About English Placement Assessment

English placement is a service that we offer to entering students to ensure that they are beginning their English composition courses at the level that is best for them. This is not a test that students pass or fail, and it does not affect admission to the university. Students must complete an English Placement Assessment before registering for a beginning English course. Since English Composition is a requirement for all majors and programs at the University of Cincinnati, students should complete the placement assessment before registering for their first term at UC.

What Is the English Placement Essay?

The English placement essay is a sample of writing meant to provide an indication of which English Composition course would be most appropriate for each student. Students will read an article and complete the following tasks:

1. Write a brief summary of the article.
2. Write an essay on the specific topic related to the article.
3. Write a reflective paragraph about the essay written for part two, explaining what you were attempting in the essay and offering a self-evaluation of the writing.

Your summary, essay, and reflective paragraph will be read by at least two English faculty who teach beginning composition courses. Your score on this writing will be a major part of the placement profile we use to determine your course placement.

What Are We Looking For?

The English placement essay is similar to a number of reading and writing assignments in our composition courses. The most successful responses will demonstrate the following:

• The ability to follow directions.
• The ability to understand the article and summarize the main points.
• The ability to write a well-developed, thoughtful essay that is clear, well-organized, and relatively free from grammatical or mechanical errors.
• The ability to offer a perceptive self-assessment of the essay that has just been written.

What Are the Entry-Point Composition Courses?

The entry-point courses differ by college. Please select the links below to view the requirements and courses at your college.

McMicken College of Arts & Sciences
   (and all baccalaureate colleges on Clifton Campus)
College of Applied Science
Clermont College
Raymond Walters College
Center for Access and Transition (CAT)