Placement & Transfer Credits

The University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu’s First Year Composition program coordinates with enrollment services, student services, the registrar’s office, and the Noʻeau Center to assist students with appropriate and successful placement into UH West Oʻahu’s composition courses. We also work with the registrar’s office, the admissions staff, and the university’s Writing Committee to help students looking to transfer credits from previous composition courses into UH West Oʻahu’s program.

Placement Policies

In order to ensure student success, the University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu’s First Year Composition Program requires students entering the university to complete appropriate assessment for placement. There are TWO ways to place into UH West Oʻahu’s ENG 100 or ENG 100T courses:
  1. The program currently accepts ACT, SAT, SAT Writing, and AP scores as measures for placement into the program’s courses. Below are the score ranges necessary for placement into ENG 100T and ENG 100 courses.
  2. If you do not have (or if you choose not to use) any of the test scores listed below, you can submit an e-portfolio of your writing for evaluation OR participate in a face-to-face testing session in the summer. The e-portfolio combines authentic assessment and portfolio assessment approaches. In addition, we hold one yearly face-to-face session during the first week of July.
Standardized Test Scores for English Course Placement
English Course ACT UHWO Authentic Assessment COMPASS AP English SAT Writing
English 100T 17 or lower 0-2 Writing 40 – 73 N/A 509 or below(o)* 474 or below(N)**
English 100 18 or higher 3-4 Writing 74-99 AP Language 4 or higher AP Literature 3 or higher 510 or higher (O)* 475 or higher(N)**
*(O) Old SAT **(N) New SAT Please note that neither of UH West Oʻahu’s options directly place students into ENG 200.

Who submits an e-portfolio or registers for a testing session?

You do not have to submit an e-portfolio or register for a testing session if you:

  • have current SAT or ACT scores (see Standardized Test Scores for English Course Placement)
  • have a score of 4 or higher in AP Language and 3 or higher in AP Literature
  • have a COMPASS writing score (before November 30th, 2016)
  • have opted to automatically enroll in 100T (see our Student Success Policy)

You must submit an e-portfolio or register for a testing session if you:

  • do not have a current ACT/SAT score
  • do not have a COMPASS score
  • did not score 4 or higher in AP Language and 3 or higher in AP Literature
  • wish to remain in 100T per our Student Success Policy

The two options below are for those who must submit an e-portfolio or register for a testing session (see above section). In addition to these options, we explain our approach to evaluating your e-portfolio submissions (online) or writing samples (face-to-face).

E-Portfolio Writing Placement

This online platform is for placing students throughout the year. Because this online platform is available year-long, students using this option must become familiar with the deadlines for review and placement. The sections below explain the process in detail.

  • What is E-Portfolio Writing Placement?
  • How do I compile and submit my e-portfolio for writing placement?
  • When would I receive my placement after submitting my e-portfolio?
  • When will I get my results?

What is E-Portfolio Writing Placement?

E-Portfolio Writing Placement combines authentic assessment and portfolio approaches. Our authentic assessment component involves a brief 10-minute video in which you are guided through the process of putting together and submitting your e-portfolio. Our portfolio component asks you to not only submit writing samples, but also a critical reflection of those writing samples. In this way, you are placed holistically based on your writing samples and your critical reading of these samples. We have created this tool so that you can complete placement at your own pace and using writing samples you have collected throughout your personal, professional and academic lives.

How do I compile and submit my e-portfolio for writing placement?

There are four steps for compiling and submitting your e-portfolio.

Step 1: Watch the orientation video. This orientation video introduces you to each step of the e-portfolio process. You are required to watch this video as part of the selection and submission process.

Step 2: Compile writing samples. You are asked to submit two writing samples in .pdf/.doc(x) format. These two writing samples can be from your workplace, your past education, and/or a response to one/two of our writing prompts. These writing prompts are rotated. Currently, we have the following prompts available:

Prompt 1: Writing as a Process
Prompt 2: Genre Knowledge

Step 3: Reflection. In addition to submitting writing samples, you are asked to submit a critically reflective letter in which you discuss your selection process, what writing strategies/skills are strongly seen in your samples, and what writing strategies/skills are in need of further development in your samples.

Step 4: Submission. Lastly, you are asked to submit your e-portfolio using our Google Form. Be sure that you are logged into your UH account before accessing the above link.

When would I receive my placement after submitting my e-portfolio?

We are accepting e-portfolio submissions on a rolling basis. As a result, e-portfolio submissions will be reviewed and students will be contacted with their scores within 1-2 weeks. For Fall 2020 placement, all e-portfolio submissions in August will be evaluated and scored within 1 week.

What other options are there for me if I do not wish to submit an e-portfolio?

Face-to-face option: You can attend our yearly face-to-face testing session during the first week of July. This session follows a combination of authentic assessment and timed writing approaches. This session is roughly 1.5 hours and consists of the following steps:

  • Faculty guided brainstorming and outlining activities
  • Individual timed essay
  • Reflective writing component about your testing experience

How do I register for the face-to-face session?

To register for this summer’s session, please use the following Google Form.

What happens on testing day?

  1. You must bring your registration email confirmation, photo ID, and proof of UH ID number with you.
  2. You will attend an orientation that prepares you for the writing test, take the timed writing test, and then reflect upon your experience.
  3. Computer access will be provided to you.

Who do I contact for more information?

You may email the writing placement program at uhaatest@hawaii.edu with your questions and/or concerns.

What if I require special accommodations?

If you require special accommodations, please contact the writing placement program at uhaatest@hawaii.edu.

How are e-portfolios or writing samples evaluated?

We evaluate e-portfolios/writing samples using the five outcomes of our first-year writing program on a 4-point scale.
Scale Alignment with Comp 100 Outcomes
Outstanding (4) Student’s writing demonstrates outstanding proficiency in all five outcomes–genre, criticality, process, awareness, and conventions–with little to no weakness. Writing may demonstrate strategic quoting, clear and detailed explanations, and making connections between thesis and details. Writing may demonstrate appropriate risk-taking, originality, variety, and/or creativity. Writer is strongly recommended for 100.
Strong (3) Student’s writing demonstrates strong proficiency in three to four outcomes that outweighs less proficiency in one or two outcomes. Writing may demonstrate quoting, clear explanations, and making connections between thesis and details. Writing will benefit from 100.
Good (2) Student’s writing strengths in two or three outcomes, outweighing less proficiency in one or two outcomes. Writing may demonstrate quoting abilities, but may lack in clear explanations and making connections between thesis and details. Writer is recommended for 100T.
Acceptable (1) Student’s writing demonstrates competent proficiency in one or two outcomes that outweighs less proficiency in the remaining outcomes. Writing may demonstrate the ability to quote, but may have little to no explanation and connection-making between thesis and details. Writer may demonstrate some inconsistencies as well. Writer will benefit from 100T.

What if I wish to enroll, voluntarily, into ENG 100T?

All students can opt to enroll in ENG 100T because of our Student Success Policy. Please see our Writing Placement Policies below.

Student Success Policy

Accepted UH West Oʻahu students, with the exception of students in Early College programs, are automatically enrolled into 100T if they do not have qualifying ACT/SAT scores. This policy insures that students can enroll for classes in a timely manner that does not interfere with their academic plan.

Retesting Policy

Because of the time and attention it takes to evaluate e-portfolios, you cannot resubmit an e-portfolio at this time. Further, since we are only holding one face-to-face session per academic year, additional face-to-face retesting is not provided unless you require special accommodations.