Untitled Document

The CUNY Proficiency Exam is a test of your reading and writing skills. Hence, every student who enters CUNY or is now currently enrolled must take and pass the CPE between his 45th and 60th credit. For the most part, the CPE measures the level of proficiency that you have attained after two years of college. The CPE consists of two separate parts: Task I and Task II. You will have two hours to complete the first task and one hour to complete the second. The first task tests your ability to reconstruct, analyze (draw relationships), and apply. The second task tests your ability to interpret visual information presented in graphs, maps, or charts in light of given written claims. You will have to construct an essay in answer to each part of the exam.

Task I
Analytical Reading and Writing

Preparation for the Long Reading
When you sign up to take the exam (in the Testing Office, Room 3258N), you should receive the long reading selection for Task I. It is imperative that you read and reread this selection in order to have a thorough understanding of the material.

Know what the main point of the reading is and what subsequent points are as well. Reading difficult passages aloud can add to your level of concentration and enhance comprehension.
Read with a pen or pencil in hand, and perhaps a highlighter. Look for the thesis statement, important ideas, examples, etc. Make notes in the margins.
Look up the definitions of all words that you do not know.
Reread again and again until you have a thorough understanding of the text.
Study the text of the long reading as you would study a chapter of a text that you will be tested on. Write a brief summary of the essay, and then write brief summaries of each of the main points in order to test your knowledge. Pick out important sentences as brief and accurate quotations. Know what the author says on every page of the reading selection.
In short, know the long reading for Task I inside and out.
Attend the CPE Preparation and Skills Workshops sponsored by the Writing Center as many times as you wish to familiarize yourself with the test format.
Make appointments in the Writing Center to write practice exams on both tasks and to hone your reconstructive, analytical, and applicative skills on the materials we have available for such purpose.