First Writing Requirement Placement For Incoming Students
Fall 2024 / Spring 2025
Incoming students are placed into the appropriate FWR Pathway before the start of their first year. During the summer before their first year, incoming students will complete UVA’s Directed Self- Placement (or DSP) by way of an online placement module. All first-year non-Echols students should have completed the FWR placement in their online New Student Tasklist. More info regarding the 3 FWR pathways can be found here.
In the FWR placement survey, students can self-report SAT or ACT scores for placement. A student’s FWR placement using only test scores follows this system:
- ENWR 1505 & ENWR 1506: Take this two-semester course sequence if you scored 560 or below on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT or a 21 or below on the ACT English test. All students in this pathway should enroll in ENWR 1505 in the fall, to be followed by ENWR 1506 in the spring.
- ENWR 1510/ENWR 1520/ENWR 1530: Take this single semester option if you scored between 570 and 740 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion of the SAT or between 22 and 35 on the English portion of the ACT. Students in Pathway #2 should enroll in accordance with our last name policy.
- FWR+ Pathway: The FWR+ pathway is available only to students scoring a 750 or above on the SAT's Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test or a 36 on the ACT English test. Students in this pathway can satisfy the FWR using ENWR 2510, a 2000-level ENGL, a 2000-level ENCW, or ENWR 1510/1520/1530. Students who fulfill the FWR using a 2000-level ENGL or ENCW course must complete the FWR-Plus form here.
Students who do not report test scores will complete a writing and reflection exercise, which will be used to place them at the correct level. Students who did report scores have the choice to complete the entire FWR placement survey for a potentially more accurate placement.
Scores will be available in SIS by the end of June. After the placement process has concluded, you can view your placement score in your SIS account. After signing into your SIS account, you may view your placement score by clicking the "Academics" tab and choosing the "Test Scores" tab. Your placement corresponds to your score as follows:
1 = ENWR 1505/1506 stretch sequence
2 = ENWR 1510, 1520, or 1530
3 = FWR+ pathway
Students who did not participate in the FWR placement survey will be automatically placed into the ENWR 1510/1520/1530 pathway. Students in that pathway may still apply to FWR+ via a portfolio review process.
For More Information
See our "Requirements" webpage HERE for more information about the FWR pathways.
You can find out more about the common goals and practices of first-year writing courses here: https://writingrhetoric.as.virginia.edu/first-year-writing-courses-uva-goals-practices
For questions about the online placement module, please email Brian Paljug, Education & Outreach Specialist, bjp4qd@virginia.edu
For questions about first-year writing, please email Kenny Fountain, Director of Writing & Rhetoric Program, tkf3bb@virginia.edu or Dylan Kellum, Academic Administrative Assistant, Writing & Rhetoric Program, dck4bqc@virginia.edu