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The Wheelock Literacy and Communication Exam (WLCE)

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The Wheelock Literacy and Communication Exam (WLCE) is a test that measures the reading and writing skills necessary for college and career success, and is part of a college-wide commitment to help every student write clearly and effectively. The exam consists of five sections. Once a student passes a particular section, the student has completed that section and does not need to ever take it again; once a student has passed all five sections, the student has met the College’s WLCE requirement. The five sections are Spelling, Reading Comprehension, Grammar & Mechanics, Summary, and Essay.

Completing the WLCE is a pre-requisite to many pre-practicum and practicum courses at Wheelock, and is also a requirement for graduation from the College. Students should make every effort to complete the WLCE requirement by the end of their sophomore years.

The timeline for taking (and, if necessary, retaking) the various sections depends upon whether the student enters Wheelock as a first-year or transfers into the College. First-year students begin preparing for and taking the WLCE in their English 110 and English 111 courses, while transfer students are typically placed into Reading and Writing Seminars to help prepare them for the WLCE and take the exam for the first time during mid-term of their first semester at the College.

The WLCE is given in open administrations twice each semester – at mid-term and again during finals week. Students also take the WLCE as part of English 110/111 and during RWS tutorial at times determined by the tutor.

Download the Study Guide and Answer Key, both are in .pdf format.

For more information on the various sections of the WLCE, use the links below.

Spelling . Reading Comprehension . Grammar & Mechanics . Summary . Essay

Instructions for the WLCE Spelling Section:

You will be given fifteen words, most of which are misspelled. Correct misspelled words by writing the correct spelling in the space provided beside the word. Write “C” or “correct” beside any correctly spelled words. Make sure your writing is legible. Note that leaving a blank space beside a word indicates that you cannot determine whether the word is correct, and your response will be scored as wrong.

Passing score is 11 out of 15.

Instructions for the WLCE Reading Comprehension Section:

You will be presented with two passages accompanied by fifteen questions about their content. Circle the letter of the best answer to each question from among the four choices given. You should answer all questions solely on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Passing score is 11 out of 15.

Instructions for the WLCE Grammar & Mechanics Section:

This section consists of three subsections. The instructions for each of the subsections are as follows:

Sentence Construction - You are given ten sentences. All but one sentence are grammatically incorrect, though no sentence will have more than two errors. Re-write each sentence in the space under the sentence so that all errors are corrected. You may need to add, change, or reposition words, but do not simply eliminate whole phrases or clauses to avoid the problem. Write “correct” under the one sentence that is grammatically correct. Many sentences contain two errors.

Punctuation & Capitalization - Of the ten sentences in this subsection, all but one contain errors of capitalization or punctuation (missing or incorrect capitalization, missing or unnecessary comma, quotation marks, question mark, apostrophe). Mark the appropriate changes. Do not rewrite the sentence to avoid the problem. Write “correct” under the one sentence that is punctuated and capitalized correctly. Many sentences contain two errors.

Diction and Vocabulary – This subsection has three parts. In the first part, choose the correct word from two frequently confused words. In the second part, define each of the three words and identify each word’s part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb). In the third part, define the three terms that describe grammatical features or faults. When writing definitions, using the word or term in a sentence is not sufficient. Your definitions should clearly demonstrate your understanding of the word’s or term’s meaning.

Passing score is 37 out of 50 possible points.

Each year, we create a list of the vocabulary words, grammar terms, and frequently confused words (homonyms) that might appear on that year’s WLCE Grammar & Mechanics sections. Please email rwilliams@wheelock.edu for a copy of WLCE Items, 2006.

Instructions for the WLCE Summary Section:

You will be given a “Summary Passage” and will write a summary of it. Use the following guidelines when composing your summary:

Your summary should be about 1/2 (and no more than 2/3) the length of the original passage.

• Your summary should focus on the main ideas of the original—the author’s thesis and main supporting arguments or evidence. Do not be distracted by examples, unless they are crucial to understanding the argument.
• Do not include your response to the passage.
• Use, but do not feel constrained by, the structure of the original in organizing your summary. Your summary should be well-planned, with logical transitions between sentences and paragraphs.
• The summary should be in YOUR OWN WORDS. Do not copy anything. Find a way to express what the author has said the way you would report it to another (words used as key terms/concepts are the exception).
• Your summary will be judged on its fidelity to the original passage, its conciseness, its organization, and its grammatical and mechanical correctness.
• The summary is scored as either pass or fail.

Instructions for the WLCE Essay Section:

You will be given a “Written Composition Topic” and will write a persuasive essay in which you take one side or the other on the issue presented. Use the following guidelines when composing your essay:

• Your essay should follow conventional structure and be at least five to seven paragraphs in length.
• Your audience is the general public.
• Your argument should persuade people who are not yet decided on the issue to agree with you. Also, your essay should not alienate the opposition; ideally, your argument should convince members of the opposition to reconsider their views.
• Successful arguments take a clear and consistent position on the issue and present that position in a thesis statement.
• Your essay needs to have an introduction and a conclusion.
• In the body of the essay, the thesis statement should be well supported with reasons and examples. Do not limit yourself to the points provided in the prompt.
• Your essay will be judged on organization, development, reasoning, use of language, and grammatical and mechanical correctness.
• The written composition is scored as either pass or fail.