The English Proficiency
Examination (EPE) in Expository Writing was established as a
diagnostic and teaching vehicle for implementing the Board of
Trustees’ mandate that all students in the Graduate School
demonstrate proficiency in academic writing as a prerequisite for
admission to candidacy for the master’s or doctoral degree. All graduate students, unless exempt, are required to
take the EPE in the beginning of the graduate program.
Students who score at least a 5 (commendable response) on the 6-point holistic
rubric will receive a certificate of competence; those who score a 4
(adequate response) must schedule an appointment with a writing
instructor of the Program for Academic Support Services (PASS); those
who score below a 4 must enroll in and successfully complete a set
of writing courses and/or workshops/tutorials offered by the PASS.
Students may only be exempt from the EPE if they have scores
of 5 and above on the GRE Analytical Writing Assessment.
These students are required to submit official documentation
of their scores to the PASS program assistant in order to receive a
certificate of competence.
The examination is given during the fall (August), spring (January), and first summer session (May) of
each academic year.
The EPE consists of a 500-word essay written in a two-three
hour period on a topic
chosen by the student from a list provided by PASS. The essay is
evaluated by the use of a 6-point holistic
rubric.
