GENERAL INFORMATION
for the English Proficiency Exam for Transfer Students
Who has to take the exam?
In order to graduate from UNO, all transfer students who have credit in 1158 must take and pass the English Proficiency Examination for Transfer Students within their first two regular (fall/spring) semesters at UNO. Students may take the exam no more than twice. If they do not pass it during their first two semesters, they will be required to register for English 1158 during their third semester. (This policy has been in effect since the fall of 1981.) NOTE: Students transferring with 1158 credit may take any one upper-level English course for which they qualify during their first semester, provided that they agree to take this exam within that first semester. Should they fail the transfer exam, they must take 1158 before they take another English course. After the first semester, students who have not passed the exam are not eligible to take any English or Journalism class until they pass the exam or retake and pass English 1158. If transfer students do not take an upper-level English course during their first semester, they have two semesters to resolve the matter of their transfer credit.
How do I register for the exam?
Students may register online or in person at the Freshman English Office (LA 129). There are two methods for registering online (please try to register through Blackboard before using the link through the department website).
1) If a Blackboard course titled “English Proficiency Exam for Transfer Students” appears on your Blackboard page, you may register by following the instructions on the “Announcements” page.
2) If the Blackboard course does not appear, you may register through a link on the English Department homepage (you can access the form through the following path from the UNO homepage: Academics>Colleges and Departments>Department of English (under College of Liberal Arts)>English Proficiency Exam for Transfer Students.
The Registration Request Form can be completed, copied, and emailed to xferexam@uno.edu. Students who are eligible and required to take the exam may not see the Blackboard course for various reasons. When these students submit their registration request through the English department homepage, we will verify their eligibility. Students who are eligible will receive an admission ticket and should see the Blackboard course appear within the next few days; students who are ineligible will be notified that they must take English 1158 and pass with a C or better to fulfill UNO’s graduation requirements. If you wish to register in person, please come to LA 129 to fill out the registration request form.The Blackboard course includes important documents and information related to the exam. This information is also available outside the Freshman English office, LA 129.Please Note: You must use your UNO email account for registration. Admission tickets and all other email will be sent to your UNO account only.
What is the format of the exam?
Students have two hours in which to write a persuasive essay in response to one of two prompts. The English department discloses the subject (although not the exact topic) of the Transfer Exam. A handout with the subject of the exam and a recommended reading list of three to five essays will be posted on Blackboard and available outside the Freshman English Office (LA 129) two weeks prior to each exam. Three copies of Reading Matters, the anthology containing these essays, are on reserve at the UNO library (ask for English 1158). The subject and readings will also be announced at each workshop.
How is the exam evaluated?
At least two English faculty members read each exam. The essays are evaluated on the successful development of a persuasive argument, which includes clarity of purpose, awareness of audience, specific content, logical organization, sophistication of sentences, and mastery of standard written English. Readers will be concerned with the student’s command of all these elements, not just with grammatical accuracy. A minimum of 500 words is required.
When is the exam given?
The exam is offered twice each fall semester and twice each spring semester. No exam is offered during the summer semester.
What help can I get to pass the exam?
Ms. Sarah DeBacher, coordinator of the exam, will teach a series of workshops to help students prepare for the exam. Since each workshop will focus on a different aspect of successful writing, students are encouraged to attend them all.
Ms. Sarah DeBacher is also available to students for extra help and to answer questions. His contact information is as follows:
Office: LA 251 Phone: 280-6934 E-Mail: sdebache@uno.edu
Office Hours:TBA (Contact Ms. DeBacher for times and appointments.)
When and where are the workshops?
Workshops are usually given a week to two weeks before the scheduled exam. A schedule of the workshops for each semester will be posted on Blackboard and available outside LA 129 no later than the third week of every regular (fall or spring) semester.
When and where are the exams?
Exams are given on approximately the fifth and tenth week of classes each semester, although this varies based on the university calendar and other scheduling issues. The first exam of the semester is on a Friday afternoon, the second on a Friday evening. The dates and times for each semesters’ exams will be posted on Blackboard and made available outside LA 129 no later than the end of the second week of classes in that semester.
What do I bring to the exam?
Students must know their student numbers, which will be used to identify their exams. Students should arrive at least fifteen minutes before the exam and bring the following:
- Admission Ticket
- Picture identification, such as UNO student ID or driver’s license
- Standard sized paper (8 ½ x 11)
- A pen
Students have the option of bringing the following:
- Dictionary
- Thesaurus
- Handbook
The above must be in book form; no electronic versions are allowed.
Where do I find the results?
Exam results are posted on Blackboard the Friday one week after the exam at 4:00 P.M.
Passing performances are indicated on students’ official transcripts before the end of the semester. Failing performances are not indicated. Students who fail the examination twice are required to take English 1158.
What do I do if I fail the exam?
If you fail the exam and are eligible to take the exam a second time, you are advised to attend all workshops and to contact Dr. Rutledge. He will review your exam and offer suggestions for strengthening your writing.
Please check Blackboard and your UNO email for updates. Thank you.
R8/31/07
