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AN OVERVIEW
In 1997, the Board of Trustees of the City University of New York (CUNY) put in place a policy requiring students in both associate and baccalaureate programs to demonstrate their command of certain vital academic skills by the time they reach the 60th credit. These skills are associated primarily with academic literacy: the ability to understand and think critically about ideas and information presented in print and the ability to write clearly, logically, and correctly. Employers of CUNY graduates consistently stress the importance of strength in these areas. These skills are also vital to success in the junior and senior year in bachelor's programs, as well as in graduate and professional study. The CUNY Proficiency Exam (CPE) requires students to demonstrate their competence in aspects of academic literacy that the CUNY faculty considers important for later success. Specifically, the CPE tests some of the skills that you have developed through the course work that you have taken: reading and interpreting textbooks and material of general interest; organizing and presenting your ideas about what you have read 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.
The Format of the CPE
The exam consists of two tasks for which a total of three hours is allotted:
Task 1: Analytical Reading and Writing (2 hours)
You will be given two reading selections, an 8 to 9 page selection to be studied in advance and a 1 to 1 1/2 page selection at the test. You will be asked to write a focused essay, drawing a relationship between specified elements of the two reading selections and extending it, as directed, to your own experience, understanding, or ideas.
Task 2: Analyzing and Integrating Material from Graphs and Text (1 hour)
At the exam you will be 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. You will be asked to identify and state accurately the claims in the reading selection and to explain the relationship between these claims and the relevant data in the figures with accuracy, clarity, and completeness.
In the samples section, you will find a full description of the CPE and sample questions followed by actual students responses, ratings of each of the essays, and comments on the ratings.
What are the rules and procedures that apply to taking the CPE?
- You must take the CPE for the first time after you have completed 45 credits. If you are a new transfer student with 45 or more credits, you will take the CPE in your first semester at CUNY.
- You may take the CPE for the first time during the semester in which you register for your 45 th credit.
- You must be in good academic standing-students whose GPA is below 2.0 may not take the CPE.
- You must have met the CUNY basic skills requirements in reading and writing in order to qualify to take the CPE.
- You may take the CPE three times and may appeal for a fourth attempt if necessary.
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Who is required to take the CPE?
As of September 1, 2003 all students pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree at CUNY must take and pass the CPE. Passage of the exam is a requirement for the associate degree, while students pursuing a bachelor's degree must pass by the time they have completed their 60th credit. Effective September 1, 2003, these requirements apply to all students pursuing these two degrees, no matter when they first entered CUNY. (Exemptions that previously had been in effect for freshmen who had matriculated at CUNY before Fall 1999 and for transfers who first arrived before Fall 2000 are no longer in force.)
1. Transfer Students from Outside CUNY
No previous attendance at CUNY. All new transfers must take and pass the CPE.
- Students transferring to a senior college who enter with 45 or more credits must take the CPE in their first semester at CUNY and must pass it by their 60 th credit.
- Those who enter with 60 or more credits (unless exempted) must take the CPE at the first administration of the exam after they enter.
- Transfers entering with fewer than 45 credits must take the CUNY Basic Skills Tests (unless exempted) before entering and follow placement recommendations. They must pass the CPE by the time they have completed their 60th credit..
Previous attendance at CUNY. All students in this category now must take and pass the CPE, no matter when they first enrolled at CUNY. (Same credit conditions as above.)
2. Students transferring within CUNY
- All students transferring within CUNY must fulfill the CUNY basic skills requirements before transferring.
- Students transferring within CUNY with more than 45 credits should have taken the CPE at least once before transferring.
- Senior colleges may (but are not required to) admit CUNY students to a baccalaureate program if they have completed all requirements for the associate degree except passing the CPE. Like other transfer students, these transfer students must take the exam during the first semester of baccalaureate study and thereafter as required. These transfer students are not eligible for the benefits accorded by the articulation policy of 2000 to associate degree recipients at the senior colleges until they pass the CPE and are awarded the associate degree. Under the articulation policy, students who have completed an associate degree (AA or AS) are able to transfer all of their credits to the senior college.
Exemptions
Students who have earned a bachelor's degree or a higher degree from an accredited program are exempted from CPE requirements.
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How & When to Register for the CPE
Online registration will be available approximately 3 weeks prior to the exam dates. Please check the online registration page for more information. If you are unable to register online, please contact the Testing Office for assistance.
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