The Upper Division Writing Proficiency Assessment (UDWPA) is an undergraduate writing exam that was implemented to ensure that "all graduates of the University possess the ability to write with clarity of thought and precision of language" (UM Catalog, General Education Requirements). The exam is administered to students with sophomore or junior standing to determine the students' readiness for upper division writing courses. The UDWPA is NOT an exit exam and should be passed before a student achieves senior standing. Passing the UDWPA satisfies a general education requirement that is one of the requirements for a first bachelor degree from UM.
The UDWPA is an essay exam administered six times per year. For each exam, students are assigned a text that is made available two weeks prior to a test date. At the exam, the students receive a hard copy of the assessment text and two essay questions. Students who take the exam on computer have two hours to write an essay that responds to one of the two questions; students who write the exam by hand have two and a half hours. No dictionaries or notes are allowed during the test.
All exams are scored by trained scorers using criteria written by UM faculty. Students may retake the exam as needed to meet the UDWPA requirement.
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The exam is one of several campus-wide measures intended to provide ongoing assessment of students' writing proficiency throughout their academic tenures at UM-M. It serves as a mid-career diagnostic that demonstrates a student's level of proficiency while there is still time in the student's program to make improvements.
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Contrary to popular notions, a proficient writer is not necessarily an artist with a talent for vivid description or ingenious turns of phrase. By 'proficient', the UM faculty means a writer who can articulate and develop a point of view using logically sound evidence, properly ordered, with appropriate language and correct mechanics. Because the assessment question is based on a short, college-level text, being a proficient writer also implies being a critical reader and thinker. Such proficiencies are associated with well-educated college graduates in any discipline.
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All undergraduates seeking their first bachelor degree are required to pass the UDWPA in order to meet their graduation requirements. Students attending UM who DO NOT have to meet this requirement are students who 1) have already earned a bachelor degree at UM or elsewhere, OR, 2) can demonstrate that they passed a similar, mid-career writing assessment exam at another institution of higher education. Non-degree students do not have to take the exam as long as they are not seeking a UM degree.
Students who transfer to UM with an associate degree or any number of credits ARE REQUIRED to take and pass the exam if they are seeking a first bachelor degree at UM. Students who transfer to UM with 45 or more credits should plan on attempting the exam during their first semester on campus.
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No. The only way to meet the UDWPA requirement is to take and pass the exam.
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Only students who have passed a similar exam at another institution may be considered for exemption. For more information, contact the Director of The Writing Center at 406-243-2470.
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Many general questions about the UDWPA can be answered on this website. If you have a specific question pertaining to your individual circumstances, please email growl@mso.umt.edu.
Students who are no longer living in Missoula have the option of taking the UDWPA remotely with a proctor. Since many testing centers are not open on weekends, remote exams can be scheduled for the exam date or for the prior Friday or following Sunday or Monday. To set up a remote exam contact Judith.Bledsoe@mso.umt.edu.
Students are strongly recommended to attempt the UDWPA exam when they have completed the following requirements:
-WRIT 101 (formerly ENEX 101) or its equivalent
-one additional designated writing course
-45 academic credits, from any post-secondary institution
You should try to pass the exam by the time you have earned 70 academic credits. Students who delay taking or passing the UDWPA run the risk of not meeting all requirements for a degree by the time they wish to graduate.
The exam is offered twice in the fall, three times in the spring, and once in June. The exam always takes place on a Saturday. Click here for 2012 exam dates.
The easiest way to register for the UDWPA is via Cyberbear, the same way you do for your classes. Once Cyberbear is closed for the semester, you'll need to register in person at the Registration Desk in Griz Central. You'll be able to see which sections have available seats via Cyberbear, but you won't be able to use Cyberbear to register. Add slips are not used for the UDWPA exam. If seats are open, you do not need an override slip to register at the Registration Desk.
Check the announcements on this website to find out if and when additional seats will open for a particular exam. Additional seats often open up between two and three weeks before the October, March, and April exams. You can watch Cyberbear for these openings. However, since Cyberbear will be closed for the semester at these times, you'll have to register in person at the Registration Desk in Griz Central.
