Anyone take the Excelsior College Writing exam?

[Trajan]

I need to take the Excelsior College Writing exam. Has anyone taken this exam? I am not sure what to study for this exam. Thanks.

[yutzyj]

I need to take the Excelsior College Writing exam. Has anyone taken this exam? I am not sure what to study for this exam. Thanks.

Hi Trajan-
i am currently working on this. i searched this site and found one person who had taken this. they didn't think it was too hard and got an a. i am using the my access writing tool that comes with this course. unfortunately i am scoring worse each time i use it. i called ec and was told that there is no spell check, thesaurus, or word count in the word processing program for the exam, even though the tool utilizes all three. there is copy and paste available. it is a three hour test. if you need a break, the clock keeps ticking. if anyone has any feedback, help, tips, etc. please post.

[siersema]

Hi Trajan-
i am currently working on this. i searched this site and found one person who had taken this. they didn't think it was too hard and got an a. i am using the my access writing tool that comes with this course. unfortunately i am scoring worse each time i use it. i called ec and was told that there is no spell check, thesaurus, or word count in the word processing program for the exam, even though the tool utilizes all three. there is copy and paste available. it is a three hour test. if you need a break, the clock keeps ticking. if anyone has any feedback, help, tips, etc. please post.

I'm guessing I'm the one person . The ECE College Writing Exam is great. Just use the MyAccess! tool and you'll know when you're ready. I disdain having to write.. and if it's creative writing that's even worse! You're correct that there is no spell check, no word count, ect. So.. don't write beyond your ability. Don't use words if you aren't sure how to spell them, reiterate what's said within the question (you'll have to in order to answer it anyway), so you'll spell those words correctly as they're still on the screen, count your words manually before you submit the essay (remember 500+ words are best for the way the system grades). I was worried about citing my sources, but the only essay where it was asked for (1 of the 3) had an example on the proper format within the question.

One thing people always say to a student who is about to write is to "know your audience". So, keep in mind your audience is a computer. Read through the Excelsior PDF on this exam. The pdf states what areas you will be scored on, and the MyAccess tool uses the same grading engine. The engine looks at how long your document is, spelling, if your within context, and so on. You aren't writing for a person there's no worry about their opinion on what you wrote just a computer checking to see "how" you wrote.

No one is going to look at these essays so when you're playing with the MyAccess tool mess with it a little. Change things around.. add more words.. keep scoring the same paper until you learn exactly what it was the scoring engine was looking for. If it complains you didn't put in enough examples try adding a couple extra sentences with more examples, see if that was enough. If it says "you didn't give enough detail" did you go to the 500+ word count?

What's great about this is that you can learn how you will be graded. If you're using MyAccess to study then you won't be shocked when it comes time to take the real test. What I hated most about english courses in the past was having to take into account the bias of the instructor, and having to come up with a paper I thought was truthful. If I had to write a paper that said to give my opinion on global warming... well I'd do just that. I would give "my" opinion. Now if the ECE asks the same question, I don't give my opinion, I give a well written response to the question within context.

[yutzyj]

I'm guessing I'm the one person . The ECE College Writing Exam is great. Just use the MyAccess! tool and you'll know when you're ready. I disdain having to write.. and if it's creative writing that's even worse! You're correct that there is no spell check, no word count, ect. So.. don't write beyond your ability. Don't use words if you aren't sure how to spell them, reiterate what's said within the question (you'll have to in order to answer it anyway), so you'll spell those words correctly as they're still on the screen, count your words manually before you submit the essay (remember 500+ words are best for the way the system grades). I was worried about citing my sources, but the only essay where it was asked for (1 of the 3) had an example on the proper format within the question.

One thing people always say to a student who is about to write is to "know your audience". So, keep in mind your audience is a computer. Read through the Excelsior PDF on this exam. The pdf states what areas you will be scored on, and the MyAccess tool uses the same grading engine. The engine looks at how long your document is, spelling, if your within context, and so on. You aren't writing for a person there's no worry about their opinion on what you wrote just a computer checking to see "how" you wrote.

