Understanding the UCLA Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)

For aspiring Bruins, navigating the complexities of university requirements can seem daunting. Among these, the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) stands out as a crucial first step toward academic success at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). This article provides a comprehensive overview of the ELWR, outlining its purpose, fulfillment methods, assessment procedures, and available resources.

What is the Entry Level Writing Requirement?

The Entry Level Writing Requirement is a writing proficiency expectation for first-year students. It ensures that all incoming undergraduates possess the fundamental skills in critical reading, analytical writing, and effective essay composition necessary to thrive in the rigorous academic environment at UCLA. The ability to read carefully, analyze texts, and write effective essays is an essential part of thriving at UC.

Satisfying the ELWR Before Enrollment

Prospective students have several avenues to fulfill the ELWR before beginning their studies at UCLA. These include:

Standardized Tests

Achieving the required scores on standardized tests is a common method for satisfying the ELWR. These scores demonstrate a student's proficiency in English language arts. Acceptable scores include:

30 or better on ACT English Language Arts. The English Language Arts score represents your overall performance on the English, Reading, and Writing sections of the exam
63 or better on ACT English and ACT Reading sections
680 or higher on the College Board SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section
3 or higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in English Language or English Literature or Advance Placement Seminar examination
3 or higher on the Advanced Placement Research Examination
5 or higher on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English (Language A or A1 only)
6 or higher on the International Standard Level Examination in English (Language A or A1 only)

It is important to note that while UC will not consider SAT or ACT test scores when making admission decisions or awarding Regents and Chancellor’s scholarships, test scores can be used for course placement after you enroll. If you have a qualifying test score that satisfies the Entry Level Writing Requirement that you have not reported to UC, you can arrange for the testing agency to send your scores to your UC campus. Note: The ACT English alone will not fulfill the ELWR.

College Coursework

Completing a UC-transferable college course in English composition with a grade of C or better before enrolling at UCLA also satisfies the ELWR. The course must be from a college or university accredited by one of the seven former regional accreditation agencies.

Fulfilling the ELWR After Enrollment: The Informed Placement Process (IPP)

Admitted students who have not satisfied ELWR by June 1 are required to complete the Informed Placement Process (IPP) at UCLA. The IPP was previously known as the Analytical Writing Placement Exam. In order to have a placement for fall enrollment, you will need to complete the IPP at least 2 weeks prior to your New Student Orientation.

The Informed Placement Process (IPP)

The IPP serves to assess a student's writing abilities and determine the appropriate English composition course for their skill level.

Registration and Fee: There is a $167 fee for the IPP, but please note that this amount may change without prior notice. Students will be billed after they take it unless they have a fee waiver.
Timing: To ensure proper placement for fall enrollment, students must complete the IPP at least two weeks before their New Student Orientation.
Results: About 2-3 weeks after you complete the IPP, you can log in to MyUCLA to see if you satisfied the ELWR using your UCLA Logon ID. Please go to your Degree Progress/Audit Report and look under "Entry Level Writing/ESL Requirement" to see which English Composition course you will start with. If you don't see a result, your New Student Advisor can advise you when you attend your New Student Orientation. Results of the IPP won’t affect your admission to UCLA.

English Composition Courses at UCLA

UCLA offers a variety of English composition courses designed to meet the diverse needs of its students. These courses range from introductory to advanced levels, catering to both native and multilingual speakers. Once enrolled at UCLA, you must complete the ELWR writing requirement by taking UCLA composition courses only.

Foundational Courses

English Composition 1: Introduction to University Discourse: This course is designed for students who would benefit from intensive work in reading and responding to university-level texts.
English Composition 1A: Intermediate Composition for Multilingual Students: This course is tailored for multilingual writers who can benefit from intensive work on grammar, syntax, and vocabulary.
English Composition 1B: High-Intermediate Composition for Multilingual Students: This course serves multilingual writers who can benefit from intensive work in reading and responding to university-level texts.
English Composition 2: Approaches to University Writing: This workshop-style course emphasizes argument, coherence, and sentence-level clarity through the revision process. Students continue to build their academic writing skills when they progress to English Composition 3 with a C or better.
English Composition 2i: Approaches to University Writing: This course enrolls multilingual writers and engages them in building foundational skills needed for university-level reading and writing tasks. This workshop-style course emphasizes argument, coherence and sentence-level clarity through the revision process. Students attend to the grammar and vocabulary of academic English and practice self-editing strategies. They continue to build their academic writing skills when they progress to English Composition 3 with a C or better.

