Students who submitted TOEFL or other English-language proficiency test scores (both domestic and international students) as part of their applications for admission are required to take the online Multilingual Writer Placement before taking any CAS WR classes. Students who are not required to take the placement will begin the writing sequence with WR 120.

Students who take the Writing Placement will be placed into WR 111, WR 112, or WR 120.

Transfer students who have approved transfer credit for CAS WR 13* (equivalent to WR 120) and/or CAS WR 16* (equivalent to WR 151, WR 152, or WR 153) are NOT required to take the placement. They may still desire to do so, however: the writing placement results, along with transfer course equivalencies, and a conversation with your advisor, can be useful to determine which writing courses you will need to complete your requirements.

We recognize that there may be some students who did not submit TOEFL or equivalent test scores but whose primary language is not English. Those students are not required to take the placement, but they are welcome to do so in order to get recommended class level placements.

For answers to other commonly asked questions about writing placement, please see the Placement FAQs.

Placement Availability

We strongly encourage you to complete the placement as early as possible so that you have the most class registration options. You do not need to sign up for the placement in advance. You will need to create a BU email account before you take the placement.

  • Session 1: May 31-June 6, 2023
  • Session 2: June 29-July 5, 2023
  • Session 3: July 26-August 1, 2023
  • Session 4: August 21-29, 2023

Placement for Summer Term Students

  • For current and future Boston University students taking summer courses: BU students who are required to take the placement must do so before taking any summer WR course. We strongly recommend taking the placement before Summer Term begins. Students may need to change their WR class after receiving their placement results if their registration does not match their placement.
  • For visiting students taking Summer Term courses: Visiting ELL students are not required to take the placement, though they are welcome to take it to determine the class level that may be best for them. Visiting students may want to consider taking a special WR 120 ELL section if seats are available and they feel they would benefit from extra help with common ELL writing issues from an instructor who has experience working with multilingual students.

How to Take the Placement

We recommend using Firefox as your web browser. You will need a stable Internet connection. You will need your Boston University user name and password to log in. Please make sure you have at least 45 minutes to take the placement.

  1. Check the Placement Availability section above to find out when you can take it. You can take the placement any day or time during a session. We recommend you don’t wait until the last few days. If you encounter a problem, it may take time to fix it.
  2. Set up your BU email as far before the placement session as possible to avoid log in problems. After you create your BU account, you may have to wait a few business days before you are able to access the placement. It takes IT some time to update student access to Blackboard, where the placement is located.
  3. When you are ready to take the placement, go to https://learn.bu.edu/ during a placement session.
  4. Log in to Blackboard using your BU user name (the part of your BU email before @bu.edu) and your BU password. Do not share this password with anyone else.
  5. On the right side of your screen, find the section that says “Courses where you are: Student.” A course called “Multilingual Writer Placement – Summer 2023” should appear there. Click on it and follow the instructions.

If you have any technical problems, please submit a Placement Help Form.

After the Placement

If you are required to take the placement, you are not allowed to register for any CAS WR classes until you take it and receive your recommended placement level. You will receive your recommended level immediately upon completion of the online placement. We will also send your placement to your BU college’s advising office at the end of the placement session.

You will be placed into WR 111, WR 112, or WR 120. The Writing Program recommends that you register for a WR class that matches your placement level. Your advisor can help you if you need assistance. Read more about how to make sense of your recommended placement, and about the differences among these courses, on our Placement FAQ page.

Zoom Consultations

Students who have questions or concerns about their placement are encouraged to schedule an optional, 15-minute Zoom consultation with a Writing Program faculty member. Consultations will be available 9-11 am and 7-9 pm Eastern Standard Time on the following dates, and you may sign up for a consultation using the link below:

Note that these consultations are optional. Please only sign up for a slot if you have already completed the Multilingual Writer Placement through Blackboard and you would like to further discuss which WR class you should enroll in. Note that if you do not have any questions, you may simply register for a WR class without signing up for a consultation.

If you have questions or concerns about your placement, you may also submit a Placement Help Form. The Director of ELL will review your form and consider the additional information.