Strong communications skills and critical thinking are some of the most valuable tools students will take with them when they leave Kingsborough Community College whether the next step is a four-year college or the work place. Kingsborough and CUNY want to help students develop their proficiency in academic and professional reading, writing and critical thinking needed to achieve their goals.
Q: What Is the CUNY Proficiency Exam (CPE)?
A: Over twenty years ago, the CUNY Board of Trustees set a common basic standard for students completing 60 credits of instruction, whether at a community college or a senior college. The measures of that standard were the CUNY Reading, Writing, and Mathematics Assessment Tests. In 1997 the Board directed the development of a new CUNY Proficiency Examination as a measure of students’ competence in important aspects of academic literacy and critical thinking at 45–60 credits. In October 2000, after extensive development, the new examination was given for the first time. To make certain that every student can develop the level of competence demanded by the Proficiency Examination, the University intends to provide ample opportunities for instruction and practice, both in the curriculum and through a range of support services. Students whose performance does not meet the standard will receive additional advisement and instruction.
Q: What does the CPE test?
A: The CPE requires students to demonstrate competence in aspects of academic literacy that the CUNY faculty considers important for success in upper-division studies. The exam is designed to resemble typical college assignments in which writing is produced in response to reading material, data or observations.
The CUNY Proficiency Exam tests some of the skills developed throughout the curriculum: reading and interpreting text books and material of general interest; organizing and presenting ideas gained from reading and connecting those ideas to other information or concepts; writing clearly and effectively for an audience; and interpreting and evaluating material presented in charts and graphs.
Q: Who must take the CPE?
A: ALL CUNY students must take the exam between the 45th and 60th credit. Passing the exam is a graduation requirement for the associate's degree.
Q: Are there any exemptions?
A: Students with bachelor's degrees or higher from accredited U.S. programs are exempt. Students must present the proof of their degree upon admitting to the College.
Q: How many times may students take the CPE?
A: Three. Beyond the 3rd time, students may appeal to take the test an additional time. After the 4th time, students may continue to appeal to take the CPE, however, they are no longer permitted to take classes as “matriculated” students; their status is changed to “non-matriculated.”
Q: When is the CPE given?
A: The exam is given four times a year - fall, winter, spring, and summer. However, not all testings are open to all students. The winter and summer exams are offered to select groups of students (for example: students needing just the CPE to graduate; students deferred from the spring or fall; and students who request special permission to test in a module). If you are interested appealing to take the CPE in the summer or winter, please contact Dr. Carmen Rodriguez, M386, 718.368.5029.
Q: What are the eligibility requirements for the CPE?
A: Students who have successfully completed 45 credits are required to take the CPE. (For students who have completed 30 credits and are enrolled in their 45th (or more) credit in a given fall or spring semester, taking the CPE is optional in that semester.) Students must also be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or higher. If GPA is between 1.85 and 1.99 and a student wishes to take the CPE, s/he must appeal with Dr. Carmen Rodriguez, M386, 718.368.5029) and must have passed the CUNY ACT Reading Exam and the CUNY ACT Writing Exam or have been exempt from them.
Q: Can a student take the CPE before completing 30 credits?
A: It is possible to appeal to take the CPE before completeing 30 credits and being enrolled in the 45th (or more) credit. In order to do so, students must contact Dr. Carmen Rodriguez, M386, 718.368.5029.
Q: What if a student misses a required testing?
A: Missing a required testing causes a student to forfeit one opportunity to take the exam. A forfeit is equal to a failure. If there is a legitimate reason for missing the exam, the student may appeal. Appeals are handled by Dr. Carmen Rodriguez, M386, 718.368.5029.
Q: What is the format of the CPE?
A: The total time for the test is three hours. The exam consists of TWO tasks:
· Task 1: Analytical Reading and Writing - 2 hours
When students register for the exam, they receive a six to eight page reading selection to be studied in advance. At the time of testing, they will receive a one to one and a half page selection. They must write a focused essay, drawing a relationship between specified elements of the two reading selections and extending it, as directed, to their own observations, understanding, or learning experiences.
· Task II Analyzing and Integrating Material from Graphs and Text - 1 hour
Students are given a set of materials (two charts or graphs and a brief reading passage) on the same or similar topics. These materials are not released prior to the testing session. Students must state the major claims of the reading selection and discuss the extent to which the data in the charts support or challenge that claim.
Q: How can students prepare for the CPE?
A: Students should attend a CPE Orientation and CPE Workshops to practice the skills required for the exam. First time test takers are required to take one orientation and one workshop. Additionally, there are practices and a CPE Tutorial available via the KCC CPE website.
Q: What is the passing score for the CPE?
A: A scaled score of 34 is passing. Students who have a scaled score of 58 or above earn a “CPE Pass with Distinction.”
Q: When and how will I obtain the results of the CPE?
A: The University usually takes about six weeks to score all CPE exams and to notify students. You will receive a report in the mail informing you of your score and detailing the points you received in each of the categories used for assessing the exam. (See the Information for Students booklet for these categories.) Your score report can also be retrieved via the CUNY Portal. Additionally, you may find your results on your e-SIMS record; you will not find a numerical score though, just a P (Pass) or F (Fail).
For More Information
- http://www.cuny.edu/cpe
- Questions about procedures (receiving test letters, test materials and test schedules) -
Office of Testing, T602 (718) 368-4975
- Questions about the appeal process - Dr. Carmen Rodriguez, M386 (718) 368-5029
- General information - CPE Office, L107 (718) 368-5455
- CPE Liaison - Prof. Maria Scordaras, D106 (718) 368-5358 cpe@kbcc.cuny.edu
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