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What is the Purpose of the EWP? The California State University Board of Trustees has determined that all students must demonstrate competence in writing as a requirement for the baccalaureate. At CSUF, you must demonstrate proficiency in written composition in English by passing the Examination in Writing Proficiency (EWP) and an upper division writing course requirement specified for your major. This section describes the examination portion of the requirement. What is the EWP? The EWP consists of an essay. The examination does not ask for specialized information, but assesses writing proficiency. You have been developing this ability by steady practice over a period of years. You will be assigned a topic and given 90 minutes to write an essay. You may use a dictionary and/or thesaurus if you wish to do so. You should make notes and outline your essay before you write. It is also advisable to edit and correct your essay after you have written it. Your essay will be evaluated on the basis of organization, development, appropriate word choice, grammar, punctuation, spelling and logic. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to write clearly and effectively. Who must take the EWP? Every baccalaureate candidate who entered CSUF under the 1980-81 or later catalog requirements should take the examination upon completing 60 units toward graduation, that is, upon achieving junior standing. To avoid delaying graduation, students should not postpone taking the examination later than the junior year. Students who fail the examination should retake it until they pass. Undergraduate students with multiple failures may apply for a specially designated non-credit writing course, English 199, Intensive Writing Review. Passing this course is equivalent to passing the examination. Each student working toward a master’s degree is also required to demonstrate writing ability. Passing the EWP is one alternative method for doing this. Graduate students should check with their departments for more information When should I take the EWP? Students should take the EWP at the first opportunity after they complete 60 units of credit (junior standing) in the university. Do not delay in taking the test. Students should have passed the EWP by the time they earn 90 units (senior standing) of university credit. Are there any waiver procedures? Transfer students and candidates for a second bachelor’s degree who have completed the graduation writing requirement at another CSU campus are certified as having met the upper-division writing requirement at Cal State Fullerton. Students must have been enrolled at the CSU campus where they satisfied the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement. It is the student’s responsibility to submit proof of certification at the Admissions and Records Service Center located in Langsdorf Hall, room 114. Transfer students and candidates for a second bachelor’s degree who attended universities other than CSU and believe they have satisfied an equivalent requirement may file a petition to be certified as meeting the examination requirement with the University Board on Writing Proficiency. Students may petition the board for substitution of an alternative to the EWP when exceptional circumstances make the exam inappropriate. Such petitions must include documentation of the special circumstances, such as a certified learning disability, and propose specific alternative means of demonstrating writing proficiency. Petition forms can be obtained from the Admissions and Records Service Center located in Langsdorf Hall, room 114. Where and how do I register for the EWP? You can register for the EWP either ONLINE or in-person. · To register for the EWP online, logon to the Student Portal. At your homepage, select the "TITAN Online' tab. Look for the 'Test Information' box to the right of your class schedule. Follow the easy instructions to register and pay for the EWP. You must complete your registration by 5:00 PM on the registration deadline. (NOTE: Test registration may close early if maximum seating capacity is reached.) Remember to print your EWP Confirmation Ticket at the end of the registration process and bring it with you to the test session. · To register for the EWP in-person, pick up the EWP Registration Form from the University Testing Center, located in UH-229. Complete the form and take it to Student Financial Services, located in UH-180, and pay your $20 EWP test fee by 5:00 PM on the registration deadline date. Mail-in applications will NOT be accepted. (NOTE: Test registration may close early if maximum seating capacity is reached.) Approximately one week after you pay your EWP test fee, check the Student Portal for your EWP Confirmation Ticket. To access your EWP Confirmation Ticket, logon to the Student Portal. Select the 'TITAN Online' tab at the top of your homepage. Look for the 'Test Information' box to the right of your class schedule and click on EWP Adm Ticket. The EWP Confirmation Ticket will list your test date, test time, reporting location, and what to bring to the exam. Remember to print your EWP Confirmation Ticket and bring it with you to the test session. IMPORTANT: If you have not been enrolled in classes with the last 9 months and no longer have access to the Student Portal, contact the University Testing Center, located in University Hall-room 229, for EWP registration instructions. How do I register for the EWP if I need special testing accommodations or cannot test on Saturday due to my religious convictions? If you have a disability that requires special accommodations or if you are unable to test on Saturdays because of religious convictions, you should contact the University Testing Center prior to the registration deadline. Do NOT use the EWP Online Registration System if you require special accommodations. Is it possible to change my test date and/or test time? After you complete your registration for the EWP, it may be possible to change your test date and/or test time. To change your EWP test date and/or test time, logon to the Student Portal and select the 'TITAN Online' tab at the top of your homepage. Look for the 'Test Information' box, located to the right of your class schedule. Click on EWP Test Transfer and follow the easy instructions. You must complete the transfer to a different test date and/or test time by 5:00 PM on the registration deadline. Changes can be made only if there is space available in the requested test date and/or test time. Is standby testing possible? You should make every effort to register before the test registration deadline. In an emergency, however, it may be possible for you to take the EWP even though you are not registered for the test. Standby registrants will be admitted only if sufficient space and testing materials are available and upon payment of $30 in cash or check made payable to CSUF. The $30 includes the regular $20 EWP test fee and an additional $10 standby fee. Can I get a test fee refund? If you cannot attend a test session and cancel your registration for the EWP at least 24 hours before the test date, you will receive a $20 refund upon request. You must come to the University Testing Center, located in UH-229, to request your refund prior to the test date. If you do not take the test on your scheduled date and do not cancel your registration, a partial refund of $12 will be made upon request. A request for a partial refund must be made in person at the University Testing Center before the next EWP test date. How long does the EWP take? The entire EWP testing session lasts about two hours. You will be allowed 90 minutes to write and revise your essay. What must I bring to the EWP test? Each registrant must bring to the test:
How and when do I receive my EWP results? Your EWP results will be available online at CSUF's Student Portal approximately three weeks after the exam. To access your test results online, logon the Student Portal and select the "TITAN Online" tab at the top of your Student Portal site. Your EWP test results should appear next to your class list in the box labeled 'Test Information.' What is required to pass the EWP? The essays are read by faculty selected throughout the university who are trained specifically for this responsibility. Your essay will be evaluated on the basis of organization, development, appropriate word choice, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and logic. It should be well organized and well developed, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the assignment. The writing should exhibit your ability to use language effectively to construct sentences of appropriate complexity and variety. There should be enough specific information in your essay to illustrate a described experience or support a proposed argument. You should complete all tasks set by the assignment. What if I do not pass the EWP? You should contact the English Department in the University Hall Building (UH-322), telephone (714) 278-3163. There, you can arrange for a review and interpretation of your test results with an English instructor who is also a reader for the EWP. The instructor may be able to suggest ways for you to improve your writing skills. Students who do not take specific steps to improve their writing before retaking the EWP rarely show much improvement in their scores. After review and preparation, you may register to retake the EWP. Undergraduate students who fail the test a second time may apply for a specially designated non-credit course (English 199, Intensive Writing Review) which, if passed with a "C" or better, is considered equivalent to passing the EWP. Check with the University Testing Center for more information about this course. 
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