Writing Proficiency Requirement

The objective of the writing proficiency requirement is to aid student success in all university coursework. To meet this objective, students are required to take ENG 1113 Composition A and ENG 1123 Composition B during their first academic year at Rochester University. (Extra semesters may be required if preparatory coursework is needed or if the student does not successfully complete a composition course.) Various methods of meeting this requirement are as follows:

Composition A and B

Students must earn a “C” or higher in both ENG 1113 Composition A and ENG 1123 Composition B to fulfill the Writing Proficiency Requirement. Note: A grade of C- (or lower) is not satisfactory for fulfilling this requirement, and the student is required to repeat the course.

Transfer Credit for Composition A and B

ENG 1113 Composition A and/or ENG 1123 Composition B with a grade of "C” or higher may be transferred from another accredited institution. A grade of C- does not meet the Writing Proficiency Requirement. Transfer students who have earned a “C” or higher in Composition A, but a "C-" in Composition B must retake Composition B. Transfer students who have earned “C” or higher in Composition B but did not take Composition A or earned a “C-" in Composition A do not have to retake Composition A. Transfer students who have earned a "C-“ in both Composition A and B must either retake both courses or score an 8 on the WritePlacer Exam to be placed in Composition B. No credit hours are earned through passing the WritePlacer exam. Students interested in taking the WritePlacer exam should consult with their adviser first, and then email testingcenter@rc.edu for an appointment.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit for Composition A and/or B

Students with a score of 3 or 4 on the AP English Language Exam or the AP Literature Exam receive 3 hours of credit for ENG 1113 Composition A and are placed in ENG 1123 Composition B.

Students who score 5 on the AP English Language Exam or the AP Literature Exam receive 6 hours of credit for ENG 1113 and Composition A and ENG 1123 Composition B and are exempt from taking both courses. 

CLEP for Composition A and B

Students who take the CLEP College Composition test and score 50 or higher receive 6 credits for ENG 1113 Composition A and ENG 1123 Composition B.

Students who take the CLEP College Composition Modular test and receive a score of 50 or higher are placed in ENG 1123 Composition B and receive 3 credits for ENG 1113 Composition A.

A per credit-hour posting fee applies to all CLEP credit.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit for Composition B or Composition A and B

Students with a score of 4 on the IB English Higher Level (HL) exam receive 3 hours of credit for ENG 1123 Composition B and are exempt from taking ENG 1113 Composition A. Students exempt from ENG 1113 Composition A must replace those hours with electives.

Students with a score of 6 on the IB English Higher Level (HL) exam receive 6 hours of credit for ENG 1113 Composition A and ENG 1123 Composition B and do not have to take either course.

ACT/SAT Placements for Basic Writing, Composition A with Workshop, and Composition A and B

Students are placed in ENG 1003 Basic Writing if they:

• Score 440 or below in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing on the new SAT exam OR
• Score 30 or below in English + Reading on the ACT test

Students who earn a C or higher in this course progress to ENG 1114 Composition A with Workshop.

ENG 1003 Basic Writing is a developmental course. Students can earn up to six hours of elective credits for developmental coursework taken at Rochester University.

Students are placed in ENG 1114 Composition A with Workshop if they:

• Score 450-490 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing on the new SAT exam OR
• Score 31-35 in English + Reading on the ACT test

Students are placed in ENG 1113 Composition A if they:

• Score 500-590 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing on the new SAT exam OR
• Score 36-49 in English + Reading on the ACT test

• Score 600 or above in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing on the new SAT exam OR
• Score 50 or above in English + Reading on the ACT test

Students exempted from ENG 1113 must replace those hours with electives.

WritePlacer Test and Composition Placement

Score of 0 or 1: admission is not recommended.

Score of 2 or 3: placement in ENG 1003 Basic Writing.

Score of 4: placement in ENG 1114 Composition A with Workshop.

Score of 5-7: placement in ENG 1113 Composition A. 

Score of 8: placement in ENG 1123 Composition B.