GWRIT 103 Waiver Exam

As you prepare to attend Transfer Orientation and register for your first semester of classes, we know that you will need to make informed decisions about which classes to take. One General Education requirement that all JMU students must fulfill is GWRIT 103, Critical Reading and Writing. This course emphasizes the process of constructing a focused, logical, coherent, well-supported thesis, or point of view using research and formal documentation. You can complete this requirement by transfer credit, taking the course here at JMU, or by waiver exam. A Virginia Community College System degree that waives your General Education courses also waives the GWRIT 103 requirement.

The Waiver Exam has two parts. Part I is a usage and grammar exam that you can take online. Part II requires you to write an essay in response to readings and a prompt.

As college-level writing requires training and practice, JMU encourages you to take GWRIT 103. You should only consider taking the Waiver Exam if you are not receiving transfer credit for the course and you believe you already possess college-level writing skills. Please use the following two questions to seriously assess your current  WRITING ability:

1.   Am I able to produce writing that is virtually error free, that demonstrates a logical reasoning process, and that incorporates and documents research?

2.   Did I produce a significant amount (3-5 pages per week) of revised writing at a college or university level in the last three years?

If you answered "No" to either of the above questions, you should take GWRIT 103 during your first academic year at JMU. If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, then you should consider taking the GWRIT 103 Waiver Exam.

Click here to "Decline Waiver Exam" or  Click here to "Proceed to Waiver Exam"

Questions? Contact the General Education program at gened@jmu.edu or (540) 568-2852.