Core Composition Courses

English Composition 3: English Composition, Rhetoric and Language: This seminar-style course prepares students to write successfully at the University and beyond. Robust class discussions and challenging reading and writing assignments promote critical thinking, reading, and communication skills to help students succeed at UCLA and be engaged as campus and global citizens. A compelling class theme enables students to develop a strong academic voice, attend to rhetorical concerns, and analyze texts, including expository and creative works that may be in print, digital, visual, or musical form. English Composition 3 meets the College of Letters and Science Writing I requirement with a C or better.
English Composition 3D: English Composition, Rhetoric and Language: This seminar-style course prepares students to write successfully at the University and beyond while satisfying the Diversity requirement. Robust class discussions and challenging reading and writing assignments focus in particular on issues of diversity and difference. The course promotes critical thinking, reading, and communication skills to help students succeed at UCLA and be engaged as campus and global citizens. A compelling class theme enables students to develop a strong academic voice, attend to rhetorical concerns, and analyze texts, including expository and creative works that may be in print, digital, visual, or musical form. English Composition 3D meets the College of Letters and Science Diversity requirement and the Writing I requirement with a C or better.
English Composition 3DS: English Composition, Rhetoric and Language - Service Learning: This seminar-style course with a service-learning component prepares students to write successfully at the University and beyond while engaging with the Los Angeles community while satisfying the Diversity requirement. Students investigate difference and diversity through writing and rhetoric. In addition, their on-site work enables them to critically examine the structures and institutions that promote asymmetrical power relations as well as the responses of diverse groups to these inequalities. Service learning experiences in the community, robust class discussions and challenging reading and writing assignments promote critical thinking, reading, and communication skills to help students succeed at UCLA and be engaged as campus and global citizens. A compelling class theme enables students to develop a strong academic voice, attend to rhetorical concerns, and analyze texts, including expository and creative works that may be in print, digital, visual, or musical form. English Composition 3DS meets the College of Letters and Science Diversity requirement and the Writing I requirement with a C or better.
English Composition 3SL: English Composition, Rhetoric and Language - Service Learning: This seminar-style course with a service-learning component prepares students to write successfully at the University and beyond while engaging with the Los Angeles community. On-site experiences, robust class discussions and challenging reading and writing assignments promote critical thinking, reading, and communication skills to help students succeed at UCLA and be engaged as campus and global citizens. A compelling class theme enables students to develop a strong academic voice, attend to rhetorical concerns, and analyze texts, including expository and creative works that may be in print, digital, visual, or musical form. English Composition 3SL meets the College of Letters and Science Writing I requirement with a C or better.
English Composition 3E: English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language for Engineers: This seminar-style course focuses on rhetorical techniques and skillful expository writing. It prominently features the analysis of varieties of academic prose, including technical writing, and the integration of multimodal elements. Minimum of 20 pages of revised text. Completion of English Composition 3E with grade of C or better satisfies the Writing I requirement.
English Composition 5W: Literature, Culture, and Critical Inquiry: This course focuses on analysis of literary works within a cultural context to engage students in critical thinking and writing about issues important to academic inquiry and responsible citizenship. Instructors select themes that connect literary texts to larger areas of inquiry. This course encourages students to use writing as a vehicle to explore, as well as demonstrate knowledge of, subject matter. Students who complete this course with a grade of C or better will satisfy the Writing II requirement and earn GE credit under the Literary and Cultural Analysis subset of the Arts and Humanities rubric.
English Composition 6W: Language, Culture, and Discourse: This course focuses on the structure and use of English and how it reflects social structure and cultural values. The reading and writing assignments that involve linguistic and socio-linguistic analysis encourage students to use writing as a vehicle to explore, as well as demonstrate knowledge of, subject matter. Students who complete this course with a grade of C or better will satisfy the Writing II requirement and earn GE credit under the Philosophical and Linguistic Analysis rubric.
English Composition 100W: Interdisciplinary Academic Writing: English Composition 100W uses a broadly defined theme to help students explore how issues/problems can be explored and presented from varied disciplinary perspectives at the University. Students typically write a research paper on an issue raised in the readings and discussion using an approach that relates to their own discipline. Transfer students often find this course helpful as they transition from community college to UCLA. This course earns Writing II credit.
English Composition 100WD: Interdisciplinary Academic Writing: English Composition 100WD is a course in academic writing suitable for both lower- and upper-division students that helps them develop academic papers with range of complexity and length. It focuses on conventions of academic prose and genres across disciplines. Written assignments include common forms of academic writing such as argument, research paper, and/or critical essay. Students will investigate difference and diversity through writing and rhetoric. They will critically examine structures and institutions that promote asymmetrical power relations, as well as responses of diverse groups to these inequalities. Students will perform original argumentation that engages with difference and response to complexities of diverse societies. This course earns Writing II credit.

