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About the Exit Exam

Who Should Take the Exam
All students who are in good standing in their Basic Writing sections should take the exam. Even if you believe you are doing failing work, you should take the exam.

What You Should Bring
Bring a pen and a picture ID (your student ID is fine). If you like, you may bring a dictionary. You may also bring a thesaurus, but it's recommended that you don't. (Your instructor can explain why bringing a thesaurus is probably a bad idea.)

Where You Should Go
Your instructor will give you this information in the 9th week. You must report to the proper room to be admitted to the exam. The exam will start promptly at 10:00, so please be on time. Since your assigned room may be hard to find, you might want to locate the exam site before the morning of the exam.

What Will Happen Next
You'll have to fill out some paperwork for us. You will first be asked to sign the following statement: "I understand that students who attempt to have others stand in for them at exams--and those who agree to do so--are both subject to severe penalties, including dismissal from the University." Your proctor will then provide you with your assigned identification number. You will need this number to find out your placement. After every student has been assigned an identification number, the exam itself will begin. To find out your result, go to the Basic Writing Website listed on the back of your postcard and select the link also identified on your postcard. The placement will be posted corresponding to your identification number.

The Exam Itself
You will have two hours to write an essay. This essay should be in response to the prompt and topic provided. Your essay will be evaluated on the basis of your ability to develop your central idea, to express yourself clearly, and to use the conventions of written English.

Some Advice
Write the best essay you can rather than dashing off what we might call a "once-over-lightly." Feel free to write more than the minimum 500 words asked for since development of your ideas is important. (But don't waste time counting your words.) Make any changes in your essay you care to make, and be sure to proofread.

After the Exam
The exams will be read the day after the exam . Your results will likely be posted about 3 days later and will be available on-line after 1:00. Please do not call the Basic Writing office to find out your results. Federal and state privacy laws prohibit giving out such information over the phone. If your result is "pass," then you will be allowed to enroll in the English composition course offered by our college. If your result is "fail," then you will need to enroll in Basic Writing again. Important Note : You must satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement by the end of your first year at UCSD. The requirement must be satisfied through course work taken at a UC campus. If you have not fulfilled the Entry Level Writing Requirement after three quarters of enrollment at UCSD, your college may dismiss you.

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What is the" Entry Level Writing Requirement ?"
Basic Writing Through Summer Session
Scheduled Analytical Writing Placement Exams
How do I enroll in the Basic Writing course?
How are exams scored?
What do I need to know about the Exit Exam?
Scheduled Exit Exams
How are appeals handled?
What if I can't find the answer to my question here?
Frequently asked Questions About the Analytical Writing Placement Exam