The writing waiver exam allows students to demonstrate that they are proficient in the learning outcomes for WR 121Z or WR 122Z.
The exams must be taken in sequence. To take the WR 122 waiver exam, students must have fulfilled the WR 121 requirement. Students wanting to take the WR 122 exam should show proof that they have met the WR 121 requirement.
Note that the WR 122 exam requires submission of a portfolio of three writing samples prior to registration. See the details below for more information.
Students may only take one writing waiver exam per term. Students may take each waiver exam only once. Students are not allowed to retake either of the waiver exams.
Register for the Writing Waiver Exam
Timing and What to Expect
- The writing waiver exam is given during the first week of fall, winter, and spring terms.
- The writing waiver exam is not given during summer term.
- Students must pay a $10 fee for the writing waiver exam when making their appointments.
- Students have two hours to take the exam.
- The Composition department will email the exam results during week six. Students should stay registered for WR 121 or WR 122 until they receive the waiver results.
- When a student passes the exam, the Composition Program notifies the Office of the Registrar that the student can waive the course requirement.
- Students can drop the class without penalty and a W will NOT appear on the transcript. However, dropping a class late in the term may put students below full-time student status. Students should discuss dropping a course with their academic advisor or the financial aid office before dropping the course.
- No credit is given for passing the exam.
WR122: Portfolio Instructions
Before the exam, you will need to assemble a writing portfolio that includes three pieces of your successful college-level writing. These samples can be from high school or college classes.
Please submit your portfolio by email to testing@uoregon.edu. Once you have submitted your documents, you will be given an access code so you can register online for your appointment.
You will not be able to register for an appointment until you have submitted your portfolio.
- Each of the three writing samples should be written exclusively by you, without the use of generative AI tools.
- At least one of the writing samples should be a research paper of substantial length (1,500+ words) with at least five sources from a range of resources, including a minimum of two peer-reviewed articles, and accurate and honorable citation in a consistent academic style (APA, MLA, or Chicago).
- Your writing samples should include at least two different genres of writing, which can include a research paper, an argumentative essay, a project proposal and annotated bibliography, a multimodal project, or a personal narrative essay, for example.
When choosing your writing samples, consider the following:
- Your portfolio must demonstrate your ability to shape your writing for different purposes and audiences or discourse communities.
- Your portfolio must demonstrate your attention to writing as a process that includes inquiry, research, drafting, feedback, and revision.
You are responsible for ensuring your portfolio meets the above criteria.
Review Process
The essay exams are read anonymously by three members of the English Department’s Composition Committee and are graded pass or no pass according to the exam criteria.
After reviewing, the English Department does not return the exams to students, nor do they give feedback about why students did or did not pass.
Students who pass the exam will have an exam exemption noted on their transcripts. Students who do not pass the exams will not have anything added to their records and will be expected to take the required writing courses.