How Do I Get the Reading Sets?
Before registering to take the exam or portfolio, you can preview the topics for the reading sets on our web-site. Preview materials will be available on the WPR website starting one week before registration begins. Choose the set of readings that you find most interesting, or that you are most comfortable with. Once you have read through the previewmaterials and have decided which reading set you want to prepare, you must register online. The complete reading sets are available six weeks in advance, and we encourage you to download your reading set early and start preparing.
Reading sets are available as password protected downloadable (PDF) files that are located on the WPR website (see Figure 1 below). In order to register for the WPE you need to read the instructions on the Registration page.
Registration occurs after you send an e-mail which has your name and student ID number in the body of the message to the address listed on the Registration page. After you send the email, an automatic email response will be sent to you that has a website address, username, and password that you will need to access the PDF.
Description of the Reading Sets:
For the timed-essay exam, you choose one reading set from three subject areas: Humanities, Social Science, or Science. Each reading set is on a different topic and consists of multiple readings on that topic. There is only one reading set for the Portfolio. Each set is between fifteen to twenty pages long.
The question for the Portfolio will be available at the same time as the reading set, and it will be included in the file that you download.
After you choose a reading set for the timed-essay exam, download the reading set from the website to prepare for the exam. You will need to read and reread the reading set; remember: fourty percent of your grade is based on critical reading. You may take notes only on the printed side of the reading set; additionally, one page is provided for notes. You may not write on the back side of the reading set.
The questions for the timed-essay exam are given out in the examination room after you are seated. You will be given two questions, and you will choose one as the topic of your essay. You will be asked to respond on the basis of the ideas and information contained in the reading set. You should not do any supplementary reading or research. You should bring your copy of the set of readings to the exam; and, you should refer to the readiings in your essay. When you come to the examination, in addition to bringing your marked-up copy of the readings, you can have a dictionary, a watch, and several pens or pencils.
Remember: you cannot bring additional notes, eletronic devices, cell phones, books, large purses, or backpacks into the testing room. You must have the admission ticket, which is the first page of the PDF, and a photo ID to enter the testing room.
Also, faculty members will read your essay and evaluate it based on the Criteria listed and explained in the Elements of Writing Proficiency. You should be very familiar with the criteria that the faculty use to grade your essays.