No one is going to look at these essays so when you're playing with the MyAccess tool mess with it a little. Change things around.. add more words.. keep scoring the same paper until you learn exactly what it was the scoring engine was looking for. If it complains you didn't put in enough examples try adding a couple extra sentences with more examples, see if that was enough. If it says "you didn't give enough detail" did you go to the 500+ word count?

What's great about this is that you can learn how you will be graded. If you're using MyAccess to study then you won't be shocked when it comes time to take the real test. What I hated most about english courses in the past was having to take into account the bias of the instructor, and having to come up with a paper I thought was truthful. If I had to write a paper that said to give my opinion on global warming... well I'd do just that. I would give "my" opinion. Now if the ECE asks the same question, I don't give my opinion, I give a well written response to the question within context.

THANK YOU Siersema,
yes, you were the one. your feedback is extremely helpful for me. i am getting frustrated. my first written prompt scored all 6's on the first submit. woohoo!!! i thought this will be a cakewalk! it's been downhill ever since. each writing exercise scores lower and lower. i think i just need to use the kiss method. that way there are less chances for mistakes. my test is scheduled for next monday and i wonder if i can be ready. i like the idea that a computer grades the exam so my audience is a computer. you are correct about giving your opinion, just a well written response to the question is sufficient.

do you know how the scoring works in relation to the letter grade awarded?

[siersema]

do you know how the scoring works in relation to the letter grade awarded?

Hi there..

As far as I know Excelsior doesn't release their grading method. What I can tell you is how I did..I got an A, and while my score isn't broken down into numbers it is broken down into two sheets of comments. One sheet on the the Proposal Writing and one on the Analysis/Response Writing (there are three writings).

It breaks down like this.

(only putting the very first part of the comments to give you an idea)

Proposal Writing:
Focus & Meaning: Your response establishes an opinion/position/thesis statement and adequately attempts to persuade the reader....

Content & Development: Your response develops arguments using some specific, accurate, and relevant details to support the writers position.

Organization: Your response demonstrates a generally unified structure with a noticeable introduction and conslusion; inconsistent use of paragraphing and transitional devices.

Language Use & Style: Your response demonstrates appropriate language.... generally uses correct sentence structure with some variety.

Mechanics & Conventions: Your response contains some errors in grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and spellingthat do not significantly interfere with the communication of the message.

Analysis/Response:

Focus & Meaning: Your reponse shows a complete understanding...makes clear connections between text and task..

Content & Development: Your response develops ideas adequately...

Organization: Your response demonstrates a generally unified structure...inconsistent use of transitional devices.

Language Use & Style: Your response shows appropriate language.. some awareness of audience.. essentially correct sentences with little variety

Mechanics & Conventions: Your response contains some errors.. (same as above).



Reading the comments I'd have to assume that I have at most two 6's on the entire thing.. several 5's and perhaps even some 4's (when compared to MyAccess!). Yet I still got an A. Morale of the story, it doesn't have to be perfect for you to do well. Those numbers would be consistent with how I was doing right before I took the exam. I was mostly getting 5/4 with a few 6's here and there, but that's with a spell check.

[Trajan]

siersema,

Thanks for your great post it was very informative. How long did you study for this exam and how long did it take to complete the actual exam? As this is a computer based exam, did you receive the score upon completion of the exam?

[yutzyj]

siersema,
THANK YOU so much for the time you put into your great detailed response. i feel so much better now. a few more writing prompts and i should be good to go.

[siersema]

siersema,

Thanks for your great post it was very informative. How long did you study for this exam and how long did it take to complete the actual exam? As this is a computer based exam, did you receive the score upon completion of the exam?

I studied for close to a month, but only because that was the soonest good date at my testing center. The score is instant, though Excelsior's other writing exam is not. The College Writing exam is the first to use a computer to score an essay.

[yutzyj]

I'm guessing I'm the one person . The ECE College Writing Exam is great. Just use the MyAccess! tool and you'll know when you're ready. I disdain having to write.. and if it's creative writing that's even worse! You're correct that there is no spell check, no word count, ect. So.. don't write beyond your ability. Don't use words if you aren't sure how to spell them, reiterate what's said within the question (you'll have to in order to answer it anyway), so you'll spell those words correctly as they're still on the screen, count your words manually before you submit the essay (remember 500+ words are best for the way the system grades). I was worried about citing my sources, but the only essay where it was asked for (1 of the 3) had an example on the proper format within the question.

