Effective Writing Requirement
All undergraduate students, full or part time, must meet the Effective Writing Requirement. Students who have not satisfied the Effective Writing Requirement will not be allowed to register for any session that begins twelve or more months after they first started classes as regular registered (i.e., not Open Studies) students. For example, students who begin their studies at the University of Calgary in the Fall Session will not be allowed to register for the subsequent Fall Session until they have completed the Effective Writing Requirement. In practice this means that students must complete the requirement by May of their first year in order to avoid delays in their second year registration. Students transferring to the University of Calgary who have only five full-course equivalents remaining to complete their degree requirements must satisfy the Effective Writing Requirement within a year, as outlined above. In all cases, the Effective Writing Requirement must be completed prior to graduation. Students with an Effective Writing Requirement withhold are not permitted to register under any student category (including Open Studies) until the requirement has been met. To meet the Effective Writing Requirement, all students must either:
1. pass the Effective Writing Test (otherwise known as the Alberta Universities' Writing Competence Test), or | |
Exemptions | Exemptions from the test are granted to students who meet one of the following criteria: 1. A mark of 75% or better on the Alberta English Language Arts 30-1 Diploma Examination (not the blended grade). 2. A mark of 80% or equivalent letter grade or better in Alberta English Language Arts 30-1 (blended mark) or equivalent course from other Canadian provinces. 3. A mark of 5 or better on the International Baccalaureate Higher or Standard Level English A1 examination or a mark of 6 or better on the International Baccalaureate English B (Higher Level) examination. 4. A mark of 4 or better on the Literature and Composition Advanced Placement examination. 5. Completion of a degree from an accredited institution in a country that the University of Calgary recognizes as English language proficiency exempt. 6. Evidence of passing a test equivalent to the Effective Writing Test. (It is the responsibility of the Effective Writing Program to determine which tests and what scores on such tests may be accepted as equivalent.) A list of tests deemed equivalent, to date, along with the required scores on such tests, as determined by the Effective Writing Program, is posted on the Effective Writing Program website (efwr.ucalgary.ca). Students requesting an exemption under this criterion must contact the Effective Writing Program office. 7. Receipt of a grade of "B-" or better in a University of Calgary English course or Comparative Literature course or equivalent. 8. Receipt of a grade of "C+" or better in a University of Calgary Academic Writing (ACWR) course. 9. Receipt of a grade of pass in a designated non-credit Effective Writing course offered by the Effective Writing Program. 10. Special exemption by the dean of the student's home faculty. 11. Receipt of a grade of "B" or better in a post-secondary writing or communication course deemed acceptable by the Effective Writing Program. A list of courses approved, to date, is posted on the Effective Writing Program website (efwr.ucalgary.ca). Students requesting an exemption under this criterion must contact the Effective Writing Program office. |
The Effective Writing Test | To pass the test, students are required to write an essay of about 400 words on one of four general topics in which they demonstrate university entrance-level competence in their ability to express ideas clearly, logically, and grammatically in well-developed paragraphs, within an effectively structured essay. |
Registration and Test Fee | Students may register for a test by telephone (220-7255) or in person at the Effective Writing Program Office (Social Sciences 110). The test fee is $50.00 for each writing. The fee must be paid at the Fee Office in advance of the test date; students will be required to present proof of payment for admission to the test. |
Place and Time | The Effective Writing Test will be held in the Science Theatres on the following dates:
Thursday, September 27, 2007 18:30 to 21:00 It is recommended that students write the test at their earliest convenience once they have received notice of admission and their University of Calgary I.D. number. Students who live outside Calgary may take the Effective Writing Test at the University of Alberta in Edmonton or at the University of Lethbridge. Students planning to do so should check with the University of Alberta, (780) 492-0991, or the University of Lethbridge, (403) 329-2766, to confirm test dates at those institutions and to register. The Effective Writing Test has the same status as a University final examination. Accordingly, any form of cheating will be considered grounds for suspension or expulsion from the University. Proof of identity will be required during the test. Students more than thirty minutes late will not be admitted to the examination. |
Help Available | Students wanting to improve their writing or to prepare for the Effective Writing Test may seek free individual tutoring through the Effective Writing Program's Writing Centre. To book an appointment, please go to Social Sciences 110. Students may also register in an Effective Writing course. These non-credit courses are primarily intended to give University of Calgary students the writing skills needed to pass the Effective Writing Requirement. Students who receive a pass and achieve a high enough grade on the final in-class essay will be exempt from the Effective Writing Requirement. Information about dates, times and the cost of these courses can be obtained by visiting the Effective Writing Office in Social Sciences 110 or by visiting the web (efwr.ucalgary.ca). |