Welcome to Colorado State University's Online Composition Placement Exam Web site. You can use this site to learn about the online exam (for students who have been accepted, but are not yet on campus and taking classes). Current students should take the proctored, on-campus exam. For detailed information on both the proctored and online Composition Placement/Challenge Exam please go to http://composition.colostate.edu/placement.html.
Please note that the online exam is available ONLY for NEW students. Once a student is on campus and taking classes, they are no longer considered a new student and they must take the exam in a proctored test session on campus.
Students WILL NOT need to take the Composition Placement Exam if:
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They score 600 or higher on the SAT Verbal/Critical Reading or 26 or higher on the ACT English. These students may also challenge CO150 by taking the Composition Challenge Exam in a proctored (not online) session. [Students can find their SAT and ACT test scores by going to their RAMweb homepage and on the right-hand side under the heading, Records, selecting SAT/ACT Test Scores.]
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They show transfer credit on their Colorado State transcript for a course equivalent to CO150. These students have satisfied the All-University Core Curriculum requirement for CO150.
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They have a transfer equivalent for CO130, Academic Writing. These students will be allowed to register for CO150. These students may also challenge CO150 by taking the Composition Challenge Exam in a proctored (not online) session.
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They submit Advanced Placement exam results that document a 5 earned in English Composition and Literature or a 4 or 5 earned in English Language and Composition. These students have met the AUCC requirement for CO150.
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They submit International Baccalaureate scores that document a 5, 6, or 7 earned for English at the Higher Level. These students have satisfied the AUCC requirement for CO150.
What are the Potential Outcomes of the Online Composition Placement Exam?
The Online Composition Placement Exam is based on a scale of 1 through 5. As a result of this examination, you will be placed in one of three categories:
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Score of 1: Placement into The Writing Center Tutorial
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Score of 2: Placement into CO130 (Academic Writing)
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Score of 3 – 5: Placement into CO150 (College Composition)
The results of being placed in these categories are:
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If you are placed in the Writing Center, you will be required to complete a writing tutorial in the Writing Center (in the basement of Eddy Hall, room 6, (970) 491-0222) before enrolling in the next level writing course. You will need to stop by the Writing Center the first or second week of the fall or spring semester to schedule your tutorial hour. You will work with a tutor for one hour a week, for at least one semester, strengthening your writing skills.
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If you are placed in CO130 (Academic Writing), you will register for a section just as you register for other courses at CSU. CO130 is designed to provide an intensive writing experience which will strengthen your writing abilities in preparation for CO150, the required first-year writing course. CO130 serves as a prerequisite for CO150.
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If you are placed in CO150 (College Composition), you will register for a section just as you register for other courses at CSU.
Earning Course Credit by Examination
To qualify for course credit by exam with a score of 6 (CO150-Section 550 credit), students must take the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam on campus in a proctored setting. Students cannot earn course credit by exam for CO150 by taking the online exam. Students may retake the test on campus in a proctored setting only ONCE and they will be charged the $18.00 service charge. Proctored test dates can be found on this site http://composition.colostate.edu/placementdates.html.
Finding Results for Composition Placement Exams
Results can be found on your homepage of RAMweb. On the right-hand side under the heading RECORDS, select Composition Placement/Challenge Exam Results.
If you have any questions, please email Sue.Russell@Colostate.edu or call (970) 491-1898.
