CWP or ELPE
If the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) has not been satisfied, students are required to take the Collaborative Writing Placement Exam (CWP) or the English Level Placement Exam (ELPE). If you are not sure whether or not you have satisfied ELWR, contact your college (College of Creative Studies, College of Engineering, or College of Letters and Science) advising office.
Next CWP:
Summer 2026 CWP session: June 8-15 (for the first six orientation sessions) & July 1-8 (for the remaining six orientation sessions)
CWP Exam (Collaborative Writing Placement Exam)
Who should take the CWP Exam?
If you have not satisfied ELWR, you will receive an invitation for the CWP at the start of the placement session. This exam will help us place you in the best writing course to support your success at UCSB.
International students who have not satisfied ELWR through qualifying grades and/or test scores must take the Entry Level Placement in English (ELPE).
I was informed by UCSB that I have satisfied the ELWR. Do I still need to take the CWP?
No, if you received confirmation from UCSB records that you have satisfied ELWR, you may enroll in Writing 2.
How and when will the CWP be administered this year?
UCSB's CWP will be offered twice during Summer Orientation and once a quarter on campus.
What is the structure of the CWP?
The CWP is conducted online through Qualtrics, an online survey platform. This process involves a survey about your course options and several questions; based on your responses, you will receive a placement result. This program will take about one hour.
Is there a fee to take the CWP?
The fee for the CWP is $68, which will be charged to your BARC account. This fee is waived for students with significant financial need (e.g. PELL grant recipients).
Can I participate in the CWP placement process more than once?
Students are allowed to take complete one CWP Placement Review. Please email placement@writing.ucsb.edu if you would like to complete request the review. You will receive an email invitation.
Please contact placement@writing.ucsb.edu with any questions.
ELPE (Entry Level Placement Exam)
Who should take the Undergraduate ELPE?
This UG ELPE is for undergraduate international students whose first language is not English and who have not yet satisfied the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). Students will be sent information at their UCSB email account.
I was informed by UCSB that I have satisfied the ELWR. Do I still need to take the UG ELPE?
No, if you received confirmation from UCSB records that you have satisfied ELWR, you may enroll in Writing 2.
What is the structure of the UG ELPE?
Once you begin the UG ELPE, you will have two hours to complete the writing section. You may not pause or leave/re-enter the site. When required, the oral portion of the UG ELPE takes about 10 minutes.
The UG ELPE consists of three writing tasks and, in some cases, a short speaking task. Two of the writing tasks are connected to a reading passage which will be provided and the third writing task is in response to a prompt question. Note on GenAI usage: Students are not allowed to use GenAI in any way when completing the UG ELPE placement process.
Is there a fee to take the UG ELPE?
Yes, the fee for the UG ELPE is $62, which will be charged to your BARC account.
I received a LING course placement, but I think my writing placement should be higher. Can I re-take the UG ELPE?
Students cannot re-take the UG ELPE. However, we do want to make sure the results of your placement are accurate. For that reason, you will be given the opportunity to write a brief essay on the first day of your writing class. The placement process is very accurate, and it is rare for a student’s placement to be changed. But if your instructor sees that your writing significantly differs from your UG ELPE placement, s/he will recommend that your placement be reviewed by the EMS Program Director.
Visit the English for Multilingual Students (EMS) website