Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)

The Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) is a University of California requirement. Every first-year student in the UC system must demonstrate their college-level proficiency in writing by fulfilling the ELWR. University-level writing requires students to read carefully, analyze readings with understanding, and draw conclusions about what is read. For more information, see Entry Level Writing Requirement.

Students must fulfill ELWR by the end of their third quarter of enrollment; students who do not fulfill ELWR by the end of their third quarter of enrollment face disenrollment from the university. 

Before enrolling at UC Davis, students can fulfill ELWR two ways:

  1. Earning one threshold score on one of the following exams:¹
    • 30 or better on the ACT, English Language Arts.
    • 63 or better on the ACT English exam + the ACT Reading exam.
    • 680 or better on the SAT, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
    • 3 or above on either Advanced Placement (AP) Examination in English (Language and Composition or Literature and Composition).
    • 3 or above on Advanced Placement Seminar exam.
    • 3 or above on Advanced Placement Research.
    • 5 or above on an International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level English A: Literature exam (formerly known as Higher Level English A1 exam).
    • 6 or above on an International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level English A: Literature exam (formerly known as Standard Level English A1 exam).
    • 5 or above on an International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level English A: Language and Literature exam.
    • 6 or above on an International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level English A: Language and Literature exam.
  2. Earning a passing grade in a transferable college writing course. For more information about transferable college writing courses, see Assist.org.

    NOTE: Official score reports/transcripts must be sent to UC Davis for ELWR fulfillment.

After enrolling at UC Davis, students can fulfill ELWR three ways:

  1. UC Davis Writing Placement Survey. Writing Placement Survey can be taken only once and is only available to incoming first-year undergraduate students. For more information, see Entry Level Writing Requirement.
  2. UC Davis ELWR fulfilling course. Earning a C or higher in a designated, credit-bearing writing course fulfills ELWR:
    • UWP 007, a face-to-face 4 unit writing course.
    • UWP 007Y, a hybrid 4 unit writing course with weekly in-person, synchronous meetings and asynchronous components.
    • UWP 007V, a fully online 4 unit writing course with some synchronous and asynchronous components.
    • UWP 007M, a face-to-face 4 unit writing course that offers additional academic English language development instruction and support for non-native English speakers.
    • UWP 001A, a face-to-face 2 unit writing co-course that must be taken concurrently with UWP 001, UWP 1Y, or UWP 1V.
    • ENL 003A, a face-to-face 2 unit writing co-course that must be taken concurrently with ENL 003.
    • NAS 005A, a face-to-face 2 unit writing co-course that must be taken concurrently with NAS 005.

      NOTE: Currently, P/NP grade mode is not permitted if the course is used for ELWR fulfillment.
  3. UC Online ELWR fulfilling course. Earning a C or higher in a designated, credit-bearing writing course offered by UC Online/Cross Campus Enrollment (listed below) that fulfills ELWR.
    • WR 040, a fully online 4 unit writing course offered through Cross-Campus enrollment and taught by UC Irvine.

      NOTE: Students must meet certain eligibility criteria to enroll through Cross-Campus enrollment and should check in with the advisors in their Dean's Office prior to enrollment.