Frequently Asked Questions About the English 60/ESL 2 Final Essay Exam

What is the English 60/ESL Final Essay Examination?
The FEE is a 250-word essay written in response to a topic. Students are given two topics to choose from and have two hours to take the test. English-as-a-second language (ESL) students have an extra hour. Learning disabled students must be registered with the Learning Center in advance of the exam and will be given extra time as needed (time will vary per individual).

How is it graded?
1 . The names of student and teacher are covered.
2. The first evaluator reads the paper, grades it pass, fail or borderline, and conceals the grade.
3. A second evaluator reads the paper and grades it. If they agree, the grade stands.
4. If the first two evaluators do not agree, both grades are covered, and a third evaluator grades the paper. The final grade is the one agreed on by two of the evaluators.

Is there any review of the grading?
When the papers are given back to the classroom teacher, the teacher may request a reread. Then the first grades are removed, and the paper is read by new evaluators following the same procedures described above. The final grade prevails.

Do students have the opportunity to retake the test if they fail?
In rare circumstances, teachers may authorize students to retake the test but only if the final essay does not represent the students' typical performance. Teachers do not authorize retakes simply as a second chance.

What does a borderline grade mean?
The borderline says to the classroom teacher, "This paper is too close to call 'pass' or 'fail'. Look at other papers written in class under comparable conditions, and decide whether the student is ready to go on." The borderline is not a low pass.

How does the grade in the FEE affect the final grade in the class?
If a student passes the test, the classroom teacher can give the student any grade he or she has earned in the class, from an A to an F or a Credit/No Credit. If the student fails the test, the classroom teacher can give the student a grade no higher than a D or No Credit. In order to go on in English 1/ESL 1, the student must earn a C or better or a Credit in English 60/ESL 2.

Can English 60/ESL 2 be taken for Credit/No Credit instead of a letter grade? Yes. English 60/ESL 2 may be taken for either a letter grade or on a credit-no credit basis. If a student chooses to take the course for credit-no credit, upon successful completion of the course, the student will receive a grade of CR and credit will be awarded. If the student does not satisfactorily complete the requirements of the course, an NC grade will be issued. Credit-no credit courses are not used in the computation of a student's grade point average.

How can students find out whether they passed the test? By coming to class at the regularly scheduled final time.

Is failing likely to be a disaster? No. Some students need two semesters in English 60/ESL 2. It is far better to improve skills than to fail in subsequent classes.

Revised 1-31-02