FAQs
Writing Placement Assessment
- Do I really have to take this assessment?
You have to take the test unless you have:
Received a score of 4 or 5 on the English Language and Composition Advanced Placement exam. For more information on credit given for AP courses see the AP Score credit guide.
Earned transferrable credits (you must have received a C or higher in a course or courses that are equivalent to Loyola’s UCWR 110 course). Typically this means having taken both Composition I and Composition II. Composition I can sometimes work in place of the Writing Placement Assessment. Your academic advisor will let you know what your transfer courses will articulate to at Loyola during your orientation. If you don’t you’re your course articulation before orientation, please take the Writing Placement Assessment by the deadline as it may affect your ability to register for needed courses. - Why do I have to take the Writing Placement Assessment (WPA)?
Students whose scores on both verbal sections of the ACT are not at least 22 (on a single test date), or whose verbal SAT score is not above 430 are required to take the writing placement assessment. - What if I believe my AP scores will exempt me from the WPA, but they are not in yet?
Exemptions from the writing placement assessment are made for students who earn a grade of 4 or 5 on the Composition/Writing Advanced Placement exam. You should plan to take the writing placement assessment if your scores are not available prior to your attendance at Discover Loyola; otherwise, you will not be able to register for your writing course at that time. - If I have taken a placement test at another college can I use those results?
No, Loyola's Writing Placement Assessment is specifically designed to place students into a Loyola University Chicago writing course, or appropriate course. - I’m not required to take this test, but can I take it anyway?
No. If you are not required to take the test there is no need for you to do so as you will already have the appropriate writing placement. - How long do I have to take the WPA?
You are allotted two (2) hours to complete the WPA. - How many times can I take the WPA?
You may only take the WPA once. - Is there a fee required to take the test?
No. The Writing Placement Assessment is free. - What are the possible placement results for the WPA?
English 100, UCWR 110, or the requirement of an additional test, called the Michigan (MI) Test, which tests general English language proficiency. - Why does Next Stop tell me that the English department needs additional information and will be in touch with me?
It is possible that there was a technical problem with our systems that delayed the scoring of your WPA. You will be contacted within 1–2 business days if we require any additional information from you to make your writing course placement. - What do I do if I don’t agree with my WPA placement?
Placement assessments are meant to be a service to students, not an obstacle. If you are not satisfied that your score represents your abilities, we can put you touch with our faculty consultant in the Loyola English department who can assist you. Let us know why you don’t feel it represents your abilities in an e-mail to placementtest@luc.edu. - What if I am taking the WPA online and the system crashes or my internet connection fails?
If you experience a system failure or other technical problem while taking the WPA, contact the Placement Assessment Team immediately by e-mail placementtest@luc.edu, explaining the nature of the problem and copying what you have of your essay, if possible. If you are not able to e-mail, then contact the Placement Assessment Team at the Hub at (773) 508-7700 to report the problem. You should expect a response within 24–48 hours. - Can I submit my WPA response via e-mail?
If you encounter a technical problem submitting your WPA response in Sakai, and it is reasonably near the end of your two-hour testing window, you may submit your response to placementtest@luc.edu for consideration. Please be aware that it may be determined that you will need to restart the test, if your response has exceeded your testing window of two hours. - Can I log back in to the WPA if I have started it and my computer crashes?
No, the WPA can only be accessed once. However, if you have reached us within your two-hour testing window, your test can be reset. If not, you will be sent to a new test and given the opportunity to start again. Please read all instructions, including those that explain which browsers are compatible with Sakai before beginning the test again. - Why isn’t my WPA placement in my Admitted Student Portal (it has been more than 3 days since I took the assessment)? Please note: if you are a student attending orientation for the Spring semester, this doesn’t apply to you.
- It may be that your test was not successfully submitted. We will check your response history in Sakai.
- It looks like your response is there, so it may have been missed by our readers. We will flag it for immediate review and you should be able to see your placement in the next few business days in Next Stop.
- You started the test, but you did not successfully submit your response. We will set you up to try the test again with a new prompt. Please read the instructions carefully before beginning the test. Be sure to save often and submit at the end of the test.
- What do I do if I am unable to submit my WPA response?
If you encounter a technical problem submitting your WPA response in Sakai, and it is reasonably near the end of your two-hour testing window, you may copy and submit your response to placementtest@luc.edu for consideration. Please be aware that it may be determined that you will need to restart the test, if your response has exceeded your testing window of two hours. - Where do I find my results/course placement?
View our placement results interpretation page. - What if I can’t take my test by the deadline?
We recommend taking your test as soon as possible before orientation; otherwise it may affect what classes you will be able to register for and could result in a hold on your account.
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