What is Guided English Placement?
The free, online Guided English Placement (or GEP) is an alternative to using standardized test scores for placement into your required composition course. Through the GEP, you can reflect on your composition strengths, understand expectations of the courses, and offer your input on the class you believe will lead to your greatest success. In addition to how you’d place yourself, we’ll be integrating your experiences, your GPA, and your learning dispositions to help place you in the course that best suits your needs.
How Do I Complete the GEP?
Click the blue button below to start the process. If you log into the GEP site below and do not see the option to complete the GEP, please email our Director & Chair of First-Year Composition, Shevaun Watson, at watsonse@uwm.edu to request access. If you have lost your epanther ID or password or have other issues logging in, please visit our epanther ID help page or call our IT department at 414-229-4040.
You will be able to complete the GEP on a computer or mobile device. You only have one chance to complete the assessment. There are no repeats so please take your time and answer the questions thoughtfully. It takes 1-2 weeks for results to be processed. Please plan to complete the GEP as soon as possible!
If you would like more information before starting, visit the GEP-FAQ page. If you are an incoming freshman, you can learn more about all of your course placement requirements at uwm.edu/freshmanplacement.
You will be able to complete the GEP on a computer or mobile device. It takes 1-2 weeks for results to be processed. Please plan to complete the GEP as soon as possible!
What is UWM’s Writing Requirement?
English placement is determined by the English or ERWS score on your ACT/SAT, prior college credit earned in English courses, or by completing the online Guided English Placement. The scores on these tests place you into courses that will satisfy your General Education Requirement (GER) known as the Oral and Written Communication (OWC) Competency Part A for those seeking a bachelor’s degree or your core requirement in writing for those seeking an associate’s degree. To satisfy this requirement, a student must earn credit with a grade of C or higher in English 102 or achieve an appropriate test score to satisfy the requirement.
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Bachelor’s Degree/Main Milwaukee Campus – Students placed into English 100 or 101 will need to complete that course with a grade of C or higher (you only need to complete either English 100 or 101, not both courses) then complete English 102 with a grade of C or higher. Students placed into English 102 will need to complete that course with a grade of C or higher. Students with a sufficient score may satisfy their General Education Requirement and test out of having to complete English 100, 101, or 102.
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Associate’s Degree/Branch Campuses at Waukesha & Washington County – Students placed into English 98 will need to complete 98 then 101 then 102 with a grade of C or higher. Students placed into English 101 will need to complete that course and 102 with a grade of C or higher. Students placed into English 102 will need to complete that course with a grade of C or higher. Students with a sufficient score may opt to submit a portfolio to the English staff to satisfy their core requirement in writing and test out of having to complete English 98, 101, or 102.
If you have never taken the ACT/SAT or are not satisfied with your placement via your ACT/SAT scores, you can utilize our free online Guided English Placement (GEP) to attain an English course placement. The GEP is not a standardized test and there are no right or wrong answers. You will be asked a variety of questions about your educational experiences, writing and reading skills, and academic mindset. You will also be given reading and writing samples to reflect upon; no writing is required from you. The GEP takes about 30-60 minutes to complete.
English Placement Chart – Main Campus
| Course Placement Main Campus | ACT English Score | SAT ERWS |
|---|---|---|
| English 100 | 1-16 | 200-460 |
| English 101 | 17-24 | 461-590 |
| English 102 | 25-28 | 591-650 |
| Test Out/GER OWC Part A satisfied | 29-36 | 651-800 |
English Placement Chart – Branch Campuses
| Course Placement Branch Campuses | ACT English Score | SAT ERWS |
|---|---|---|
| CGS ENG 98 | 1-16 | 200-460 |
| CGS ENG 101 + CGS ENG 99 | 17-18 | 461-500 |
| CGS ENG 101 | 19-24 | 501-590 |
| CGS ENG 102 | 25-28 | 591-650 |
| CGS can inquire about portfolio to satisfy core requirement or enroll in CGS ENG 102 |
29-36 | 651-800 |
Questions?
Watch the video on this page or visit the GEP FAQs page for more information. You can also contact Professor Shevaun Watson, Director of Composition at watsonse@uwm.edu with questions or concerns.