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Writing Placement Information

New first year and transfer students who have not been placed into WRT 102 through one of the established mechanisms listed below or satisfied the SBU writing requirement (WRT 102) by transfer credit will take an online writing placement exam. This 30-60 minute online writing exam will be made available as described below to students who are required to complete it.

All students who need to complete the online writing placement exam will receive an email notification to access and complete the exam in their StartSBU portal.

Writing Placement Criteria

If a student can be placed through one of the established mechanisms below, it is vital that test scores be sent directly from the testing agency so they can be posted to the student’s Stony Brook record. Only officially reported scores posted to a student’s record can be used for placement, so it is necessary that scores are submitted officially through  College BoardACT.org, or College Board AP as early as possible.

If, as part of their application to Stony Brook, a student submitted through one of the organizations above the official score they intend to use for placement into WRT 102, it is not necessary to resend the score.

If any one of the criteria below places a student into WRT 102, they are not required to complete the online writing placement exam.


Stony Brook's College Board code is 2548. Stony Brook’s ACT code is 2952.

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) Score

Students with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score of 580 or higher will be placed into WRT 102 and are not required to complete the online writing placement exam; however, the official score must be posted to a student’s Stony Brook record to be used for placement.

Stony Brook's College Board code is 2548.

ACT English Language Art Score (ELA)

Students with an English Language Arts (ELA) score of 23 or higher will be placed into WRT 102 and are not required to complete the online writing placement exam; however the official score must be posted to a student’s Stony Brook record to be used for placement.

The ACT ELA score is a combination of your English, Reading, and Writing scores and a student must take all three sections to receive this score. Only the ELA score may be used for writing placement.

Stony Brook’s ACT code is 2952.

AP Scores

Students who have received AP scores in English Language/Composition or English Literature/Composition with a score of 3 or higher will be placed into WRT 102 and are not required to complete the online writing placement exam; however, the official score must be posted to a student’s Stony Brook record to be used for placement.

Stony Brook's College Board code is 2548.

Transfer Course Equivalence

Students who have transfer college credit in English Composition from a regionally accredited institution with a grade of C or higher can determine transfer equivalency information by visiting Stony Brook's transfer equivalency page here and should contact Academic and Transfer Advising Services with any questions.

Students can only transfer WRT 102 equivalents taken prior to matriculation at Stony Brook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Writing Placement Criteria

I sent my standardized test score to Stony Brook and it meets the requirements above for placement into WRT 102. Why did I receive the email instructing me to complete the writing placement exam?
I received an email instructing me to complete the writing placement exam, but I have a standardized test score that meets the requirements for placement into WRT 102 that I haven’t sent yet. Do I need to complete the writing placement exam?
My standardized test score is pending. Do I need to complete the writing placement exam?
How do I know if a course I have taken at another institution will satisfy the WRT 102 requirement at Stony Brook?
I am taking a course now that will satisfy the Stony Brook WRT 102 requirement. Do I need to complete the writing placement exam?

Additional Notes

  • It takes approximately two weeks for Stony Brook to receive and process officially submitted standardized test scores.
  • A screenshot of a test score or of a confirmation of your score submission are not accepted for writing placement purposes.
  • New York State Regents Exam scores are not accepted for writing placement.
  • TOEFL scores are not accepted for writing placement.
  • IB scores are not accepted for writing placement.
  • For questions about transfer course equivalencies, please consult this database.

Writing Placement Exam

What does the online writing placement exam involve?
How long do I have to complete the online writing placement exam?
Can I take the online writing placement exam more than once?
Is there a fee for taking the online writing placement exam?
I missed the deadline to complete the online writing placement exam. What should I do?
What if I have a disability that may impact this exam?

Final Placement

In the first week of your writing course, faculty may ask students to complete a separate in-class writing diagnostic to determine if the students' current writing placement is appropriate. When necessary, faculty evaluation could require students to change their writing course. Advisors are available to assist students with schedule changes if needed.