One thing people always say to a student who is about to write is to "know your audience". So, keep in mind your audience is a computer. Read through the Excelsior PDF on this exam. The pdf states what areas you will be scored on, and the MyAccess tool uses the same grading engine. The engine looks at how long your document is, spelling, if your within context, and so on. You aren't writing for a person there's no worry about their opinion on what you wrote just a computer checking to see "how" you wrote.

No one is going to look at these essays so when you're playing with the MyAccess tool mess with it a little. Change things around.. add more words.. keep scoring the same paper until you learn exactly what it was the scoring engine was looking for. If it complains you didn't put in enough examples try adding a couple extra sentences with more examples, see if that was enough. If it says "you didn't give enough detail" did you go to the 500+ word count?

What's great about this is that you can learn how you will be graded. If you're using MyAccess to study then you won't be shocked when it comes time to take the real test. What I hated most about english courses in the past was having to take into account the bias of the instructor, and having to come up with a paper I thought was truthful. If I had to write a paper that said to give my opinion on global warming... well I'd do just that. I would give "my" opinion. Now if the ECE asks the same question, I don't give my opinion, I give a well written response to the question within context.

i found the above advice was right on the money.
the 'my editor' tool should not be ignored. nor should the word count. it is important to play with these tools to see how your grade can change with just some tweaking. if you don't know how to spell a word, replace it with something you can spell. in no particular order, here are my added tips i learned while preparing for this test:
- learn to type QUICKLY!!!
- use your scrap paper. i found that after reading the prompt that writing as much down as possible using bulleted points and then numbering the points in the order that i wanted to write about them was crucial for me. i tried just the write as i go method and thought i would remember all the points as i typed and i wasted WAY TOO MUCH TIME. i needed the bulleted points to keep to the prompt AND to keep within the time allotment. i gave each prompt about 1 hour.
- make sure you stay writing to the prompt.
- if you have to be persuasive, you need to explain the counterpoint and why you can agree somewhat or why you disagree. this is good because it gives you more to say for added length.
- for your argument, go from the least important point to the most important point.
- use articles. it made my writing seem like a second grader wrote it, but hey, that's what the program wanted.
- no long sentences. even though the program 'claims' it want complex sentences, it really doesn't seem to like them. i got less errors with the k.i.s.s. method.
- write at least 500 to 600 words, 600 is better. even though the program claims longer is not necessarily better, if found longer was better.
- write an introductory thesis paragraph outlining your argument or persuation or narrative with a concluding sentence. your argument or narrative or persuation should have 5 reasons, each being a supportive paragraph. your conclusion paragraph should be a summary of your paper. this would be 7 paragraphs.
- paragraphs should be 4-8 sentences in length.
- not only is correct spelling important (it didn't like my last name and gave me a spelling error) but correct spacing is important. i had an error for a space after the last word in a sentence and then the period.
- add adjectives when possible. this adds to the word count.
- when you read the prompt with the passages you must compare and write your argument to - DON"T PANIC! take a deep breath and then another. every test is supposed to have one of these. i had one, my poor husband had two!
- if i had this test to do over (i started thinking about these things because i almost did) i would read all three prompts, write to the hardest one first, then the mid hardest, then the easiest.
- time will fly by so watch that you don't spend too much time on one prompt not leaving enough time for the others.

i am not a good writer. it takes me forever to write something. just writing something for a post is not easy for me. but i was able to get an A and my husband got a B. we worked on this for almost a month. we wrote to many prompts, usually one per day or about 5 per week. after we did this for a couple weeks, we would write to a prompt and submit it in one hour. then we would go back and use 'my editor' to see what we could have done better.

after we signed up (and paid the course fee) we found out that tesc has a pass/fail test that you can take a book and a dictionary in with you. i might have gone that route if i had known but it was more money so i'm not sure. i think my husband would have definitely done this.

[sgloer]

Excellent information guys. This sounds like a good exam to know about!