Usually, graduate students must satisfy the Writing Proficiency requirement during the first semester of residency. Check with your department. Students are allowed one hour to write an extemporaneous essay on an assigned topic. The topic usually asks the student to evaluate some aspect of personal experience or adopt and defend a controversial position. The test will be given six times during the academic year.
Registration closes one week before each test date.
Students will be told where and when to report for the test when they register. If you do not have acceptable ID, you will not be permitted to take the test. You are required to reschedule your examination date with the Testing Office by the deadline of the test date that you want. As soon as you have earned 56 units, fulfilled the lower division writing requirement, and certainly before you have earned 90 units. If the test reveals that your writing does not satisfy college standards, you will have ample time to improve your writing skills.