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Orientation and Transition Programs

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Writing Placement Information

New first year and transfer students who have not been placed into WRT 102 through one of the established mechanisms listed below or satisfied the SBU writing requirement (WRT 102) by transfer credit will take an online writing placement exam. This 30-60 minute online writing exam will be made available as described below to students who are required to complete it.

All students who need to complete the online writing placement exam will receive an email notification to access and complete the exam in their StartSBU portal.

Writing Placement Criteria

If a student can be placed through one of the established mechanisms below, it is vital that test scores be sent directly from the testing agency so they can be posted to the student’s Stony Brook record. Only officially reported scores posted to a student’s record can be used for placement, so it is necessary that scores are submitted officially through  College Board, ACT.org, or College Board AP as early as possible.

If, as part of their application to Stony Brook, a student submitted through one of the organizations above the official score they intend to use for placement into WRT 102, it is not necessary to resend the score.

If any one of the criteria below places a student into WRT 102, they are not required to complete the online writing placement exam.

Stony Brook's College Board code is 2548. Stony Brook’s ACT code is 2952.

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) Score

 

Students with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score of 580 or higher will be placed into WRT 102 and are not required to complete the online writing placement exam; however, the official score must be posted to a student’s Stony Brook record to be used for placement. Stony Brook's College Board code is 2548.

ACT English Language Art Score (ELA)

 

Students with an English Language Arts (ELA) score of 23 or higher will be placed into WRT 102 and are not required to complete the online writing placement exam; however the official score must be posted to a student’s Stony Brook record to be used for placement. The ACT ELA score is a combination of your English, Reading, and Writing scores and a student must take all three sections to receive this score. Only the ELA score may be used for writing placement. Stony Brook’s ACT code is 2952.

AP Scores

 

Students who have received AP scores in English Language/Composition or English Literature/Composition with a score of 3 or higher will be placed into WRT 102 and are not required to complete the online writing placement exam; however, the official score must be posted to a student’s Stony Brook record to be used for placement. Stony Brook's College Board code is 2548.

Transfer Course Equivalence

 

Students who have transfer college credit in English Composition from a regionally accredited institution with a grade of C or higher can determine transfer equivalency information by visiting Stony Brook's transfer equivalency page here and should contact Academic and Transfer Advising Services with any questions. Students can only transfer WRT 102 equivalents taken prior to matriculation at Stony Brook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Writing Placement Criteria

If you received an email directing you to complete the online writing placement exam in your StartSBU portal, it's an indication that your standardized test score does not appear on your official record at Stony Brook. If you believe this is in error, or if you need assistance, you may wish to contact Undergraduate Admissions or your Undergraduate College Advisor.

If you have a qualifying standardized test score, you are not required to complete the online writing placement exam; however; you need to send your score as instructed above as soon as possible.

If your standardized test score is pending, you are required to complete the online writing placement exam at this time.

 

You may use this database to determine whether a course will satisfy Stony Brook’s WRT 102 requirement.

 

If you are taking a course now that will satisfy the Stony Brook WRT 102 requirement, but the grade is pending,  you are required to complete the online writing placement exam at this time.

 

Additional Notes

  • It takes approximately two weeks for Stony Brook to receive and process officially submitted standardized test scores.
  • A screenshot of a test score or of a confirmation of your score submission are not accepted for writing placement purposes.
  • New York State Regents Exam scores are not accepted for writing placement.
  • TOEFL scores are not accepted for writing placement.
  • IB scores are not accepted for writing placement.
  • For questions about transfer course equivalencies, please consult this database.

 

Writing Placement Exam

Students will respond to a writing prompt.

You have 1 hour from the time you begin the exam to write and proofread your essay, and submit your work online.

 

No, you have one opportunity to take the online writing exam.

No. There is no charge to take the exam.

 

Failure to complete the online writing placement exam by the deadline may impact your ability to register for a writing course. Please access and complete the exam in your StartSBU portal as soon as possible.

 

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your work, please contact the Stony Brook Student Accessibility Support Center.

Final Placement

In the first week of your writing course, faculty may ask students to complete a separate in-class writing diagnostic to determine if the students' current writing placement is appropriate. When necessary, faculty evaluation could require students to change their writing course. Advisors are available to assist students with schedule changes if needed.