Entry-Level Writing and the Berkeley Writing Assessment
The Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) is a reading and writing proficiency requirement. It is a prerequisite to the Reading and Composition (R&C) requirement. R&C is a two-part (A & B) college-level reading and writing requirement assigned to all Berkeley undergraduates. Check the Berkeley Guide to review information from your college for more details.
All students entering UC as first-year students should fulfill the Entry Level Writing Requirement by the end of the first year of enrollment at Berkeley. The ELWR may be satisfied with a qualifying test score, a college-level English composition course taken before starting at Berkeley, or a passing score on the Berkeley Writing Assessment.
The next Berkeley Writing Assessment will be administered online on Saturday, May 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. (Pacific time).
Continuing students may register here.
The deadline for registration is 11:59 pm (Pacific Time), May 15.
It is strongly advised that you complete the assessment before you enter Berkeley if you do not have a qualifying exam score at this time. Taking the Assessment in May will help you to stay on track for completing the sequence of required Reading and Composition courses for timely degree progress.
All assessments take place online.
There is a $196 fee for taking this assessment which is charged after you finish the assessment. Fee waivers for the Berkeley Writing Assessment are only granted to students who qualified for the UC Application fee waiver. The Berkeley Writing Assessment fee waiver will be automatically processed if you have already qualified for the UC Application fee waiver.
Please read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for answers to general questions you may have.
I have another question about the Assessment. Who do I contact?
You can email College Writing Programs at collegewriting@berkeley.edu or call the front desk at 510-642-5570.