Freshman College Composition

Description of the Examination

The Freshman College Composition examination measures skills required in most first-year English courses. It addresses elements of language and grammar; various types of writing, both formal and informal; and limited analysis and interpretation of short passages of prose and poetry. The examination assumes that candidates know the fundamental principles of rhetoric and can apply the principles of standard written English. In addition, the exam requires familiarity with the research paper and reference skills.

An optional essay section, which is required if the institution to which the candidate is applying requests a writing sample, is also available. This optional section requires candidates to demonstrate their ability to write clearly and effectively. Candidates respond to two of three essay topics. An essay on the first topic is required, and candidates are advised to spend 35 to 40 minutes on it. For the second essay, candidates choose one of two topics, on which they should plan to spend 50 to 55 minutes. The essays are scored by faculty at the institution that requires the essay.

The examination contains 90 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. Any time candidates spend on tutorials and providing personal information is in addition to the actual testing time.

Knowledge and Skills Required

Questions on the Freshman College Composition examination measure students' writing skills both at the sentence level and within the context of passages. Elements of language and grammar, different styles of writing, and limited literary analysis of short prose and poetry selections are tested. It is designed so that an average student who has completed the first-year English requirement in composition can usually answer about half of the multiple-choice questions correctly.

The subject matter of the Freshman College Composition examination is drawn from the following topics. The percentages next to the main topics indicate the approximate percentages of exam questions on those topics.

20%

Ability to recognize and use standard written English

The examination measures candidates' awareness of a variety of logical, structural, and grammatical relationships within sentences. The questions test recognition of acceptable usage relating to the following:

Syntax (parallelism, coordination, subordination, dangling modifiers)
Sentence boundaries (comma-splice, run-ons, sentence fragments)
Recognition of correct sentences
Sentence variety
Concord/aGREement (subject-verb; verb tense; pronoun reference, shift, number)
Correct idiom
Active/passive voice
Logical comparison
Punctuation

Two question formats are used to measure the skills above.

Identifying sentence errors—Requires candidates to identify wording that violates the standard conventions of written discourse.
Improving sentences—Requires candidates to choose the version of a phrase, clause, or sentence that best conveys the intended meaning of a sentence.

65%

Ability to recognize logical development

The examination measures recognition of the following in the context of works in proGREss (student drafts) or of published prose:

Organization
Evaluation of evidence
Awareness of audience, tone, and purpose
Level of detail
Consistence of topic focus (sustaining coherence between paragraphs)
Sentence variety
Paragraph coherence
Main idea, thesis
Rhetorical effects and emphasis
Use of language
Evaluation of author's authority and appeal
Evaluation of reasoning
Shift in point of view

The following kinds of multiple-choice questions measure writing skills in context:

Revising work in proGREss—Candidates identify ways to improve an early draft of an essay.
Analyzing writing—Two prose passages written in very different modes and a poetry selection appear in the examination. Candidates answer questions about each passage and poem and about strategies used by the author of each selection.
Analyzing and evaluating writers' choices—Candidates are given a short stimulus and must answer questions about tone, attitude, ambiguity, and clarity.

15%

Ability to use resource materials

The examination tests familiarity with the following basic reference skills. Skills are tested both in context and in individual questions.

Evaluating sources
Integrating resource material into the research paper
Manuscript format and documentation
Reference skills
Use of reference books

Optional Essay Section

The optional essay section of the Freshman College Composition examination requires candidates to demonstrate their ability to write clearly and effectively on two essays. Three topics are given in a test book. An essay on the first topic is required. Candidates are advised to spend 35-40 minutes on this essay. For the second essay, candidates choose one of two topics and may spend the remainder of the 90-minute period on this essay. Faculty at the institution that requires the essay assume essay-grading responsibility.

Study Resources

You will find books that are typically used as reference books or textbooks for first-year English composition and rhetoric courses helpful as you prepare for the Freshman College Composition exam. The books in the first group include handbooks of grammar and manuals for writing papers and research papers. They offer guidance on the various elements of writing (sentences, paragraphs, essays) as well as examples illustrating acceptable usage and punctuation.

The books in the second group generally include examples of writing, usually written by professional writers but sometimes by student writers. The books in this group suggest ways to make your own writing interesting, effective, and suitable to a particular purpose. Consult them for examples of different kinds of writing and for practice in reading comprehension.

Visit your local college bookstore to determine which textbooks are used by the college for English composition and rhetoric courses. When selecting a textbook, check the table of contents against the "Knowledge and Skills Required" for this test.

The suggestions and resources for preparing for the English Composition exam will also be helpful in preparing for the Freshman College Composition exam.