About
The study and practice of writing is a complex activity and the hallmark of a liberal education. The General Education Program embodies AUB’s commitment to providing its undergraduate students with a rigorous curriculum in a liberal education model. Your general education requirements include a minimum of two writing courses in the
Communication Skills Program (CSP). To determine the right courses for you, we take into consideration
both the test scores submitted to meet the
Readiness for University Study in English (RUSE) requirement and the scores on AUB’s Writing Placement Test.
Placement Process and Criteria
In most cases, in order to determine which writing course in
CSP is right for you, you will need to submit TWO separate test scores:
1.
A test score to demonstrate RUSE. This score provides general information on your English language proficiency. For more information and details about how to demonstrate RUSE, you can visit the
English Language Requirements page on the Office of Admissions website.
2.
Either a score on the
SAT ESSAY
or a score on AUB’s Writing Placement Test (WT). These tests assess your ability to read, analyze, and write at the university level and will provide the information necessary to determine which CSP writing course is the right one for you.
The below table summarizes the criteria for placement in each CSP course:
COURSES
|
PLACEMENT CRITERIA
|
PLACEMENT NOTES
|
ENGLISH 100A
| TOEFL IBT score 52-57 IELTS Academic score 5.5
AUB-EN score 25-27
|
If your IELTS score is 5.5, further assessment by CSP will determine whether your placement is in either English 100A or English 100B. Please contact the CSP office in person to learn more about this. |
ENGLISH 100B
| TOEFL IBT score 58-68 IELTS Academic score 5.5
AUB-EN score 28-31
|
ENGLISH 102
| SAT ESSAY or WT score
Less than 4/4/4
Or
SAT score 530
TOEFL IBT score 69-78
IELTS Academic score 6.0
AUB-EN score 32-39
| If you are entering your first semester at AUB, placed in English 102, and wish to take one last chance at placement in English 203, visit OIRA to view the schedule of AUB-EN or WT and sign up for a test.
|
ENGLISH 203
|
AND
SAT ESSAY or WT score
Greater than or equal to 4/4/4
| It is not possible to test out of English
203. However, you can transfer credits for English 203, if you have taken an equivalent course elsewhere. To know more about how to obtain an equivalence for English 203, visit the Student Services Office in your faculty.
|
ENGLISH 204
| --
| You cannot place directly in English 204 unless you received course equivalence for English 203.
|
ENGLISH 206
| --
| You cannot place directly in English 206 unless you received course equivalence for English 203.
|
Once registered at AUB, a student cannot sit for the WT nor for the AUBEN.
What is the AUB Writing Placement Test (WT)?
It is a test that asks you to read a brief essay and show how well you understand it through a well-written response. Two people will score your essay in which each will award between 1 and 4 points on each of the categories of reading, writing and analysis. Like the SAT ESSAY score, the WT score serves to place undergraduate students in the right CSP courses.
Do I need to take the AUB Writing Placement Test (WT)?
If you have submitted a score for the SAT ESSAY, the latter can be used for placing you in a CSP course. In this case, you do not need to take the WT. If you are a first-year or transfer student with no SAT score, then the WT is mandatory, especially for placement into English 203. Please, check the section on Exemptions and Exceptions on the
English Language Requirements webpage of the Office of Admissions, to find out if you are exempt from demonstrating RUSE.
When Do I Take the AUB Writing Placement Test (WT)?
You are encouraged to take the WT as soon as you receive your admission letter from AUB, especially if you do not have a score for the SAT ESSAY. Go to the
Testing page on the
OIRA website for a schedule of WT and information on how to sign up for the test. Once registered at AUB, a student cannot sit for the WT nor for the AUBEN.