Courses for Multilingual Students

ESL 103: Pronunciation for Multilingual Students: This course provides an in-depth understanding of the sound system of English applied to the improvement of a student’s own pronunciation. Individualized feedback is provided through frequent recording assignments and on-line pronunciation resources.
ESL 104: Public Speaking for Multilingual Students: This course focuses on making presentations in academic and professional settings and is designed for students who are preparing for graduate school, job interviews, and/or a career.
ESL 105: Advanced Grammar and Style for Multilingual Students: This course is designed for students who have completed their ESL writing requirement, but would like to strengthen their ability to self-edit their writing for syntactic accuracy and stylistic variety.
ESL 107: Academic Reading and Vocabulary for Multilingual Students: This course provides instruction in and practice of academic reading skills using academic texts. The focus is on improving reading rate and comprehension, expanding academic vocabulary, and developing critical reading skills.

Specialized Writing Courses

UCLA also offers a range of specialized writing courses tailored to specific disciplines and professional fields:

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English Composition 175: Apprenticeship in Composition Tutoring: This course provides composition Peer Learning Facilitators (PLFs) who work in the Undergraduate Writing Center or on other campus writing initiatives with ongoing mentoring in composition and peer learning methodologies. The course includes an overview of the language, writing and literacy needs of diverse college-aged writers, including developing writers, multilingual writers, and non-native English speaking writers. It provides an opportunity to reflect critically on practical and theoretical frameworks for best-practice tutoring.
English Composition 130B: Professional Writing: Business and Entrepreneurship: Emphasis on developing written, oral, and visual communication skills for entrepreneurial settings. Common tasks include pitching an idea, seeking funding for a startup, and promoting a product or service.
English Composition 130C: Professional Writing: Science and Technology: Emphasis on communicating complex technical concepts and scientific research findings in a clear and accessible way to non-specialist audiences.
English Composition 130D: Professional Writing: Non-Profits and Public Engagement: Development of the ability to write persuasively and effectively in the nonprofit and public sectors.
English Composition 130E: Professional Writing: Arts and Entertainment: Emphasis on the ability to write about creative material and performances in fields such as film, TV, theater, music, art/design, podcasts, and video games. Writing genres include critical reviews, recaps, promotional materials, treatments, and profiles.
English Composition 131A: Specialized Writing: Law and Politics: This course will increase students’ capacity to think analytically and write compelling legal documents. It will emphasize students’ capacity to read legal texts, organize ideas, create and refine prose, and improve editing skills to write (and argue) persuasively in a legal context. Writing genres may include law office memos, case studies, contracts, appellate briefs, advocacy letters, and pleadings.
English Composition 131C: Specialized Writing: Medicine and Public Health: Advanced writing course designed to help students develop stylistic, formal, and argumentative sophistication in various rhetorical contexts, including different sections that emphasize rhetorical values of major professions and research areas.
English Composition 132: Variable Topics in Rhetoric and Writing: Study of specific topics in relationship between rhetoric/writing and social or political history.
English Composition 133: Topics in Writing for Multimedia Environments: Special topics course in professional writing exploring current developments, issues or debates within the art, entertainment, social media, or video game industries.
English Composition 134: Topics in Science Writing: Special topics course in professional writing exploring current issues, developments or debates within a specific field of science or technology.
English Composition 136: Practical Writing and Editing: Focus on developing grammatical precision and rhetorical range in professional writing combined with experience proofreading and editing one’s own writing as well as that of others.
English Composition 137: Writing for Public Speaking: Emphasis on careful preparation, rehearsal, and delivery of professional presentations including the design of effective visuals in a variety of multimodal forms. Student performances recorded for extensive self, peer, and instructor feedback.
English Composition M138: Topics in Creative Writing: Creative Non-Fiction: Introductory workshop in writing creative non-fiction. May not be used to satisfy workshop requirements for English creative writing concentration.
English Composition 195: Community or Corporate Internships in English Composition: Internship in supervised setting in community agency or business. Students meet on regular basis with instructor and provide periodic reports of their experience.
English Composition 199: Directed Research or Senior Project in English Composition: English Composition 199 is a tutorial course in which supervised individual research or investigation is performed under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Throughout the quarter, students will work toward the completion of a required culminating paper or project.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Navigating the ELWR also involves adhering to important dates and deadlines:

