UofC English 30-1 75% Average Requirement/Proficiency Test??

[Joe-G]

Hey Guys,

Ive been told by my teacher that if one does not acquire at least a 75% average in English 30-1 he/she would have to write a proficiency test and score a certain mark. She also said that if you don't pass it right the first time, you're not allowed to pursue a degree whatsoever.

Is it actually true that one test can restrict you from pursuing a better education for good??

[schocker]

That is true. You have a few opportunities to write the test, but if you do not pass it in your first year, you are not able to register for second year classes. There are two restrictions though iirc, a diploma mark or a final mark, but are different.

[sabad66]

Either 80% final mark or 75% (or higher obviously) for the diploma in English 30-1 or you have to write an effective writing test. Don't worry tho, it is really a joke to pass unless you don't speak english. If you somehow fail it, they have it every 2 months anyway so you can keep trying. Also, you can get around registering for 2nd year courses if you haven't passed it yet. I know a few people who have done it.

[Joe-G]

So one would have a second opportunity to pass it correct?

I heard the test is pretty easy if you have to write it, but what scared me is that i was told you would only have one chance to pass it.

[Joe-G]

Originally posted by sabad66
Either 80% final mark or 75% (or higher obviously) for the diploma in English 30-1 or you have to write an effective writing test. Don't worry tho, it is really a joke to pass unless you don't speak english. If you somehow fail it, they have it every 2 months anyway so you can keep trying. Also, you can get around registering for 2nd year courses if you haven't passed it yet. I know a few people who have done it.

Sweet haha. :thumbsdow to misinformed high school teachers.

[schocker]

Yah, you have multiple opportunities to take it. I am sure you would pass it the first time, the length is extremely short and you have a long list of topics to choose from.

[STI]

Originally posted by Joe-G
So one would have a second opportunity to pass it correct?

I heard the test is pretty easy if you have to write it, but what scared me is that i was told you would only have one chance to pass it.
You live in Canada.. theres always a second chance.

[ZZT23]

Isn't it you only have 3 tries to pass the proficiency test before you are required to withdraw?

I am curious about this too since I am going to u of c this september, and I don't know how hard the test is compare to the english 30 course and the english courses in u of c.

[schocker]

the test is really a joke. it is only to see if you can spell and use proper grammar and sentence structure

[ZZT23]

What could I do to improve what you mentioned? English is not my first language and I did pretty bad on my english 30 (around 60's). I took a course in MRC before and I dropped the course eventually. The grammar taught was pretty intense!

[kylejw]

There are a couple of ways to be exempted. Either above 80 course mark, above 75 diploma, or there is a course you can take at the uofc that exempts you if you're really worried. To be honest though, you should be able to do it within the 4 (I think there are 4 chances?) times they offer the test. And I think there is also another exemption, but I can't remember off the top of my head

[IntegraG2]

fuck i hated the effective writing test. I ended up writing the shit 3 times cause i suck at english. I didnt pass it so i took a poetry course and got a B+ or better. I think taking a course is better. Counts as an option, get credits for it and you dont have to write the effective writing test if you get that B+

[Wraith]

Weird, i asked my guidance counselor about it because i got a 60 in 30-1 lol... She said that i didn't have to worry about it since i was born in Canada :dunno:. Its good to hear that its easy though.

Also when i was filling out the application, didn't that section say that they won't even look at your application if you didn't have 80 overall or 75 on the diploma? I submitted it anyways and got accepted :thumbsup:

[boxer23]

Originally posted by Wraith
Weird, i asked my guidance counselor about it because i got a 60 in 30-1 lol...She said that i didn't have to worry about it since i was born in Canada

:rofl: :rofl:

also u can write the effective writing test only three times after that ur kicked out

[Joe-G]

Originally posted by Wraith
Weird, i asked my guidance counselor about it because i got a 60 in 30-1 lol... She said that i didn't have to worry about it since i was born in Canada :dunno:. Its good to hear that its easy though.

Also when i was filling out the application, didn't that section say that they won't even look at your application if you didn't have 80 overall or 75 on the diploma? I submitted it anyways and got accepted :thumbsup:

She probably meant that you didn't need to worry since the test is a joke to you, being that you speak fluent English.

