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There are three levels of undergraduate writing courses at NSU:

• COMP 1000 - Basic Writing
• COMP 1500 - College Writing
• COMP 2000/2020 - Advanced College Writing/Writing about Literature

COMP 1000 prepares students for COMP 1500.

COMP 1500 and either COMP 2000/2020 are required for most NSU undergraduate students.

Composition Challenge Exam

Incoming students placed into COMP 1000 may request with their Academic Advisor to challenge their course placement in the composition course sequence. The Composition Challenge Exam is a 45-minute test that consists of writing a 500-word essay in response to a randomized prompt. Students may only attempt the exam one time, once it has opened/started students may not go back or return to the exam at any later time. The results of this essay will determine placement in either COMP 1000 or COMP 1500. Please note, no feedback will be provided and the score will be final. Once the score is posted, set up an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss your class schedule. 

Steps of the Composition Challenge:

1. Meet with your Academic Advisor, your advisor will send the TTC an approval form letting us know you are ready to complete the challenge essay
2. Call to set up an appointment with Testing Services
3. At your appointment time, you will be enrolled in the Composition Challenge Exam within Canvas
4. Make sure you are in a quiet area to complete your timed essay and have your N Number ready for the start of the exam
5. Once your score is posted, meet with your academic advisor to discuss your class schedule (A score of 0 means you have placed into COMP 1000, a score of 1 means you have placed into COMP 1500)