Placement into English 110

All students at The Ohio State University submit at least one writing sample to determine their placement into a first-year writing course. Although some students submit a writing sample called the English Test during Orientation, all students write an in-class essay during the first day of their first-year writing class. The English Test and first-day essays are used to verify placement.

their ACT English score is 18 or below
their SAT verbal score is 450 or below
they have English admission conditions

The English Test takes approximately one hour. A student taking this test chooses a topic from two options and writes an essay on that topic. Two experienced teachers read this essay and determine which of a number of first-year writing courses will best suit that student's needs. A student with an English score of 19-27 or SAT verbal score of 460-620 and who has completed four units of high school English initially place into English 110 or 110L. A student with an English ACT score of 28 or higher or SAT verbal score of 630 or higher is eligible to enroll in honors sections of first-year composition, English H110 or H110L.

The First-Day Essay
A student in English 110, 110L, H110, and H110L writes a first-day essay. After evaluating that essay, a first-year writing instructor might refer the student to the Writing Workshop to submit a second writing sample, the English Test (described above). The appropriate writing course for a student's needs is determined by the results of the English Test, which may be placement into English 109.01, 110W, 110, or a referral to English as a Second Language (ESL) in Education: Teaching and Learning. A student dissatisfied with his or her test results may request to retake the test.

Advanced Placement
A student receiving a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Program examination in "English Composition and Literature" or "English Language and Literature" automatically receives university credit for the first-year writing course.

A detailed description of OSU's Composition Placement Policy (courtesy of the Writing Workshop)