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CO150 Composition Placement/Challenge Examination Information

Requirement: Satisfactory completion of CO150, College Composition, the All-University Core Curriculum Intermediate Writing requirement (AUCC Category 1A).

All CSU students will be required to take the Composition Placement Examination unless you fall into one of the following categories:

  • You scored 600 or higher on the SAT verbal/critical reading or 26 or higher on the ACT English and submitted those scores to Colorado State. In this case you will be placed into CO150 and should sign up for the course your first or second semester at the university. (For students who were enrolled at CSU and taking classes prior to Fall 2008, you will be placed into CO150 if you scored 500 or higher on the SAT verbal or 20 or higher on the ACT English);
  • You received transfer credit from Colorado State for a course equivalent to CO150 (College Composition) and thus have satisfied the All-University Core Curriculum requirement for CO150;
  • You submitted Advanced Placement exam results that document a 5 earned in English Composition and Literature or a 4 or 5 earned in English Language and Composition and thus have satisfied the All-University Core Curriculum requirement for CO150;
  • You submitted International Baccalaureate scores that document a 5, 6, or 7 earned for English at the Higher Level and thus have satisfied the All-University Core Curriculum requirement for CO150;
  • You received transfer credit for a course equivalent to CO130. In this case you will be placed into CO150 and should sign up for the course your first or second semester at the university.

Students who do not have the appropriate SAT/ACT scores, MUST take the Composition Placement Exam—they CANNOT automatically register for CO130 (Academic Writing). Students required to take the Composition Placement Exam are strongly encouraged to complete the exam online before participating in an Orientation and Registration Program.

Some students who demonstrate lower skill levels on the Composition Placement Exam will need to complete CO130 (Academic Writing) before taking CO150. They should register for CO130 their first semester and CO150 their second semester. Students with satisfactory scores on the Composition Placement Exam should take CO150 their first or second semester. The University English composition requirement must be fulfilled by all undergraduate students prior to completion of 60 credits. Please visit the English Composition Requirement webpage: http://writing.colostate.edu/comp/cocc150_requirement.cfm.

Your Options for Challenging Placement Decisions
 If students wish to challenge their placement into a composition course:

  • Students who are placed into CO150 by virtue of their SAT or ACT score may challenge CO150 by taking the Composition Challenge Exam in a proctored (not online) setting. Students who successfully challenge CO150 on the Challenge Exam will receive 3 credits for CO150-Section 550 on their transcript for the upcoming or current semester.
  • Students who have a transfer equivalent for CO130 (Academic Writing) will be allowed to register for CO150. These students may also challenge CO150 by taking the Composition Challenge Exam in a proctored (not online) setting. We recognize that some students enter the University with higher levels of writing skills than we might expect given the composition courses they have taken and we allow them to challenge CO150 by taking our Composition Challenge Exam. Students will be charged the $18.00 service charge. Students who have CO130 transfer credit don’t have to get a test-out score (6) in order to transfer their first semester composition class in as CO150, but they do need to receive a score of 5. If a student receives a score of 5, we will ask Transfer Evaluation to transfer their composition class in as CO150 rather than CO130. If the student decides not to take the exam, the CO130 credit will act as a prerequisite for CO150.

Composition Placement/Challenge Exams are conducted throughout the academic year in a proctored setting. You do not need to register for one of the proctored test sessions­­just show up. Exams take roughly an hour. Dates for the proctored exam sessions can be found at the end of this page. You should bring a pen and a student or valid picture I.D. You may not use a dictionary or other aids. To learn more about the exams, click below:

What's Involved in Taking the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam?

The Composition Placement/Challenge Examination is a 60-minute impromptu summary-response essay test (90 minutes is given for students taking the test online). For the test, you will:

  1. Read a two-page article.
  2. Summarize its main ideas in an organized and detailed essay.
  3. Explain why you agree and/or disagree with what the article says.
  4. Support your position with specific examples from your experience, outside reading, and/or with an analysis of the essay's argument.

Is there a service charge to take the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam?

An $18.00 service charge will be assessed to your student account for completion of the exam. Payment of this service charge is expected even if the student subsequently chooses not to attend Colorado State University after taking the exam.

I'll be a New Student for Spring and Want to Take the Online Composition Placement Exam.

