I got a 10. It was pretty easy. Just outline your arguement, they ask for specific things, then find your support examples. I wrote in pencil, and went over it in pen until time ran out. I don’t think you can get below an 8 unless you just skip part of the question.
It’s definitely possible to get below an 8. Actually a girl I met in my class got a 6. Writing is not everyone’s strong suit. Also, scoring a 10 from what I have read is not a popular score in each given group of students taking the exam. It’s not really “easy” in my opinion but if you’re good with time management and can really focus, it’s doable. I haven’t found out where I went wrong in my paper yet to score an 8. I did feel as though I answered every question in the prompt thoroughly, but I remember walking away feeling as though it could have been better. You’re given 2 hours to take it which very well may be plenty enough time for some. Personally, I could have used like 30 extra minutes to beef up my analysis of the argument and proof my paper for grammatical errors etc. I ran out of time towards the very end. Ohhhh well!
I got an 8 on mine too @raychill89 but I’m alright with that. The class we’ll take to fulfill the requirement will be counted towards our overall units so I’m thinking of mine as an elective. I’m just happy to have the damn thing over and done with.
@ironhead Amen! Love the positivity. It sucked but it’s behind us now. It had been many, many years since I had taken a standardized test like that and the environment was pretty uncomfortable for me. I think I let my nerves get in the way of my ability to truly focus…but it’s really not the end of the world. Still on cloud 9 that I even have the opportunity to go to state.
I know you CAN get below an 8 in general. My husband got a 6, because he’s a smart ass and said that he didn’t find the article to be persuasive… instead of finding the 3 examples like he was instructed to. If you look at the rubrick, it tells you what they expect for each score level. If you analyze the essay well and answer all questions, you should get a 10. If you answer all parts, but lack analysis strength, you should get an 8. If you don’t answer all the parts, no matter how well you write, you’ll get a 6. And so on.
I reviewed the elements of a persuasive argument, and read one of the wpa example essays the night before. That’s it. Once I got to the test, I wrote down each question/part of the analysis with space between each question. Then I read the whole article. Then I read it a second time to fill in the room under each question I wrote, here I answered a question or paraphrased my examples, came up with my opinion, etc. Then I wrote my essay from that. After I finished I proofed it twice, moved some stuff around (because I wrote in pencil, it was easy) and then went over the pencil with pen. I finished about a half hour early, which is why I went over in pen.
Read the grading rubric, read examples, and don’t panic. Organize before you start reading, so you know what you’re looking for. Write down each part of the prompt that you need to answer, so you don’t miss anything. You should be fine if you are A. A decent writer, B. Able to follow directions, and C. Understand what a persuasive arguement.
I did ALL of the above that you had mentioned a couple weeks before the exam up until the night before. Read through all of the scored essays, read the grading rubric, watched videos on ethos, pathos, and logos to freshen up my knowledge, and I also just took an argumentation class which I did very well in. Still didn’t get a 10. I will find out from a tutor next semester where I could have improved, but it was NOT easy for me and I have always excelled in writing.
Everyone is different and while some may find it to be easy, it may not necessarily be for others. That said, those taking the exam should be aware of the possibility that it may be difficult for them and may want to consider a WPA workshop prior to taking it as well.
I just logged into my WebAdvisor and saw my high school transcripts area go from “not required” to “required”…Im interested in seeing if this has happened to anyone else. Also, where do I get my high school transcripts other than waiting until monday and going in to my old high school.
I just took the WPA today, it was surprisingly easy. Short article you have to read (1 and a half pages) and they give you 2 hours to respond to the prompt. I was out in 35 min or so even after making a fairly decent outline. Other people who I know took it scared me by making me think it was a lot more difficult than it actually was.
@EconomicsSDSU Others have experienced the same thing with the webportal suddenly requiring high school transcripts. One person here said they contacted SDSU and was told that the deadline to send them in is just so that students will do so as soon as possible but that your admission won’t be rescinded if you are unable to. They just need them at some point before you graduate. Call admissions on Monday though just to be sure. You still have some time before the June 30th deadline.
@raychill89 Thanks for the help! I just emailed them and I plan on calling them first thing monday morning. Thanks again!! 
I took the wpa, and i got an 8. I think i got an 8 because i kind of bashed the article a little lol. Like it was too opinionated, and was not at all unbiased, not to mention there were errors in the article. So i said that in my paper and i think i took a hit for it hahaha
@hazels25 i am still looking for a place!
Yeah after 2 months of waiting now finally got admitted. I have question, do we have to pay the enroll $400?
@businesslady Congrats. Regarding your question, I assume so since the Intent to Enroll deposit is essentially accepting the offer of admission. But double-check your Webportal since it should let you know if you have to pay it or not.
Hey everyone,
So I was rejected to transfer from Mesa community college to SDSU for fall 2015 for business admin with a 3.67, I was also one of the people that found out on April 1 and was hoping it was a joke. But, I appealed it and just now found out that I got accepted! I’m wondering though does anyone know anyone whose admission from an appeal was rescinded because their gpa dipped as a result from spring semester? In their admission letters, SDSU says that it will be rescinded if you do not maintain your GPA. I just talked to someone from the office of admissions and she said that it is uncommon for SDSU to rescind unless it is a huge dip, “like a 3.8 to a 2.0” is what she said. My cumulative went from a 3.67 to a 3.5, not a huge deal but still I’m worried because its almost July and it would be horrible to start putting all efforts forward to move back to SD from NorCal and find housing etc then have my admission revoked. So does anyone know a friend who had their admission taken away, or anyone who didn’t have it taken away despite a drop in GPA? Any input helps!
Thanks!
I took the WPA on Saturday, but they gave us 2 days as to when the scores would be released. Did any of you get the results before the actual date they gave you?
Do we have to pay the orientation fee by our money? Or financial aid will cover it? because one of my friend said, when she clicked to pay then there are 2 options: pay by credit card for direct to financial aid or something. She didn’t pay from her money. But when I tried to pay, there is only 1 option that pay by credit card. I asked the financial aid office and one of the staff told me that I have to pay by my own money, the financial aid doesn’t cover the orientation fee. Is that right? But my friend said it different. I just got admitted so I can’t check my financial aid information
@businesslady i payed with fafsa
Fafsa will get the intent to enroll fee waived, but you have to pay for orientation.
@alexisNS but one of my friend said the financial aid cover the fee of orientation for her. She didn’t pay by her own money. That’s why I was confusing because when I paid, it didn’t show anything about the financial aid cover that money. I already paid for it because I’m afraid there are no more spaces for the orientation. Also, I checked the student account service. I saw the enrollment fee $860 in what you have to pay now. So do I need to pay for it or financial aid will cover that too?
I can only speak from my experience, and my husbands. You really should just call financial aid and ask them. There’s no way I could know the specifics of your financial requirements.