Composition Placement Assessment

Composition Placement

What is the purpose of the Composition Placement Assessment?

The purpose of the Composition Placement Assessment is to accurately evaluate your writing skills so that you take the writing course for which you are best prepared. 

Should I be anxious about the Composition Placement Assessment?

Absolutely not! It is not graded.  You cannot “fail” it.  It is simply a diagnostic tool YSU uses to get an accurate measure of your current writing skills so that you will be successful in your required English courses.

Who needs to take the Composition Placement Assessment?

  1. Students with an ACT English score below 18 or an SAT English score below 480 are required to take the Composition Placement Assessment. (Students with an ACT English score 18 or higher or an SAT English score 480 or higher are not required to take the Assessment.)
  2. Students who do not have an ACT English score or an SAT English score are required to take the Composition placement assessment.
  3. Students who have an ACT English score or SAT English score that is more than two years old, regardless of the actual score, are required to take the Composition Placement Assessment.

How will my writing skills be assessed?

The Composition Placement Assessment asks students to write an essay in response to a prompt provided at the start of the assessment. Students have 40 minutes to complete the essay. The written response will be evaluated according to the clarity of the main idea, logical and adequate support of the main idea, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. 

Where do I take the Composition Placement Assessment?

Students take placement assessments in the YSU Testing Center. 

Students who live more than an hour away from YSU  may email "testing@ysu.edu" to receive permission to test in a proctored location off-site.  Proctors that may be approved include a local community college or university that provides proctoring services, a library, or a learning center.

How do I schedule the Composition Placement Assessment?

Students may select "Schedule Placement Testing" to make an appointment to take placement assessments at YSU.  Note: students who also need to take the Math Placement Assessment may schedule both assessments on the same day.

When will I get my assessment results?

Results of the Composition assessment typically take 7 days to be processed and posted to your student record.  You may find your placement by logging into the Penguin Portal and choosing "Student Records" and then "View Test Scores".  You may also email the Testing Center or your Academic Advisor for information or if you have any questions.  

May I retake the Composition Placement Assessment?

No, the Composition Placement Assessment may only be taken once.

How do I arrange for testing accommodations?

If you require accommodations for placement testing under the American Disabilities Act, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services at 330-941-1372.