How hard is this test anyways? Questions about sentence structure, punctuation, etc.?

[schocker]

The test is relatively easy. There is a large number of topics, when I wrote it I believe it was at least 10+. The length requirement is quite short. You just write on the topic and have plenty of time to read over it and edit it before you hand it in to check for spelling and other writing elements along with checking your grammar over. Just make sure it sounds alright and that it flows well enough and that it is in the proper essay format and you are set.

[Everlast]

I did mine last year and i thought it was pretty easy. They mark you either as pass or fail. You get 5ish topics to choose to write an essay/paper on. Some of the topics i had to choose was "Should robots be an integral part of our lives in the future" or "If you could go to school anywhere in world where would you go" and "What type of environmental problems currently effecting your home country" . Hopefully that gives you some ideas on what's expected.

Unlike what one of the above posters said, the course that exempts you from the test is non-credited. Costs 400ish i believe. Here's there homepage http://www.efwr.ucalgary.ca/
You can also go to the office and ask them all these questions too and get some tutoring(free i think?) if you bring in some papers that you wrote in the past.

Good luck with it. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you came to Canada within the past few years.

Edit: Forgot to mention i wrote approx. 5 pages. Double spaced so under 1000 words

[turbotrip]

i was half way through second year before i realized i had to write the test, so no its not completely necessary to write it first year

[phool]

Ohhh back in the days.... aka first yr.....
Don't sweat it. It's easy!

[LuxCars]

Originally posted by boxer23


:rofl: :rofl:

also u can write the effective writing test only three times after that ur kicked out


false.

[LongCity]

If you don't pass it within the first year there will be a "hold" on your peoplesoft account. The "hold" doesn't allow you to register for any courses until it is removed. You then need an extension on it by talking to the dean of your faculty. With the extension you can now register for courses following the end of the winter semester. You can also take an English course in your first year and get a B- or better. They only want 400 words from you on the essay, so that's about 4-ish pages.

[sdiep]

I wrote the Efficiency Test, and it was pretty basic.

I recommend that if you do not get the 75/80% mark for English 30-1 to take an English course your first semester at UofC.

If I recall correctly, if you get a B- or higher in an English University course you don't need to write the Efficiency test. That way, you save thirty bucks or however much it costs to write it. Take an easy English course if you can. I am horrible at English, but I ended up pulling a B- in an easy English course. The class size was small, so the professor was able to get to know us individually, so that made marking pretty decent.

I ended up taking the English course in second semester, and I was not sure if I was going to pass with a B- for sure. So, I didn't want to take the risk of not writing the Efficiency exam just in case. So, your best bet is to take an English course first semester, if you need it for your degree.

[RCGP]

So you save 30 bucks on the test, but spend 500 on the class?

[DTTB_36]

Hahhahaha...i did this on St. Patricks day... after 5 hours at the den. I was very intoxicated and wrote this!
Marginal pass!

[urbannomad]

Originally posted by Joe-G
Hey Guys,

Ive been told by my teacher that if one does not acquire at least a 75% average in English 30-1 he/she would have to write a proficiency test and score a certain mark. She also said that if you don't pass it right the first time, you're not allowed to pursue a degree whatsoever.

Is it actually true that one test can restrict you from pursuing a better education for good??


If you don't get the % in english 30 final or overall, then you have to take either a course and do well in it, or pass the effective writing requirement. I did the effective writing requirement and passed...it's not really that hard.
I'd rather the test then the course, you can take it multiple times if need be as well.

[sdiep]

Originally posted by RCGP
So you save 30 bucks on the test, but spend 500 on the class?

You have to spend the $500 regardless, because you need a Junior English course - well, that was for my case...

[soupey]

haha the test is stupidly easier than ELA-30-1, i didnt do so well, i guess my immigrant side comes out whenever i take an english class, when u write the test, just make sure you check it for any and all errors before giving it to them, the topics are ridiculously wide and general so taht you can basically write about anything. I'd say ur better off just writing the test instead of worring about ur english 30 mark.