Preparing for the WPE

    What can I do to prepare for the WPE?

    Writing is a learned skill which good lower-division classes will help you achieve. You would do well to review the writing skills you have learned in the past, and the tutors in the University Writing Lab, located in the Agriculture Building (10) Room 138, can help answer questions and work with you on WPE sample questions and overall writing skills on an individual basis. The Writing Lab also offers a selection of helpful handouts on essay writing in general, on organizing paragraphs, on making paragraphs specific, on how to develop ideas rather than repeat them, on writing summaries, on how to persuade, and a handout partiularly designed to help students write under pressure.

    If you want to brush up on grammar, punctuation, usage, or essay organization, the University Writing Lab Website has links to several helpful online resources. Some of these sites offer interactive tutorials and powerpoint presentations to help you review the basics of essay writing.

    TheWriting Lab also offers evening WPE Workshops before the test takes place. The workshops are the same so just choose one to attend (or two if you are nervous or worried) and preferably not the last few. Many people attend these and finding an empty seat is almost impossible. Also, attending an early workshop gives you time to write a practice essay and have it reviewed in the lab.

    Are there any books or other resources I can review to prepare for the WPE?

    Some general references for help passing the WPE are:

    A WRITER'S REFERENCE 5th Ed. By Diana Hacker (dianahacker.com/writersref) is a good general handbook which reviews composing and revising, constructing arguments, sentence style, word choice, punctuation, grammar and mechanics.

    BARRON'S HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY WRITING PROFICIENCY EXAMS 2nd Edition (1998) by Fred Obrecht and Boak Ferris $14.95 (Three up-to-date Model Exams plus extensive review of writing skills including vocabulary, sentence construction, and organization of ideas-with multiple-choice questions to test your knowledge.) Cal Poly, of course doesn't have a multiple-choice section.

    CLIFFS WRITING PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS PREPARATION GUIDE for California State Universities Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement by Jerry Bobrow and Peter Z. Orton.

    Some of these may be available at El Corral, the Cal Poly Bookstore.

    How will my exam be graded and by whom?

    The WPE is graded according to the criteria explained below and in the Scoring Guide.

    A faculty reader gives a score from six (highest) to one (lowest). A score of six, five, or four is passing. A score of three, two, or one is non-passing. Two faculty readers score your test and these scores are combined for a total (8/12 is passing: 6/12 is non-passing.). A score of 8 or more reflects the two readers’ agreement that the essay is passing. A score of 6 or less reflects the readers’ decision that an essay does not pass. If the test has a pass-fail split (a 4 and a 3), the exam is reviewed carefully by a third reader, and his or her decision determines the final passing or failing score. These readers are chosen from all disciplines at Cal Poly and are trained specifically for these reading sessions. During the scoring session, the previous score is never seen by the second reader. Your test is assigned a number and all scores are covered before it is passed to the next reader. The scores are totaled by the Writing Skills Office.