Writing Proficiency Requirement

The objective of the writing proficiency requirement is to aid student success in all college coursework. To meet this objective, students are required to take Composition A and B during their first academic year at Rochester College. (Extra semesters may be required if preparatory coursework is needed or if the student does not successfully complete a composition course.) Various methods of meeting this requirement are as follows:

Composition A and B

Students must earn a “C” or higher in both Composition A and B to fulfill the Writing Proficiency Requirement. Note: A grade of C- (or lower) is not satisfactory for fulfilling this requirement, and the student is required to repeat the course.

Transfer Credit for Composition A and B

Composition A and/or B with a grade of “C” or higher may be transferred from another accredited institution. A grade of C- does not meet the Writing Proficiency Requirement. Transfer students who have earned a “C” or higher in Composition A, but a “C-“ in Composition B must retake Composition B. Transfer students who have a earned a “C” or higher in Composition B but a “C-“ in Composition A do not have to retake Composition A. Transfer students who have earned a “C-“ in both Composition A and B must either retake both courses or score an 8 on the ACCUPLACER Exam to be placed in Composition B. No credit hours are earned through passing the ACCUPLACER exam. Students interested in taking the ACCUPLACER should consult with their adviser first, and then e-mail testingcenter@rc.edu for an appointment.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit for Composition A and/or B

Students with a score of 3 or 4 on the AP English Language Exam or the AP Literature Exam receive 3 hours of credit for Composition A and are placed in Composition B.

Students who score 5 on the AP English Language Exam or the AP Literature Exam receive 6 hours of credit for Composition A and B and are exempt from taking both courses. Students exempted from ENG 1113 and/or ENG 1123 must replace those hours with electives.

CLEP for Composition A and B

Students who take the CLEP College Composition test and score 50 or higher receive 6 credits for Composition A and Composition B. They will be exempt from ENG 1113 (Composition A) and ENG 1123 (Composition B), but must replace the 6 credit hours with electives.

Students who take the CLEP College Composition Modular test and receive a score of 50 or higher are placed in ENG 1123 Composition B and receive 3 credits for ENG 1113 Composition A.

A per credit-hour posting fee applies to all CLEP credit.

ACT/SAT Placements for Basic Writing, Composition Workshop, and Composition A and B

Students are placed in ENG 1003 Basic Writing if they:

• Score 22 or below on the new SAT Writing and Language exam OR
• Score 15 or below on the ACT English exam

Students who earn a C or higher in this course progress to ENG 1101 Composition Workshop and ENG 1113 Composition A.

Students are placed in both ENG 1101 Composition Workshop and ENG 1113 Composition A during the same semester if they:

• Score a 23 - 24 on the new SAT Writing and Language exam OR
• Score 16 - 18 on the ACT English test

ENG 1003 Basic Writing and ENG 1101 Composition Workshop are developmental courses. Students can earn up to six hours of elective credits for developmental coursework taken at Rochester College.

Students are placed in ENG 1113 Composition A if they:

• Score a 25 - 31 on the new SAT Writing and Language exam OR
• Score a 19 - 24 on the ACT English Test

Students are placed in ENG 1123 Composition B if they:

• Score a 32 or above on the new SAT Writing and Language exam OR
• Score a 25 or above on the ACT English Test

Students exempted from ENG 1113 must replace those hours with electives.

Accuplacer Test and Composition Placement

Score of 0 or 1: admission is not recommended

Score of 2 or 3: placement in ENG 1003 Basic Writing.

Score of 4 or 5: placement in ENG 1101 Composition Workshop and ENG 1113 Composition A (need to be taken during the same semester).

Score of 6 or 7: placement in ENG 1113 Composition A. 

Score of 8: placement in ENG 1123 Composition B.