Incoming students may take the Composition Placement Exam one time in an online setting prior to their term of admission using a compatible personal computer. Composition Placement exams are not a regularly scheduled part of the on-campus Orientation Programs. Students who have completed the Composition Placement Exam online in advance of Orientation will be better prepared to plan an optimal schedule of classes with their adviser during Orientation. Here is the website for the online exam:  http://compexam.colostate.edu. The Composition Placement Exam will be available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for new students only for the Spring 2012 semester beginning at 6:00am (MST) on Monday, November 7 through 8:00am (MST) on Thursday, December 8.  The online test will also be available beginning at 6:00am (MST) on Monday, December 26, 2011 through 8:00am (MST) on Thursday, January 12, 2012. To qualify for course credit by exam (CO150-Section 550 credit), students must take the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam on campus in a proctored setting. Students cannot earn credit for CO150 by taking the online exam. Students may retake the test on campus in a proctored setting only ONCE and they will be charged an additional $18.00 service charge.

In order to take the online Composition Placement Exam, students will need to log in with their eID (electronic IDentification). Shortly after students apply for admission to Colorado State University, the Office of Admissions mails instructions for using a secure site to establish an eID - https://eid.colostate.edu/. To establish an eIdentity, you must supply your 9-digit CSUID number and your date of birth. If you need assistance establishing your eID, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@colostate.edu or (970) 491-6909.

Students taking this exam will be assessed an $18.00 service charge, which will be billed to their student account. Students may work on their essays for a maximum of 90 minutes. Students will save their essays in their own word files on their own computers.  Once completed, they will copy and paste their essay into the Online Composition Placement Exam “Save Your Essay” text box.

Online Composition Placement Exam Results:  The Placement Exams will be scored only once each week, on Thursdays (except Thanksgiving Day, November 24). Tests taken between Thursday, November 17 and Thursday, December 1, will be graded on Thursday, December 1. In order to have your exam read and scored on Thursday, you need to complete your exam by 7 a.m. on Thursday. Results for exams scored on Thursdays will be posted on RAMweb by that Friday by 5 p.m. Go to your RAMweb homepage and on the right-hand side under Records, select Composition Placement/Challenge Exam Results. Online Placement Exams taken after 7 a.m. on Thursdays will not be scored or posted until the following week. 

If you did not take the exam online before arriving at CSU, you are encouraged to take the exam in a proctored setting as soon as possible after arriving at the University. Dates for the on-campus proctored Composition Placement/Challenge Exam are listed at the end of this website.

I'll be a New Student for Fall and Want to Take the Online Composition Placement Exam.

Incoming students may take the Composition Placement Exam one time in an online setting prior to their term of admission using a compatible personal computer. Composition Placement exams are not a regularly scheduled part of the on-campus Orientation Programs. Students who have completed the Composition Placement Exam online in advance of Orientation will be better prepared to plan an optimal schedule of classes with their adviser during Orientation. Here is the website for the online exam:  http://compexam.colostate.edu. The Composition Placement Exam will be available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for new students only, beginning early April through mid August. To qualify for course credit by exam (CO150-Section 550 credit), students must take the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam on campus in a proctored setting. Students cannot earn credit for CO150 by taking the online exam. Students may retake the test on campus in a proctored setting only ONCE and they will be charged an additional $18.00 service charge.

In order to take the online Composition Placement Exam, students will need to log in with their eID (electronic IDentification). Shortly after students apply for admission to Colorado State University, the Office of Admissions mails instructions for using a secure site to establish an eID - https://eid.colostate.edu/. To establish an eIdentity, you must supply your 9-digit CSUID number and your date of birth. If you need assistance establishing your eID, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@colostate.edu or (970) 491-6909.

Students taking this exam will be assessed an $18.00 service charge, which will be billed to their student account. Students may work on their essays for a maximum of 90 minutes.

Online Composition Placement Exam Results:  Although newly admitted students may take the Composition Placement Exam online at any time between April 1 and mid August, the Placement Exams will be scored only once each week, on Thursdays. In order to have your exam read and scored on Thursday, you need to complete your exam by 7 a.m. on Thursday. Results for exams scored on Thursdays will be posted on RAMweb by that Friday by 5 p.m. Go to your RAMweb homepage and on the right-hand side under Records, select Composition Placement/Challenge Exam Results. Online Placement Exams taken after 7 a.m. on Thursdays will not be scored or posted until the following week. 

If you did not take the exam online before arriving at CSU, you are encouraged to take the exam in a proctored setting as soon as possible after arriving at the University. Dates for the on-campus proctored Composition Placement/Challenge Exam are listed at the end of this webpage.

How Can I Prepare to Take the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam?

To prepare for the exam, we suggest that you read an argumentative article in a newspaper or magazine. You can then summarize the main ideas of the argument, explain whether you agree or disagree with the author's viewpoint, and then support your agreement and/or disagreement.

The following writing guides on Writing@CSU can help you prepare for the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam.

What are the Potential Outcomes of the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam?

