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Cal Poly Pomona

Students: GWT Student Guide Resources

Submitting the Petition for the GWT Waiver

Note: You are eligible to apply for a GWT waiver after taking the exam three times, and the work must be done within three quarters of the last attempt. If some of your six essays or revisions are brought into the Writing Center after your most recent attempt of the GWT, they won't count toward qualifying for the waiver until you take the GWT again. Therefore, it is best to start working on the practice essays after the second attempt, and to finish all of the essays before you take the test for the last time. The deadline to register for the GWT comes fairly early in the quarter, so remember to register for the exam on time.

If you are granted a GWT waiver a notice will be put on your transcripts that says "Writing Competency Not Certified, Special Waiver Granted."

  1. Write the six practice essays and go over them with Writing Center Tutors. It is best to do one or two essays a week. Don’t wait until the last week before the exam!


  2. Take the GWT for the third time. Do the best you can, and then wait for the results.


  3. If you don’t pass, go to the Testing Office and pick up a GWT appeal form. Fill out the form.


  4. In addition to the form, you must write a cover letter explaining why the committee should grant you the waiver. Write this statement in standard business letter format. In the letter you should:


    1. Explain who you are, including your background, your major, and your career goals.


    2. Describe all the steps you have taken to improve your English and your writing skills. Describe your GWT experiences and explain why you think the test has been so difficult for you. Try to convince the committee that you have made a serious effort to improve.


    3. Explain why you have decided to ask for a waiver at this time.

    This letter should be typed and proofread carefully. You may want to meet with a tutor to proofread the letter.

  5. Call the Writing Center to make an appointment to see the Writing Center Director. Bring your cover letter and all of your essays to this meeting. The Director will run a report of your Writing Center visits and write a letter to the committee verifying the work you have done.


  6. Take the completed packet to the Testing Office before the submission deadline for that particular quarter (usually the Friday of the tenth week). The GWT appeals committee meets once a quarter. You will receive a letter from the Office of Academic Programs informing you of the committee’s decision in your case. If the waiver is not granted, you can do some more practice essays, rewrite your cover letter, retake the test, and, if you don’t pass, resubmit the packet.