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: Students should contact their academic advisor. 

Information about College Advising offices:

• College of Engineering – Academic Advising
• College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences – Academic Advising 
• College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences – Academic Advising
• School of Education – Academic Advising
• School of Public Policy – Academic Advising

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.

A: You can stop by the Highlander One-Stop Shop (HOSS), First Floor, Student Services Building, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or call the office during these hours at 951-827-3878. For the UCR policy on remedial and repeated courses, see the Financial Aid website at www.finaid.ucr.edu and select “Maintaining Eligibility.”

The Financial Aid office assists students with meeting educational expenses that cannot be met from personal resources. For more information on grants, loans, employment, scholarships and corresponding application deadlines, go to finaid.ucr.edu or e-mail finaid@ucr.edu.