The Composition Placement/Challenge Exam is based on a scale of 1 through 6. As a result of this examination, you will be placed in one of four categories:

  • Score of 1:  Placement into The Writing Center Tutorial
  • Score of 2:  Placement into CO130 (Academic Writing)
  • Score of 3 – 5:  Placement into CO150 (College Composition)
  • Score of 6:  Placement into CO150-Section 550 (automatic credit for CO150)

The results of being placed in these categories are:

  • If you are placed in the Writing Center, you will be required to complete a writing tutorial in the Writing Center (in the basement of Eddy Hall, room 6, (970) 491-0222) before enrolling in the next level writing course. You will need to stop by the Writing Center the first or second week of the fall or spring semester to schedule your tutorial hour. You will work with a tutor for one hour a week, for at least one semester, strengthening your writing skills.
  • If you are placed in CO130 (Academic Writing), you will register for a section just as you register for other courses at CSU. CO130 is designed to provide an intensive writing experience which will strengthen your writing abilities in preparation for CO150, the required first-year writing course. CO130 serves as a prerequisite for CO150.
  • If you are placed in CO150 (College Composition), you will register for a section just as you register for other courses at CSU.
  • Should you test out of CO150, you will register for CO150 Section 550 (College Composition-Placement). You will receive 3 credits for CO150 and will be given the grade "S". The grade of "S" will not affect your grade point average. You will have satisfied the All-University Core Curriculum Intermediate Writing requirement (AUCC Category 1A). It is very difficult for a student to test out of CO150. A student needs to earn a score of 6 in order to test out and receive automatic credit for CO150. Only 1-2% of our students receive a score of 6. It is very difficult to write a strong enough summary response essay to achieve a score of 6. Students who test out of CO150 are not just good writers­­they are superb writers and have an extraordinary writing style.

How Can I Find Out About Composition Placement/Challenge Exam Results?

Students can check their placement on their RAMweb homepage. On the right-hand side, under Records, select Composition Placement/Challenge Exam Results.

What if I Have Questions or Want to Make an Appeal?

If you have questions about your examination or your placement, please contact Sue Russell, the Composition Program Administrative Assistant in the English office, at (970) 491-1898 or email her at Sue.Russell@colostate.edu and make an appointment to review your examination with the Placement Director. You will not be allowed to retake the examination without special permission.

What if I've taken an Advanced Placement Test?

If you scored a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Language and Composition examination or a 5 on the Advanced Placement Composition and Literature examination, you are exempt from both the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam and CO150. Credit for CO150 will be entered on your transcript. Contact Sue Russell, the Composition Program Administrative Assistant in the English office, at (970) 491-1898 or email her at Sue.Russell@colostate.edu, if you have any questions or concerns.

What if I Have Transfer Credits from another Institution?

If you would like to review the transfer credit that has been awarded, log into your RamWeb. On the home page you will find a link under Records called "View My Transfer Credits". You will also find a helpful document at the top of the Transfer Credit Report to assist you with interpreting how your coursework has been evaluated. To view how your prior coursework applies towards your degree, use the "My Undergraduate Degree Plan (DARS)" link to run a degree audit. If you have earned transfer credit for CO150 (College Composition) you will not be required to take the Composition Placement Exam. On your Degree Audit Report, check whether the All University Core Curriculum AUCC – Cat 1A Basic Competencies – Intermediate Writing requirement has been completed or needs to be completed. 

If you have earned transfer credit for CO130 (Academic Writing) you will not be required to take the Composition Placement Exam.  Your CO130 credit will act as a prerequisite for CO150.  However, you may also challenge CO150 by taking the Composition Challenge Exam in a proctored (not online) setting.  CO130 will act as elective credits that can count towards the 120 credits required for graduation. If you are uncertain about your status, you should contact the Registrar’s Office, First Floor Centennial Hall or call (970) 491-7147.

If you desire Colorado State equivalency for CO150 for a transferred course that does not have an equivalent noted on the transfer evaluation report, please contact Sue Russell, the Composition Program Administrative Assistant in the English office, at (970) 491-1898 or email her at Sue.Russell@colostate.edu.  Sue will need to see a detailed syllabus for the course you have taken.

To learn more about transfer evaluations and advanced placement for composition courses, visit our Transfers and Advanced Placement webpage.

What if My Composition Class Transfers in for Only 2 Credits?

Students who transfer into CSU with less than 2.6 semester credits in composition will be required to take the Composition Placement Exam and receive a score of 5. Students don’t have to get a test-out score (6) in order for the required third credit to be waived, but they do need to receive a score of 5. If a student receives a score of 5, we can send a memo to Transfer Evaluation requesting that they waive the additional one credit. 

Are There Special Sections of CO150 for Non-Native Speakers of English?