August 1: UC Application Opens
October 1: Filing period opens for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Dream Act Application for all applicants; filing period opens for GPA Verification Form (required for California residents only for Cal Grant consideration)
October 1- December 1: Application filing period
March 2: Deadline for applicants to submit their financial aid application (FAFSA), Dream Act, and Cal Grant GPA verification forms
Late March: Admission notification
May 1: Deadline to submit your enrollment deposit and applications for on-campus housing and the UCLA College Honors Program
July 1: Send your final, official transcripts to admissions. They must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 1.
July 15: Official AP, IB examination results must be sent to admissions.

Resources for New Students

UCLA provides numerous resources to support incoming students in meeting the ELWR and transitioning to university life:

New Student Orientation: Mandatory for all new undergraduate students, orientation provides an opportunity to acclimate to academic and social life at UCLA, connect with other students, learn about campus services, meet with academic advisors, and enroll in classes. There are 12 different orientation sessions for first-year students, including two sessions dedicated to out-of-state and international students.
Bruin to Bruin Sessions: These sessions are designed to help newly admitted Bruins connect with UCLA.
MyUCLA: This online portal allows students to access their Degree Progress/Audit Report, which outlines their progress toward meeting graduation requirements, including the ELWR. Log in to MyUCLA.
UCLA General Catalog: This catalog provides the most current and officially approved information on courses, course descriptions, and curricular degree requirements. The UCLA General Catalog is published annually in PDF and HTML formats.
Undergraduate Mathematics Help Guide: This guide provides answers to frequently asked questions about the Math Placement Test (MPT).
The College Scholars Program (College Honors): This program is offered through the UCLA College.
UC Immunization Policy: The UC Immunization Policy requires all incoming students to provide proof of vaccination.

Additional Placement Tests

Besides the IPP, some students may need to take additional placement tests in mathematics and chemistry:

Math Placement Test (MPT): Students planning to enroll in Math 1 (Pre-Calculus), Math 3A (Calculus for Life Science Students), Math 31A (Differential and Integral Calculus for Physical Sciences Students), or Math 31AL (Differential and Integral Calculus Laboratory for Physical Sciences Students) may need to take the MPT. Students should take the MDT by July 1 if any of these are true:
- They do not have AP credit for Math 31A
- They do not have transferred course credit from a community college or 4-year institution for Math 1, Math 3A, Math 31A, or Math 31AL. High school course credit cannot be used to waive these courses.
- They are waiting for results from 2026 AP Calculus AB or BC examCheck your Degree Progress/Audit Report on MyUCLA to confirm credit for AP test results or transferred courses. It must be completed July 1 so that your placement is available when you register for classes during New Student Session. There is a $20 non-refundable charge since the test is operated by a third party - ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL).
Chemistry Diagnostic Exam: Students planning to enroll in Chemistry 14A, Chemistry 14AE, Chemistry 20A, or Chemistry 20AH are required to take the Chemistry Diagnostic Exam before enrolling in the course. The exam is available online beginning May 1 and must be completed before July 1 so that your placement recommendation is available when you register for classes during New Student Orientation. Be sure to send us test scores (AP and IB).

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