The Test of Standard Written English and Resulting Placement Patterns: a Follow-Up of Performance of Older Upper-Division and Master Level Students

Abstract

The Test of Standard Written English (TSWE) was designed for assessing the ability of students to use English. Published research has demonstrated that the TSWE has predictive validity for grades earned in freshman English and that the TSWE can be used for appropriate placement of students in the freshman English curriculum. Results of this validity study with the TSWE suggest that the use of the instrument can be generalized to older students entering at the juniors and master's degree level. The TSWE scores, resulting placement, and subsequent success in an English course, if required, were found to be predictive of academic performance for older, upper-division and masters level students in an environment with a restricted grading system.