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The CUNY Proficiency Examination:
Fact Sheet
The CUNY Proficiency Examination (CPE) is a required exam for all undergraduate students at the college pursuing a bachelor's degree.
- You must take the CPE for the first time in the semester after you have completed 45 credits.
- If you are a new transfer student with more than 45 credits, you will take the exam in your first semester at Hunter.
- You must be in good academic standing—students whose GPA is below 2.0 may not take the exam.
- You may take the CPE three times and may appeal for a fourth attempt if necessary.
- If you miss a required CPE administration, you will forfeit one of your opportunities to take the exam.
Overview: The CUNY Proficiency Examination requires students to demonstrate their competence in aspects of academic literacy that the CUNY faculty considers important for later success. Specifically, the CPE tests some of the skills that you have developed through the course work that you have taken: reading and interpreting textbooks and material of general interest; organizing and presenting your ideas about what you have read and connecting those ideas to other information or concepts; writing clearly and effectively for an audience; and interpreting and evaluating material presented in charts and graphs.
Format of the CPE: The exam consists of two tasks for which a total of three hours is allotted:
Task 1: Analytical Reading and Writing (2 hrs). You will be given two reading selections: an 8 to 9-page selection to be studied in advance and a 1 to 1½-page selection at the test. You will be asked to write a focused essay, drawing a relationship between specified elements of the two reading selections and extending it, as directed, to your own experience, understanding, or ideas.
Task 2: Analyzing and Integrating Material from Graphs and Text (1 hr). At the exam, you will be given a set of materials (two charts or graphs and a brief reading passage) on the same or similar topics. These materials are not released prior to the testing session. You will be asked to identify and state accurately the claims in the reading selection and to explain the relationship between these claims and the relevant data in the figures with accuracy, clarity, and completeness.
Preparation and Advising: Supplemental assistance in preparing for the CPE as well as CPE advisement is offered at the Hunter College Reading/Writing Center, Room 416 Thomas Hunter. For additional information, go to the CPE website at http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu.
Exemptions: Students who have earned a bachelor's degree or a higher degree from an accredited program are exempted from CPE requirements. In order to be exempted, you must be registered as an Undergraduate Second Degree student. For confirmation of your student status, see a counselor/advisor in Student Services, Room 1103 East Building.
CPE Registration: Students required to take the CPE will be notified by the Testing Center with information concerning registration.
- To register on-line, go to http://admissions.hunter.cuny.edu/testing.htm, then select "CPE" and follow instructions.
- If you need assistance with registration, go to the Hunter College Testing Center, Room 150 North.
- Students with disabilities who require special accommodations must provide the Testing Center with documentation from the Office for Access and Accommodations, Room 1124 East.
For additional information:
Dr. Steven Serafin
CPE Liaison
Hunter College Reading/Writing Center
Room 416 Thomas Hunter
772-4211/4212
Yvonne Rubie
Coordinator of Testing
Hunter College Testing Center
Room 150 North
772-4868/5271
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