Spring Break
Writing exam is going through changes
Marianne Equi
Issue date: 2/3/03 Section: News
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The University Writing Exam, which will be administered to some students on Tuesday, recently switched formats, and future changes are still under consideration.
Western Illinois University is one of only a two state universities in Illinois, including Illinois StateUniversity, that continues to require a writing exam for graduation. Western’s Faculty Senate developed a subcommittee to look at the exam and explore options, such as changing it or even eliminating it.
The writing exam has already changed from its previous format. In the past, the exam consisted of an essay, based on an article that students read prior to the test and the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency tests in math, critical thinking and grammar. This semester, in place of the CAAP tests, the writing exam will have a writing skills test, along with the essay portion.
The new portion, the Test of Standard Written English, consists of 48 multiple-choice questions, and will take one half-hour. The scores from the two parts of the test will be combined to determine if a student passed. If the student doesn’t pass, they will only be required to retake the parts that they didn’t do well on.
Because of the new format, the test will be given from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., starting later than in the past.
“Having to take the other (CAAP) tests wouldn’t have bothered me, but not having to go until 9:30 a.m. is definitely a bonus,” said Becky Eichenseer, sophomore zoology major.
This semester, exam results will be e-mailed to the students’ university e-mail accounts seven weeks after the exam, rather than mailing the results.
According to Kathie Zemke, assistant director of the writing exam, the exam is important for students because writing is extremely important in the work world.
“Western Illinois University is very dedicated to helping ensure students are as prepared as possible, with the required composition classes, writing intensive classes and the writing exam,” Zemke said.
Western Illinois University is one of only a two state universities in Illinois, including Illinois StateUniversity, that continues to require a writing exam for graduation. Western’s Faculty Senate developed a subcommittee to look at the exam and explore options, such as changing it or even eliminating it.
The writing exam has already changed from its previous format. In the past, the exam consisted of an essay, based on an article that students read prior to the test and the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency tests in math, critical thinking and grammar. This semester, in place of the CAAP tests, the writing exam will have a writing skills test, along with the essay portion.
The new portion, the Test of Standard Written English, consists of 48 multiple-choice questions, and will take one half-hour. The scores from the two parts of the test will be combined to determine if a student passed. If the student doesn’t pass, they will only be required to retake the parts that they didn’t do well on.
Because of the new format, the test will be given from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., starting later than in the past.
“Having to take the other (CAAP) tests wouldn’t have bothered me, but not having to go until 9:30 a.m. is definitely a bonus,” said Becky Eichenseer, sophomore zoology major.
This semester, exam results will be e-mailed to the students’ university e-mail accounts seven weeks after the exam, rather than mailing the results.
According to Kathie Zemke, assistant director of the writing exam, the exam is important for students because writing is extremely important in the work world.
“Western Illinois University is very dedicated to helping ensure students are as prepared as possible, with the required composition classes, writing intensive classes and the writing exam,” Zemke said.