Each Fall and Spring semester, we offer at least 1 – 2 sections of CO150 specifically designated for non-native speakers of English. Please contact Sue Russell (970) 491-1898 or email Sue.Russell@colostate.edu so she can override you into one of those restricted sections.

What if I Have a Composition HOLD Placed on My Registration?

The procedure to remove a COMPOSITION HOLD is as follows: You can contact the Registrar's Office as soon as you receive the email letting you know that a Composition HOLD has been placed on your registration. If a student has completed or has transfer credit for CO130 (Academic Writing), he or she can contact the Registrar's Office to have the HOLD removed and to register for CO150 (Centennial Hall or call 491-4860--Once the recording begins, press "0" to get a live person). If a student scored 600 or higher on the SAT critical reading or 26 or higher on the ACT English and submitted those scores to Colorado State, he or she can contact the Registrar's Office to have the HOLD removed and to register for CO150. (For students who were enrolled at CSU and taking classes prior to Fall 2008, you will be placed into CO150 if you scored 500 or higher on the SAT verbal or 20 or higher on the ACT English). Students who do not have a course equivalent to CO130 or students who score lower than 600 on the SAT verbal/critical reading or lower than 26 on the ACT English must take the Composition Placement Examination. Once a student's Composition Placement Exam score has been entered into the system, he or she can contact the Registrar's Office to register for either CO130 or CO150­­whichever class the student placed into. The Registrar's Office will remove the COMPOSITION HOLD and register the student for either CO130 or CO150. You should tell them what section you'd like to be registered for--otherwise they'll register you for a MWF 8am class. If a student drops or withdraws from the course or does not earn a passing grade, the grade of record will become an "F." This grade of "F" will be included in the calculation of both the semester GPA and the cumulative GPA as a consequence of not completing the 60-credit completion requirement.

Are There Accommodations for Students With Learning Differences?

Students with Learning Differences can contact the Office of Resources for Disabled Students at (970) 491-6385 or can contact Sue.Russell@colostate.edu or call Sue at (970) 491-1898. We will give students the accommodations they require to take the Composition Placement/Challenge Exam.

What is the Withdrawal Policy for CO150?

CO150 is a course with a limited drop period. You may drop the class only during the first four days of the semester. After this time, you may take a 'W' in CO150 only if you withdraw from the University.  To withdraw from the University, contact CASA (Center for Advising & Student Achievement) – TILT Building, 801 Oval Drive, (970) 491-7095.

If you have a serious medical or family emergency (see categories listed below), the University will accept petitions for a 'W' in CO150.

Conditions for Withdrawal from CO150

Conditions which make a student eligible to petition for a Withdrawal (“W”) or a “Free Drop” include the following:  never attended a class session or only attended one or two sessions; a death in the immediate family; a serious illness or hospitalization; psychological or emotional crisis (under care by a certified professional); or a serious accident that immobilizes or handicaps the student. 

The registrar accepts petitions from the Director of Composition through the end of the 'W' Drop Period. After that date each term, students need to petition directly to the Registration Appeals Committee. Your appeals packet needs to include your letter of appeal along with any documentation of extenuating circumstances (a letter of support from your professor on department letterhead, a letter from your advisor on department letterhead, medical documentation, a letter from your doctor, a death certificate, an accident report, etc.) and a printout of an unofficial copy of your transcript from RAMweb. You will also need to fill out a Registration Appeal Checklist form to be found at http://registrar.colostate.edu/pdf/Registration-Appeal-Checklist.pdf. Take your appeals packet to the Registrar’s Office, First Floor Centennial Hall. The Registrar’s Office will then forward your appeal to the Registration Appeals Committee for a decision. Under most circumstances, you will be notified by email regarding the outcome of your appeal within three weeks.


What are the Dates of Upcoming Proctored Composition Placement/Challenge Exams?

The proctored Composition Placement/Challenge Examination is given at the beginning of the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters and during registration for Fall and Spring.

Upcoming Proctored Composition Placement/Challenge Examinations

Proctored Test Session dates are below.

Students don't need to sign up for a test session, just show up with a pen and a photo ID. It's best to show up 10-15 minutes early--testing will begin promptly!!

Students can check their placement on their homepage of RAMweb. Under Records, select Composition Placement/Challenge Exam Results. If you have questions, please call Sue Russell at 491-1898 or email Sue.Russell@colostate.edu

Thursday, March 8, 2012
4:00pm Eddy 212

Thursday, March 29, 2012
4:00pm Eddy 212

Wednesday, April 11, 2012
4:00pm Anatomy/Zoology W118

Thursday, April 19, 2012
4:00pm Eddy 212

Thursday, April 26, 2012
4:00pm Eddy 212

Monday, June 11, 2012
4:00pm Eddy 212