Introduction
The CUNY/ACT Writing Exam is a 60-minute
test that measures your ability to write
a college-level essay. The ACT Writing Exam
serves as an English and ESL placement test
for entering freshmen and transfer students
and as an exit test for those students placed
in a remedial or developmental English class.
Students must pass the test before enrolling
in English 1302, Hostos’ required
Expository Writing course. The minimum score
for passing the ACT writing exam is a seven.
WHO MUST TAKE THE ACT TEST?
-
FOR
INITIAL PLACEMENT: Entering
students are exempt from the writing
tests if they achieve a score
of 480 or above on the verbal part of
the SAT, 20 or above on the ACT, or
75 or above on the English Language
Arts Regents. Students who have already
earned a bachelor’s degree from
an accredited college in the United
States may be exempt from testing. All
other entering freshmen must take the
ACT writing exam. Transfer students
from a college outside of the CUNY system
must also take the exam. CUNY transfer
students take the exam at their original
campus and must have their placement
test results transmitted to the Office
of Student Assessment.
- FOR EXITING FROM REMEDIAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL
ENGLISH AND ESL COURSES: After
successful completion of course work in
remedial
or developmental English, students are
tested again on another version of the
ACT writing test. In order to get a grade
and pass a remedial or developmental course,
students must pass the ACT writing test.
-
FOR
GRADUATION: All
students, except those meeting the exemptions
described above, are required to pass
the ACT writing test in order to graduate.
WHEN IS THE TEST GIVEN?
The ACT writing test is given at the end
of each semester to all students enrolled
in English 1300 or English 1301. Students
enrolled in the upper level ESL classes
who have been recommended by their professors
can also take the test at the end of the
semester. In addition, the Hostos Academic
Learning Center typically offers workshops
in January and during the summer. The ACT
Writing Test is given at the end of the
workshop cycle to students enrolled in the
workshop who have been recommended for the
test.
Entering freshmen and transfer students
take the test in the semester prior to their
initial registration at Hostos. Entering
students will receive a letter inviting
them to come for placement testing. The
results of the ACT Writing Test and the
other placement tests are used to place
students in appropriate courses. Entering
students receive their test results and
placements when they come for registration.
All entering students must take the three
CUNY skills tests (unless exempt) before
they are allowed to register.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL THE CUNY/ACT WRITING
TEST?
Entering freshmen and transfer students
who fail the ACT placement test will be
required to take remedial or developmental
English courses or ESL courses to strengthen
their English language proficiency. Students
who fail the test at the end of their remedial
or developmental English course may take
a workshop at the Hostos Academic Learning
Center and may re-enroll in the English
course up to two more times. Students are
required to re-take the course or participate
in a workshop before being allowed to re-take
the test.
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