The CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW) is a standardized writing test that measures a student’s ability to do college-level writing in English. The purpose of the test is to assess students’ reading, thinking, and writing skills to determine if they are consistent with the instructional goals of college-level writing courses, and to assess students’ readiness for introductory college courses. In the test, students are required to read, understand, and respond to a passage of 250-300 words. The CATW is designed to test a student’s ability to think and write in English, similar to the way s/he will be asked to think and write throughout her/his college career. It consists of a reading passage (the text) and writing instructions. Students must read the passage and instructions and then write an essay responding to the passage while following the instructions. Students have 90 minutes to complete the exam. They may bring a non-electronic dictionary to the test, bilingual if preferred.
A sample of the writing assignment (along with the scoring guide and sample papers for each score point) and some tips on taking the CAT in Writing is included in the Student Handbook prepared by CUNY faculty.
Students must achieve a total score of 56 or more to demonstrate proficiency. Students who have not passed the CATW can take English 099 to prepare for the test. At the end of English 099 students take the CATW.