California State University Placement Tests
Current section: Frequently Asked Questions > EPT
Frequently Asked Questions about the EPT
- Is this an admission test?
- I have not yet been admitted. Can I still take the test?
- I have completed freshman English at another university. Do I need to take the EPT?
- Do I need to take the EPT if I did well on admission tests such as the SAT?
- I have a high GPA in my high school English classes. Do I still have to take the EPT?
- I am still unsure whether I am required to take the EPT. What should I do?
- Why are you testing English?
- What is the relationship of this test to the graduation requirements of my college?
- How do I prepare for the test?
- I have had English in high school. Shouldn't I be ready for college-level reading and writing?
- Suppose I don't do well on the test?
- Will I have to pay for extra help if I receive a low score?
- I will be out of the country on the first test date available. What do I do?
- Do I have to take the test at the campus I will be attending?
- How much time do I have to complete the test?
- How do I receive my test scores?
- How long are my EPT testing materials and scores retained by ETS?
Is this an admission test?
No. The results of the test will not affect your admission to any CSU campus.
I have not yet been admitted. Can I still take the test?
You should wait for the first scheduled test administration after you have been admitted unless the campus asks you to take the test earlier. However, you should take the test at your earliest opportunity after admission. You must take the test before you can enroll in CSU General Education courses.
I have completed freshman English at another university. Do I need to take the EPT?
Maybe. The EPT is not required if you have completed and transferred a campus-acceptable four-quarter or three-semester unit college English composition course with a grade of C or better.
Do I need to take the EPT if I did well on admission tests such as the SAT?
No. A score of 550 or above on the critical reading section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test taken March 2005 or later or a score of 680 or above received on the writing section of the SAT Reasoning Test taken March 2005 or later, while a 3, 4, or 5 on either the Language and Composition or the the Literature and Composition examination of the College Board Advanced Placement Program gives you six units of credit and exempts you from the EPT. Also, a score of 24 or higher on the ACT® English Test will exempt you. See Who Must Take the EPT for other grounds for exemption.
I have a high GPA in my high school English classes. Do I still have to take the EPT?
Yes. GPA is not a consideration in determining whether or not you have to take the EPT. The only grounds for exemption are those listed in Who Must Take the EPT.
I am still unsure whether I am required to take the EPT. What should I do?
The staff of the Admissions Office or the Test Office of the CSU campus that you plan to attend will be able to answer your questions.
Why are you testing English?
Unless you read well enough to understand your textbooks and write well enough to complete essay tests and term papers, you will have difficulty in your other subjects. Reading and writing skills are basic.
What is the relationship of this test to the graduation requirements of my college?
The CSU Board of Trustees has called for a graduation requirement in student writing proficiency for all degree candidates. The EPT will help you prepare to meet that requirement at your campus by giving you descriptive information about your reading and writing skills.
How do I prepare for the test?
The test does not ask for information, but examines reading and writing skills. You develop these skills with steady practice over a period of years.
I have had English in high school. Shouldn't I be ready for college-level reading and writing?
Probably. But if you have not had very much practice in writing essays or in careful reading, you still might benefit from special instruction.
Suppose I don't do well on the test?
CSU requires that all students who do not do well on the EPT be placed in a remediation course or activity during the first term of enrollment. The test is designed to help your college give you help if you need it. A low score means that you probably need extra help in order to do well in college. It is better to identify any reading or writing problems before they contribute to lowering your course grades; however, a low score on the EPT will not directly affect your grade point average. You should consider the score useful information, not "failure." Of course, no test is perfect. Teachers in basic skills courses are trained to identify students who are ready to advance rapidly despite low test scores.
Will I have to pay for extra help if I receive a low score?
Probably not. Each CSU campus receives funds from the state of California to operate its educational programs. Each campus develops its own basic skills program within the limits imposed by available funds.
I will be out of the country on the first test date available. What do I do?
You must take the test at the next opportunity. It is to your advantage to take the test as soon as possible, and you must take it before you can enroll in CSU General Education Courses.
Do I have to take the test at the campus I will be attending?
No. Plan to take the test at whichever campus is most convenient for you. Your score will be sent to the campus that has admitted you.
How much time do I have to complete the test?
You have 45 minutes to complete the essay portion and 60 minutes to complete the combined multiple-choice portion (30 minutes for each of the two sections). If you are taking the ELM test at the same sitting, be prepared to test an additional 90 minutes for the ELM.
How do I receive my test scores?
Your test scores will be mailed to you at an address you will provide on the day of the test. In addition, at the time of testing you will be asked to provide a Personal Identification Number (PIN) so you can retrieve your scores on-line at www.ets.org/csu. See the Test Dates for the score report release dates.
How long are my EPT testing materials and scores retained by ETS?
ETS retains essays for 6 months and answer sheets and test books for 18 months. Although essays and answer sheets (not test books) are available for review at the ETS office in Concord, they may not be returned to students. EPT scores are available from 1977 to the present.
