Paine College, like many colleges across Georgia, requires students to prove their competence in written communication before they graduate. The Sophomore Proficiency Examination in English (SPEE) is the instrument used to assess those composition skills. The exam is administered twice each academic year, once during the fall semester and again during the spring semester, and students are urged to take it as soon as they become eligible. Eligible students are those who have completed English 101 and 102 with a grade of C or better. Students who have failed the SPEE on a prior attempt must also complete English 240 (SPEE Seminar) to be eligible for the exam.

The SPEE itself evaluates students’ abilities to plan, develop, organize, and write an essay and assesses their control over content, usage, style, spelling, and mechanics. During the exam, students must write a five-paragraph essay on an assigned topic under a two-hour time constraint. The essay must address the assigned topic in a well-developed, well-organized format and must conform to the rules of Standard English. All examination essays become the property of the College.


"Why do I have to take the SPEE?"

Composition Rubric with Error Rating Table

SPEE Grading
 
Frequently Asked Questions

Ideas for Success

Exam Schedule & List of Supplies Needed

Review Policy 




Questions about the exam or the SPEE program should be addressed to Ms. White-Khazrai in the Division of Humanities at (706) 821-8216 or white-khazraie@mail.paine.edu.