English Placement Exam
An English Placement Exam is required for all new Day first-year students and transfer students who have not received advanced standing credit for English I (Composition). All new Day first-year students, and transfers who have not received advanced standing credit for English, must complete one of the following English sequences in order to take any sophomore level or higher Humanities and/or Social Science.
The purpose of the placement exam is to assist the English faculty in placing students in an English class which best meets learning and competency objectives, and this test will help fulfill this requirement.
It is important that the work on this test is your own and that you are properly placed into the English course that best meets yours needs. If you are not properly placed into the appropriate English course, you may find the work too overwhelming or difficult. As you know, failing English will affect your course sequence as your academic progress.
Please note the English Placement Exam must be completed before you are permitted to register for your fall courses.
There are two sections to this exam:
1. An English competency section consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions
2. An essay
- Both sections must be completed in a single session.
- You have 50 minutes per section (one hour and 40 minutes in total).
- Register for and begin the exam only when you have time to complete it.
- Remember to print your summary test page after completion of the test.
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Sample Questions for the English Placement Exam
There are two types of questions, essay and objective. Following are examples of each type. After you review these if you feel you want to refresh your writing and grammar knowledge, please see the Writing Resources link. For more information on the exam, see the FAQs.
Sample Essay Questions for the EPE:
- Write a story about the most frightening, most humorous, or most embarrassing experience you have had.
- Narrate or explain the process by which you made your decision to enter college this fall.
Sample Objective Test Questions for the EPE:
The objective section of the EPE tests your basic knowledge of English grammar, vocabulary, and mechanics, as well as your knowledge of effective paragraph composition. Here are some sample questions in each category.
Put these sentences in the best (most effective) order.
a. The film stars Doe's wife, Jane, as a clueless secretary trying to catch the attention of the Xerox repair guy.
b. Paul Doe's new movie, What's Up, is a sweet romantic comedy.
c. While the ensuing mayhem is predictable, it is also charming and very well acted.
d. Of course the boss, John Public, has his sights set on Jane as well.
Multiple Choice (pick one)
1. a, b, c, d
2. b, c, a, d
3. b, a, d, c
4. a, d, c, b
Which of the following highlighted words or punctuation marks is NOT correct?
While visiting the Empire State building, John lost his hat when a gust of wind caught it.
1. While
2. building
3. ,
4. when
Please keep this between the three of us, but I might have seen John and Susan stealing a copy of the exam.
1. between
2 ,
3. might
4. stealing
Answer Code
3
2
1
