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WRI 102 Exemption and Placement
Entering students who do not score at or above 580 in BOTH the verbal and math portions of the SAT (scores must be reported to TCNJ), will be required to take WRI 102 unless they gain exemption in one of the following ways:
- Scoring a 4 or better on any AP English (Language or Literature) or any AP History (American, European, or World) exam. These scores must be reported to TCNJ. There will be a make-up Writing Exemption and Placement Exam in late August for those who would like to wait on their AP scores.
- Taking the Writing Exemption and Placement Exam offered at The College of New Jersey, and scoring above the exemption cut-off. The Writing Exemption and Placement Exam is offered in May, prior to Orientation for each new class of TCNJ students. Students will receive information about all placement exams in April after submitting a deposit to the college.
If you have SAT scores of 580 or above in BOTH Math and Reading, or if you have a score of 4 or higher in an AP Literature or History exam, you do NOT have to take WRI 102, and do not need to read any further.
WRITING EXEMPTION AND PLACEMENT EXAM
Please note that transfer students are not elegible to take the Writing Exemption and Placement Exam. Please see the Transfer Students section further down on this page to see the transfer student exemption policies for WRI 102.
Students are not obligated to take the Writing Exemption and Placement Exam, since many students find it beneficial to take WRI 102 in the Spring. However, if you believe that your SAT scores do not accurately reflect your writing ability, please do make plans to take the exam this May.
How do I prepare for the exam? The exam involves reading a short newspaper article and writing in response to it based on a prompt. Consult the rubric for how essays are scored.
In addition, some students' scores on this test indicate the need for additional assistance, as early as the fall semester, when students are enrolled in their First Seminar. These students will receive a faculty writing tutorial (WRI 101) to help them through their first year writing tasks.
Students who opt not to take the Placement and Exemption Exam (and enroll directly in WRI 102) may also contact the Writing Program by phone at (609) 771-2864 or by e-mail at writing@tcnj.edu to see about getting additional assistance for their writing in the first year.
Transfer Students
If you are transferring to TCNJ, you must take WRI 102 unless you have taken TWO 3-credit, college level composition courses at your previous institution (or ONE 4-credit course). You may also be exempt from WRI 102 if you scored a 580 or above in BOTH Math and Reading , or if you scored a 4 or higher in an AP Literature or History test. Transfer students cannot place out of WRI 102 through the Exemption and Placement Exam.
If you or your TCNJ advisor have questions, please contact the director of the Writing Program at writing@tcnj.edu or extension 2864.
Students Who Matriculated at TCNJ in 2003 or 2004
Students who matriculated in 2003 or 2004 who did not place out of WRI 102 but who, for some reason, did not take WRI 102 and need to do so in order to graduate, may opt to take Credit by Exam by submitting a portfolio. Credit by Exam does not guarantee automatic credit for WRI 102, but allows you to attempt to gain these credits by demonstrating your proficiency in academic writing and argumentation. If you take Credit by Exam and do not pass, you must still take WRI 102 prior to graduation.
Carefully read the directions for applying for Credit by Exam and submitting your portfolio. Please contact the director of the Writing Program if you have any questions writing@tcnj.edu.
