "MSU" ($25.00registration fee,plus $15.00 handling fee) to the off-campus testingsite on exam date. Also, bring a photo id and a pen or pencil.

What do I bring to the testing site?
* Your receipt from the Business Office
* Photo id
*Pen(s) or pencil(s)

Where do I take the WPE?
Dates, times, and location are noted at the top of the page.

Students living over 150 miles away from Wichita Falls may be eligilbe to take the exam via proctor in their area. See below.

How should I prepare for the exam?
Review the definition of a thesis statement, how to write a persuasive essay, and basic grammar rules.

How does a distance student take the WPE?
Students who livemore than150 miles from Wichita Falls may take the exam via proctor at a testing or assessment center at a college/university in their area. The first step in signing up to take the exam via proctor is to fill our the form by clicking here:Distance Verification.You must be approved by the Writing Proficiency Office in order to take the exam via proctor. The Writing Proficiency Office will give you further directions afterwards. Detailed information for Distance Students is located here.

How does a student with documented disabilities take the exam?
Students with documented disabilites register for the exam in the same manner in which other students do. Then, contact Disability Support Services at 940-397-4140 at least 2 weeks prior to the exam date to arrange special accomodations.

What is the nature of the exam?
The Writing Proficiency Examination tests the ability of juniors to write a college-level persuasive essay. Each test-taker responds to one of two prompts by writing an essay of at least 300 words in a two‑hour period. Extra time and alternate locations may be arranged for students with documented disabilities. A typical exam would consist of a introductory paragraph in which you write a thesis state (the subject plus your opinion on the subject), a few body paragraphs giving examples to support your thesis, and a conclusion paragraph.

What are the criteria for grading?
A passing essay responds to one of the prompts with a clearly stated thesis which then receives adequate support and development in the rest of the essay. The essay shows reasonably effective organization, including appropriate paragraphing, reasonable command of sentence structure and vocabulary, and reasonable adherence to standard American conventions of spelling, usage, and punctuation.

How is the exam graded?
The final draft of each examination is read by two full-time members of the English faculty, who have no knowledge of the writer’s name or of the other reader’s evaluation. No marks are placed directly on the exam, but each grader notes errors, records his or her evaluation of the essay based on the criteria listed above, and assigns an overall grade of pass or fail on his or her own comments sheet. When the comments sheets are compared, if the two graders do not agree on whether the exam passes or fails, it is read in the same manner by a third member of the English faculty, also without knowledge of the writer’s name, for a final determination. The evaluation of the graders is final, and though a student, on request, may review his or her comments sheets, there is no appeal. Test papers and comment sheets will not be returned to the student. A copy of the comments sheet used by the faculty can be seen here.

How are the results posted?
The results of the Writing Proficiency Examination are confidential. They are reported via confidential memo from the Writing Proficiency Coordinator to the chair of the English Department, to the deans of the colleges, to the Provost, the Associate Provost, and to the Registrar. The Registrar posts each passing result to the individual student’s transcript. If you have passed, your transcript will say "SATISFACTORY COMPL." If you have not passed, you will not see anything on your transcript. For further information, click here: 
Checking Your Exam Results

Students should check their transcripts through the MSU website approximately six weeks after the test date to determine if they passed the exam. Results cannot be given out over the phone or via e‑mail.

Can I appeal the results of my exam?
No. There are no appeals of the results of the WPE. Read above "How is the exam graded?"

Can I meet with someone to review my individual results?
Yes. You may meet with the Writing Proficiency Coordinator to review your exam and the grade sheets.  Contact the Writing Proficiency Office to schedule an appointment.  However, test papers and comment sheets cannot be returned to the student.

What are the some of the common reasons that some students fail?

● They do not write on the topic chosen.
● They do not write an appropriate thesis.
● They do not support their theses.
● Their papers consist of only one paragraph.
● Their papers are not organized or developed.
● Their papers are too short.
● Their papers contain serious or numerous mechanical errors.
● They do not proofread their papers.

What if I fail the exam?
Students who fail the Writing Proficiency Examination should enroll in ENGL 2113 for the following semester. If all sections are closed, and delaying enrollment another semester will take the student beyond 90 semester credit hours, the student should contact the Writing Proficiency Office. Some seats in the course are held in reserve for students facing the 90-hour deadline. Enrollment, however, cannot be guaranteed.

Students at a distance who fail the WPE should contact the Writing Proficiency Office for information on enrolling in ENGL 2113.

What is ENGL 2113?
ENGL 2113 is called Composition Skills. It is offered every semester: fall, spring, summer I, and summer II. It is also available to distance students.

What is the nature of the course ENGL 2113?
ENGL 2113, Composition Skills, is designed to build skill in clear and forceful composition and in standard usage.  Passing the course requires passing a final test in usage and writing a satisfactory final essay graded by the same standards as the Writing Proficiency Examination.

Who may take the course?
Students mayenroll in ENGL 2113, Composition Skills, after completing 60 semester hours of university credit (junior standing) and after passing ENGL 1113 and 1123, Rhetoric and Composition.Passing ENGL 2113 fulfills the Writing Proficiency Requirement.  Students who fail the Writing Proficiency Examination must enroll in and pass ENGL 2113 to fulfill the Writing Proficiency Requirement before or immediately subsequent to completing their 90^th semester hour.

What if I am trying to register for ENGL 2113 and all the classes are full?
Contact the Writing Proficiency Office. You may be able to get an override into a class. If not, the office will have on record that the classes were full and that you will take it another semester.

What if I fail ENGL 2113?
You will need to re-take ENGL 2113 until you pass it. Passing either the exam or ENGL 2113 is a REQUIREMENT for a Bachelor's Degree from MSU.

What happens if I do not take WPE or ENGL 2113 before I have 90 hours?
Failure to take the WPE or ENGL 2113 prior to having 90 credit hours can result in a hold being placed on your registration. You may be required to enroll in and stay enrolled in ENGL 2113 in order to continue taking classes at MSU until the Writing Proficiency Requirement is met.  Any student with credit for more than 90 semester hours who enrolls in and subsequently withdraws from or is withdrawn from ENGL 2113 will be dropped from all courses. The student will not be allowed to enroll in any course except 2113 until the Writing Proficiency Requirement is met.

I have a Writing Proficiency Hold on my registration.  Why is it there, and what do I do to get it removed?
A student can have a Writing Proficiency Hold for a couple of reasons:

(1) Failure to pass either the WPE or ENGL 2113 prior to having 90 credit hours
(2) Failing the WPE

In order to have the hold waived or removed, please contact the Writing Proficiency Office. You may be required to enroll in and stay enrolled in ENGL 2113 in order to continue taking classes at MSU until the Writing Proficiency Requirement is met.

Whom do I contact for additional information?

Writing Proficiency Office
Bea Wood, Room 231
writingprof@mwsu.edu
(940) 397-4131