Exams proctored in GBB, LA, or the UC are all typed exams. Exams proctored in NULH are handwritten in bluebooks, which are provided by the proctor. Students should choose whichever method in which they feel most comfortable composing.
First, print and read the assessment text carefully as soon as it becomes available, two weeks before each test date. Study the text until you have a good grasp of the author's message and the important details in the text. Then, study the pages of this website (especially the Preparation Timeline and the Expectations and Study Guide) to learn more about the exam and get advice about how to prepare. For more help, make an appointment at The Writing Center for private tutoring before the exam. The tutor will help you talk out your response to the text and discuss ways to develop your position for an essay. You can even draft a response to the text using practice questions (provided at The Writing Center) and ask a tutor to critique it. The Writing Center also offers UDWPA workshops to help you understand what is expected of you on the exam. For most students, preparation for the assessment should be at least equal to the level of effort required on a mid-term or final exam in an academic course.
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Yes. If you are a qualified student with a disability and require reasonable modifications in order to take the UDWPA, contact Disability Services for Students (DSS) at least five working days before an exam date to arrange your test time. Students who take the UDWPA through DSS are still required to register on Cyberbear. You should sign up to take the exam with a bluebook but can arrange to use a computer at DSS. Space is limited at DSS as all students are required to take the exam on the announced date listed on Cyberbear. The staff of DSS may be reached at (406) 243-2243 (voice/text), or in their office at Lommasson 154.
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Check your detailed class schedule on Cyberbear.
You MUST show a picture ID (preferably your Griz Card) to be admitted to the exam. You should also bring something to write with. Proctors will provide each student with a copy of the assessment text, the test instructions, scratch paper, and a bluebook for those writing the exam by hand. You will not be allowed to use notes, dictionaries, diskettes, or any hand-held electronic devices (including cell phones) during the exam. Food and drink are prohibited in the computer labs.
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The criteria used to score the exam is here, and a discussion of that criteria is here.
It takes eight to ten calendar days to score and process a set of exams. As soon as all the exams are scored, your score will be entered into your records so that you can view it through your Cyberbear account under Student Services > Student Records > View WPA Score. As each exam is scored twice, your score will be a sequence of two numbers between 1 and 5. Any score containing a number less than 3 is a failing score. The possible scores are: 11, 12, 22, 33, 34, 44, 45, 55. Exams that make no attempt to address the prompt are not scored. Exams that are scored 23 during the scoring period are read by a third reader to resolve the score to 22 or 33. Click here for the UDWPA scoring criteria, and here for a discussion of that criteria.
The scoring scale of 1-5 is used to place your exam in a range of essays with similar features. Most students who fail the exam receive a score of 22; most students who pass the exam score 33. Within these ranges, some essays are stronger than others. Especially if you fail the exam, it is critical to understand both what you did well and what you need to do better. The best way to find this out is to meet with a tutor at The Writing Center to discuss your exam in person. Such post-exam conferences offer personalized feedback to help you assess your own writing and to help you develop strategies for improvement.
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If you do not pass the exam, your first step should be to review your essay with a tutor at The Writing Center. (All essays are available for pick-up at The Writing Center about ten days after each exam.) The tutor will help you interpret your score, and help you decide how to best prepare to retake the exam. Please note: Tutors do not score the exams, and they do not participate in the appeal process.
UDWPA scores, pass or non-pass, do not appear on your transcript or other published records. You may take the exam as many times as needed to pass it.
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Yes. If you believe that the scoring criteria were misapplied to your essay, you have seven (7) working days from the day the scores are released in which to appeal your score. We strongly recommend going over your exam with a Writing Center tutor before you consider appealing your score. Your written appeal should include the UDWPA Appeals Process coversheet (available at The Writing Center in LA 144) and a copy of your essay. Appeals should be dropped off or mailed to 281 Lommasson c/o the UDWPA Appeals Committee. You will be contacted no later than seven (7) working days after you have filed your appeal, provided you have given current phone or email contact information.
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