ELPE - Frequently Asked Questions

Wednesday, November 18, 2015
by Brandon Petryna

At the beginning of the Fall 2015 term, many first year students wrote the English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE). The results are now in! If you have not received an email in your UWaterloo email drop box, please contact elpp@uwaterloo.ca. Here are some answers to questions you may have:

Can I rewrite the ELPE?

No. The ELPE can only be written once. If your ELPE attempt was unsuccessful, you must enroll in a faculty specified course as soon as possible. Our faculty requirements and results page can link you to these specified courses.

How were the exams evaluated?

Evaluation of the ELPE is based on several components including: organization, clarity, paragraph and sentence structure, grammar, and mechanics. Trained markers use the ELPE rubric (PDF) to evaluate the essays. Multiple markers review each individual exam to ensure ongoing consistency and fair grading.

What should I do now?

If you are concerned about your academic plan or don’t know how to fit a new course into your schedule, make arrangements with your academic advisor to review your options. You may also book an appointment with the Writing Centre for access to resources and workshops to help improve your writing and project development skills.

Who can I contact with further questions?

Your first contact should be your academic advisor. They know what your academic requirements are and can help you design an academic plan to fit any language courses into your undergraduate schedule.