B.A.B.A.: Writing Skills Assessment
| Writing Skills Assessment Dates |
|---|
| Friday, January 29, 1:45 p.m. |
| Friday, February 19, 1:45 p.m. |
| Friday, March 5, 1:45 p.m. |
| Friday, March 19, 1:45 p.m. |
| Saturday, March 20, 9:45 a.m. |
All applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration are required to take the Writing Skills Assessment (WSA) to be considered for admission to the Milgard School of Business. The WSA must be completed by the application deadline of the quarter admission is sought. The test, which is used at the three campuses of the University of Washington, assesses communication and critical thinking skills. The ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely in writing is a key skill for success in college and your career.
Key Information
You will be notified of your test results with your admission decision letter.
Submit your registration electronically and pay in one of the following ways:
- Pay online with a Visa/MasterCard via PayPal on the registration confirmation page (preferred method)
- Pay in advance with cash, check, debit card or credit card at the UW Tacoma cashier in MAT 354N (retain your receipt and bring on the test day)
- Bring a check or money order only on the day of the exam
Please note: CASH and Credit/debit cards are not accepted at the exam, and the cashier is not open on Saturday.
If there is no record of payment, your exam will not be scored.
Test Format
The test lasts for 90 minutes. During that time you are required to plan and write two essays: one based on a statement (called the "position task") and one based on a short workplace scenario (called the "persuasion task"). No special business knowledge is required or expected for either writing task.
The test is given in a proctored setting in which no dictionaries or calculators are allowed. Communication specialists score each of the essays on a six-point scale, and the results are averaged. Evaluation is based on the degree to which each essay:
- addresses the writing task effectively and insightfully, and where appropriate, provides a well-reasoned solution that displays analysis of data (numerical or verbal);
- is well organized, with a clear overall strategy;
- is fully developed, with pertinent support for ideas presented;
- is appropriate in style and tone for the intended reader; and
- displays consistent facility with written English (grammar, syntax, vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling).
Preparing for the Test
For additional information on the WSA and suggestions for preparing for the test see the WSA Information Sheet 
.
Online Writing Skills Assessment Workshop (offered by the Foster School of Business - UW Seattle)
Schedule and Voiding Policy
The WSA test dates for future quarter admission are available on the registration page. The test can be taken only once per application period.
Students may void their WSA by choosing not to have the test scored and registering to take it again. The details of the Void Policy are as follows:
- Students will be allowed to void the WSA only once per academic year.
- Students may NOT void only one part of the two-part test, voiding will apply to both the Persuasion and Position tasks.
- Once the test is voided, it will not be scored and cannot be used for admission purposes.
- Students who void their first test will NOT receive a refund and will have to pay the full registration fee again for their next test.
- Students will have to declare their intent to void the test before they depart the room in which the test was proctored. They can do so at the time the tests are collected and not before.
Cost and Payment
| Writing Skills Assessment Contact |
|---|
| If you have questions about the WSA, please e-mail uwtwsa@u.washington.edu |
There is a NON-REFUNDABLE $35.00 fee to register for the test.
Submit your registration electronically and pay in one of the following ways:
- Pay online with a Visa/MasterCard via PayPal on the registration confirmation page (preferred method)
- Pay in advance with cash, check, debit card or credit card at the UW Tacoma cashier in MAT 354N (retain your receipt and bring on the test day)
- Bring a check or money order only on the day of the exam
Please note: CASH and Credit/debit cards are not accepted at the exam, and the cashier is not open on Saturday.
If there is no record of payment, your exam will not be scored.
You may send a check or money order in advance, payable to UW Tacoma, to the following address:
- Milgard School of Business
- ATTN: WSA Registration
- 1900 Commerce Street, Box 358420
- Tacoma, WA 98402-3100
Please include your name and the confirmed testing session date on your check or money order.
We will e-mail you a receipt when we receive your $35.00 payment. We cannot guarantee your registration if you have not paid in advance. If you pay in advance but decide not to attend the assessment, the assessment fee will not be refunded.
Disability Accommodations
If you require disability accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services at 253-692-4501 or
e-mail dssuwt@u.washington.edu, preferably at least 10 days in advance of the test date. Please be aware that you should be prepared to provide documentation of your disability in order to receive academic or testing accommodations.
Registration
If you are registering for a test date on our campus, please register online here.
If you are registering for a test date on either the Seattle or Bothell campus, please contact the Business School on that campus directly about registering.
If you are registering for an Out-Of-State test, please fill out the Registration Form and send with the appropriate fee to the address listed on the form.
Forms and Examples
- Out-of-State WSA Registration Form
- WSA Information Sheet (describes the WSA and gives examples)
