There is just one object: to pass

By Ann Sari Malmquist
Special to Summer Forty-Niner

 The writer has completed the Writing Proficiency Exam.  This is her story:

Whether I anticipated or dreaded taking the Writing Proficiency Exam, often referred to by students as the "whoopee," I knew since freshman composition at Golden West Community College that it was coming.

In that class, during the spring of 1997, all papers were graded on a scale of 12.  We were to strive for scores 10 to 12. The instructor, Patrick Kennedy, was a Cal State Long Beach alumnus and former WPE grader.

While I knew that this mandatory exam was looming closer as I steadily completed my general education, I did not give it much thought. The day I attended a mandatory student orientation known at CSULB last January is when the topic of the WPE came up.

I am an Education Opportunity Program student. The program provides support to underprivileged and first-generation college students.

Part of the orientation included a requirement the students had to complete to qualify for early registration ­ one of the privileges granted to program members. The requirement was to choose items from a list and complete them by deadline.

Of the choices, one was to attend a free WPE workshop once a week offered by the Student Support Services Program.

I signed up for that choice because the prospect of demonstrating upper level writing proficiency under the pressure of time and on an unannounced topic made me nervous.    A graduate student, Marc Simoes, taught the Friday morning workshop. It was made clear that preparation was key, and we spent each meeting on part of the writing process.

I learned that the structure of the WPE had changed. In the past, there was both an objective portion and a written essay.  Now the test consists of a single and unannounced topic.

Simoes explained the grading system. I knew there were three readers, each assigning a possible six points to the essay. It was also made clear that the readers were all briefed to grade in a similar manner.

Simoes used a compilation of topics he and a colleague had designed.  These topics were supposed to be similar in structure to the material seen on the actual WPE (although I believe Simoes versions are much more difficult.)

We discussed various techniques of extracting the questions that needed to be addressed in the essay.  He explained that the test was timed, so it was necessary to pace brainstorming, outlining, writing and editing portions of the writing process.

The WPE topics are unpredictable and varied. That day, the topic I received was on Bill of Rights issues ­ I chose to write on the dangerous and necessary freedoms of speech and press.

I passed a fellow student on the way in to take the test.  She revealed that her topic was on Internet shopping.

I have since learned that I passed with an astounding 12 out of 18 possible points.  At first, my reaction was disappointment, but then I realized that this was a pass or fail exam ­ and I passed.

As a transfer student coming into CSULB with 75 units, I had until the end of my second semester to attempt the WPE. I'm glad I attempted and passed on my first try, during my first semester at CSULB. The fee is $25 each try, whether you pass or fail.

Students will be frustrated to learn that Voice Response Registration holds are placed if the WPE requirement is not met by deadline.

Kennedy, my freshman composition instructor, had prepared me mentally to structure essays that were logical and well supported. Even though his 12-point grading was different, and the test structure had changed, I knew that a mandatory, upper-division writing requirement was forthcoming.

For a student seeking a bachelor's or master's degree or a certificate at any California State University, passing the WPE is a requirement. This was reinforced in a conversation I had with Alan Nishio, associate vice president of student services at CSULB.

"It is an expectation of the university that all of our graduates demonstrate a level of proficiency that would be expected of college graduates," Nishio said.

The WPE is a measure of writing competency mandated by a California State University Board of Trustees policy established 23 years ago, Nishio explained. The WPE is a statewide requirement, but each CSU implements it differently.

"The WPE requirement ensures that this level of writing proficiency is demonstrated by all of our graduates," Nishio said. "This requirement helps to maintain the integrity of a CSULB degree and thus protects the value of the degree for all CSULB alumni."

Passing the WPE is required to graduate and to be accepted in certain impacted programs at CSULB.

Free workshops offered by Testing and Evaluation Services require no pre-registration.  For more information, contact Test Services at (562) 985-4007.

Credit or no-credit courses are offered once a week at five different times for both level one and two. Level-one students have never attempted the WPE or have failed with a score of eight or lower.  Level two students have attempted and failed with scores higher than eight. The fall schedule outlines details on page LC-72.

The two WPE test dates slated for the fall 2000 semester are Sept. 23 and Nov. 18.  Deadline to register is 15 days before on Sept. 8 and Nov. 3 respectively.

Details concerning WPE registration are available at the Testing and Evaluation Services office located at Room 216 in Brotman Hall. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at (562) 985-4007.