• Clear and effective response to and focus on all aspects of the topic
• Fluent, clear progression of ideas, evenly developed
• Clear overall organizational strategy, with logical progression of ideas and appropriate links between them
• Highly effective approach to topic, with elaboration and support through specific details
• Strong sentence clarity, word choice, and coherence
• Varied and effective sentence structure
• Command of basic mechanics and grammar clearly demonstrated
• Effective and widely varied vocabulary
• Appropriate, clearly demonstrated sense of specific audience
• Engaged tone

• Clear focus on the topic; all aspects of the topic well-developed
• Clear overall organizational strategy, with logical progression of ideas and appropriate links between them
• Consistent elaboration and support of main ideas with specific details
• Only minor weaknesses in sentence clarity, word choice, and coherence
• Effective sentence structure
• Effective vocabulary
• Appropriate sense of specific audience
• Engaged tone

• Clear focus on the topic, with only occasional, minor lapses; some aspects of the topic less-well-developed than others
• Clear sense of overall organization with only minor flaws
• Consistent elaboration and support of main ideas with specific details
• Only minor weaknesses in sentence clarity, word choice, and coherence
• Understanding of basic mechanics and grammar, with very few errors
• Sense of specific audience
• Engaged tone

• Generally a clear focus on the topic, with some minor lapses; some aspects of the topic less-well-developed than others
• Overall, only minor organizational flaws
• Overall focus of a paragraph or section maintained, with very few lapses
• Sequencing of paragraphs and sentences, ideas, events or supporting details successful in most cases
• Sentences generally correctly structured, including clarity, word choice, or coherence
• Main topic/controlling idea generally supported/elaborated with appropriate details, showing only minor lapses or flaws
• Understanding of basic mechanics and grammar, with only occasional errors
• Sense of specific audience generally apparent

• Generally a clear focus on the topic, with some minor lapses; some aspects of the topic less-well-developed than others
• Overall, only minor organizational flaws
• Overall paragraph or section focus generally maintained, with only minor lapses
• Sequencing of paragraphs and sentences, ideas, events or supporting details most often successful
• Generally correctly structured sentences, including clarity, word choice, or coherence
• Main topic/controlling idea generally supported/elaborated with appropriate details, showing only minor lapses or flaws
• Understanding of  basic mechanics and grammar, with only occasional errors
• Sense of specific audience usually apparent

• Although an attempt was made to respond to the assigned topic, the overall focus of the text was at times unclear
• A number of lapses in focus within a paragraph or section or other problems with organization at this level
• Lapses in basic paragraphing strategy
• Sentences sometimes poorly structured or showed problems with clarity, word choice, or coherence
• Occasional lack of connections made between the main topic/controlling idea and the supporting detail
• Greater overall need for supporting detail
• Some problems with basic mechanics and grammar
• Awareness of specific audience lacking or unclear

• Although an attempt was made to respond to the assigned topic, some of its aspects were either poorly developed or not addressed
• Document poorly organized overall
• Few or no connections made between the main topic or controlling idea and any supporting details
• In many cases, no supporting details included to develop central points
• Coherence, clarity and focus lacking in some paragraphs and sentences
• Little evidence of writing to a specific audience
• Sentences sometimes not clearly organized

• Although an attempt was made to respond to the assigned topic, a number of its aspects were either poorly developed or not addressed
• Lack of a clear overall focus and/or organizing strategy
• Generally, no supporting details included to develop central points
• Coherence, clarity and focus lacking in some paragraphs and sentences
• Serious problems with sentence structure and/or basic grammar and mechanics
• Little evidence of writing to a specific audience

• Although an attempt was made to respond to the assignment, the document did not succeed in addressing the topic
• Focus of sentences and/or paragraphs often very weak; ideas presented in disorganized manner
• Coherence, clarity and focus lacking in many paragraphs and sentences
• Supporting details for main ideas not present
• Serious problems with sentence structure and/or basic grammar and mechanics
• Sense of specific audience not demonstrated

If you passed the test, you need do nothing else.  Your test score has been recorded in your academic record (not on your transcript) and will be available for the College of Business to check when you apply for admission to the College.

If you did not pass the test, you may register to take the test a second time.  You may wish to wait until next semester to retake the test so that you can prepare adequately, taking into account the concerns identified in the first test.  Testing dates and directions for registering to retake the test will be available at the College of Business website on the Student Resources Academic Advising link:  www.business.appstate.edu/advising/.

If you did not pass the test, you are very strongly advised to make an appointment with a Writing Consultant at the University Writing Center in room 008 of the New Belk Library to work on those areas of your writing that require improvement.  You may call 262-3144 to make your first appointment.  A copy of your writing test will be provided to your Writing Consultant, and you may wish to take other samples of your writing with you to that first meeting so that an efficient plan may be developed to help you prepare to retake the Basic Writing Skills Proficiency Test.  Additional information about the University Writing Center is also available for you at their website:  www.writingcenter.appstate.edu.