AWP Exam

Fulfillment of the University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement is a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley. One way to fulfill that requirement is to pass the Analytical Writing Placement Examination.

The Analytical Writing Placement Examination website provides information on how students may fulfill the requirement. In addition, it provides the examination scoring guide, sample past examinations, and sample student essays.

Students should take the Analytical Writing Placement Examination arranged by the University of California in May of the senior year in high school.

A fee is required to take the exam and must be paid online at https://www.awpe.org/.

Berkeley Campus Examination

If students have been admitted to UC Berkeley but have not yet fulfilled the University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement or taken the Analytical Writing Placement Examination, they should take the exam their first semester at Berkeley. A fee is required to take the exam at the Berkeley campus and must be paid online at https://www.awpe.org/ . Use the "Pay here if you are taking the exam at a UC campus" link. After you have paid the fee online, print a receipt as proof of payment and bring that receipt with you to the exam.

In fall 2012, the Berkeley campus Analytical Writing Placement Examination will be given on the following date:

Saturday, September 8, 2012, 9:00-11:00, in 155 Dwinelle Hall
Please bring your student ID and a pen. You will also need to bring a copy of your payment receipt in order to be admitted.

Results will be posted on both myBerkeleyApplication and Bear Facts approximately three weeks after the exam is administered. For more information, please contact Fadia Damon at fad@berkeley.edu or phone 510-642-5570.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions about the AWP Exam, please see our FAQs. If you don’t find your question answered there, please call us at 510-642-5570.