ENGLISH COMPETENCY EXAMS
AT COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS

Frequently Asked Questions about the Competency Exams

Q: What if I fail the exam? Do I fail the course?
A: No, not necessarily. The Competency Exam in English 150 is worth 20 percent of your overall grade, so you can fail the exam and pass the course if you've been doing well up until that point. In English 350, the Competency Exam is also worth 15 percent of the overall writing grade. However, it is important to note that the English Department has recently adopted a policy under which a student cannot pass unless he or she receives a 73 percent in the overall course.

Q: How is the exam graded?
A: The exams are typically read by two readers using the appropriate rubric (both of these rubrics can be found on this website). These readers are trained in reading sample essays so that there is a clear agreement about what each score represents. If the readers are in agreement about the score, the exam is marked with that score, and the grading is done. If the readers disagree, a senior reader will read the essay a third time to resolve the score.

Q: I write well when I'm not pressured. Why do I have to take a timed exam?
A: In both English 150 and 350, students are given several opportunities to write out-of-class essays, which constitute a significant portion of their grades. While writing these essays, students may use tutors, grammatical texts, and computer software for correcting errors. English faculty also want to see how well students read, organize their thoughts, and write without the benefit of these tools.

Q: When is the exam given?
A: The exams in both English 150 and English 350 are given in the week before finals.

Q: Is there any way I can prepare for my exam?
A: Yes, there are several ways. Prior to your real Competency Exam, you will be given at least two practice exams. On these practice exams, you may see a tutor and get help in reading, organizing your thoughts, and responding to the ideas in the original text. In addition, we also have placed sample student essays for both English 150 and English 350 on this website with comments about their scores. By reading the samples and seeing how they correspond with the Scoring Rubric, you'll have a better idea of what represents passing and failing scores, as well as what to do and what to avoid doing. Finally, we also have included two other sections on this website that may be useful to you: "Suggestions for Writing the Competency Exams" and "Common Errors to Avoid."

Q: Are any provisions made for disabled students or students who speak English as a second language?
A: Students certified by the Disabled Student Services as having a physical disability or a learning disability such as dyslexia which would affect their performance on the Competency Exam will be given special consideration as determined by their individual needs. In addition, students who speak English as a second language (enrolled in English 350L or English 150L) are accommodated because of their linguistic differences.