What is WRIT?

WRIT is a 14-week foundational literacy course that develops students’ critical thinking, argumentation and persuasion, and writing skills, and is required by most programs at the college.* Students enrolled in a program that requires a WRIT credit are enrolled into the WRIT course by default, and the course typically appears on student timetables in the first semester. 

*Please see below for a complete list of the programs at Fanshawe that require a WRIT credit.

What is the WRIT Assessment?

An optional* one-hour assessment taken in advance of the 14-week WRIT course provides students an opportunity to place out of the course by demonstrating they can already meet or exceed the expectations of this post-secondary curriculum through the skillful implementation of the competencies taught in the course. Those who do not demonstrate in their assessment these competencies will remain in the WRIT course. 

The WRIT assessment is not mandatory or a requirement*, and foregoing or missing the assessment comes with no academic or financial penalty: if you do not complete the WRIT assessment or do not score high enough to place out, you will simply take the WRIT course to gain your WRIT credit, and your program standing and tuition fees remain the same. 

If you do choose to write the assessment, please pay careful attention to the WRIT assessment testing window dates for the term: once the assessment has officially closed, writing the assessment is no longer possible. Students who are enrolled at the college after the testing window has closed can gain access to the assessment by contacting the WRIT team at writ@fanshawec.ca.

NOTE: Students who have already taken the WRIT course without gaining the credit or have already written the assessment are ineligible: the assessment is only offered to incoming students who have not yet taken the WRIT course or the assessment in the past.

The WRIT assessment is not* a requirement; it is an opportunity. If you do not write the WRIT assessment during the testing window, you will be required to complete the course. If you choose not to write the WRIT assessment, there is no impact on your program standing or your tuition fees.

 

*Some programs do ask students to write the assessment as part of their post-admission requirements—please see your program’s post-admission requirements for further details

Writing the WRIT Assessment

Before you begin the assessment, please note that:

  • You only have ONE attempt at the assessment
  • You have 60 minutes to complete the assessment

To ensure that your assessment is evaluated well in advance of the start of term, we recommend you complete the assessment as early as possible. Please also consider carefully choosing a time and place to write the assessment so that you can focus on the assessment without any distractions.

If you are ready to complete the assessment, click on the button below for instructions: 

 

Writing the Assessment Online

Assessment information by semester 

Select your start date below for WRIT information specific to your semester:

January 2026

For students starting in January 2026, the WRIT assessment is available online from Monday, October 27 through Friday, November 21

You are free to write the assessment whenever it is convenient for you within this "testing window" of opportunity. We recommend you write the assessment as early as possible.

May 2026

For students starting in May 2026, the WRIT assessment is available online from Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 27.

You are free to write the assessment whenever it is convenient for you within this "testing window" of opportunity. We recommend you write the assessment as early as possible.

Programs requiring WRIT

Below is a list of programs that require WRIT:
 

2025/26 Academic year
Acting for Screen and Stage - ATS1
Adventure Expeditions and Interpretive Leadership - AEL2J
Animation - ANI1
Architectural Technology - ATY1
Baking and Pastry Arts Management - BPM2
Biotechnology (Co-op) - BIT1
Broadcasting - Television and Film Production - BRT3
Building Renovation Technology (Co-op) BRY1
Business - Accounting (Co-op) - BAC4
Business - Accounting - BAC2
Business - BUS1
Business - Finance (Co-op) - BFN5
Business - Finance - BFN4
Business - Human Resources - BHR1
Business - Insurance (Co-op) - BIN5
Business - Insurance - BIN3
Business - Marketing (Co-op) - BMK2
Business - Marketing - BMK1
Business - Supply Chain and Operations (Co-op) - BLS4
Business - Supply Chain and Operations - BLS3
Business (Co-op) - BUS2
Business Administration - Accounting - BAA2
Business Administration - Human Resources - BAH1
Business Administration - Leadership and Management - BAL1
Business Administration - Marketing - BAM2
Business Fundamentals - BFS2
Carpentry and Renovation Technician - CRT1
Carpentry and Renovation Techniques - CRQ1
Chemical Laboratory Technology - Science Laboratory (Co-op) - CLT1
Child and Youth Care - CYW4
Civil Engineering Technician (Co-op) - CIN1
Civil Engineering Technician - CIN2
Civil Engineering Technology (Co-op) - CEY2
Commercial Flight and Aviation Leadership-CFA1
Community Pharmacy Assistant - RPA1
Computer Programming and Analysis (Co-op) - CPA3
Computer Systems Technician - CTN2
Computer Systems Technology (Co-op) - CTY2
Construction Engineering Technician (Co-op) - CEN2
Construction Engineering Technology - Management (Co-op) - CMY3
Culinary Management - CLM9
Culinary Skills - CHF2
Cyber Security (Co-op) - CYB1
Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) - DAS3
Dental Hygiene - DHY3
Design Foundations - DFN1
Developmental Services Worker - DSW1
Doula Care Across the Lifespan - DLA2
Early Childhood Education - ECE1
Educational Support - EDS1W
Electrical Engineering Technician - ELN2
Electrical Engineering Technology (Co-op) - ELY6
Electromechanical Engineering Technician (Co-op) - EMN2
Electromechanical Engineering Technology (Co-op) - EMY1
Environmental Technology - ENT1
Event Planning (Co-op) - SEP2
Fashion Design - DFS4
Fashion Marketing and Management - FMC3
Fine Art Foundation-FAF1
Fitness and Health Promotion - FHP1
Flight Services - FLS1
Game - Design - VGD2
General Arts and Science - One Year - GAP1
GIS and Urban Planning (Co-op) - URP2
Golf and Club Management (Co-op) - GRM2
Graphic Design (Co-op) - GRD1
Green Vehicle Technician - GVN2
Hair Stylist - HAS1W
Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Tech'n (Co-op) - MHT3W
Horticulture Technician - HTN1
Human Services Foundation - HSF1
Interactive Media Design - IDP3
Interior Decorating - ITD1
Journalism - Multimedia - BRJ6
Landscape Design Technician (Co-op) - DLN1
Law Clerk (Co-op) - LCK2
Manufacturing Engineering Technician (Co-op) - MEN1
Massage Therapy (Accelerated) - MSG2
Medical Radiation Technology - MRT1
Motive Power Technician (Automotive) (Co-op) - MTA9
Motive Power Technician (Automotive) - MTA7
Motive Power Technician (Diesel) (Co-op) - MTD9
Motive Power Technician (Diesel) - MTD7
Music Industry Arts - MIA2
Nutrition and Food Service Management - FNM2
Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant - OPA1
Office Administration - Executive (Co-op) - OAE3
Office Administration - General - OAG1
Office Administration - Health Services - OAM4
PASWE'AATIGOK ANISHINAABEMOWIN LANGUAGE FOUNDATIONS - PAF1
PASWE'AATIGOK ANISHINAABEMOWIN LANGUAGE IMMERSION - PAI1
Pharmacy Technician - PTN1
Photography - PHT1
Police Foundations - PFT1
Practical Nursing - PNG5
Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees - PHS2
Pre-Media - PMD1
Professional Butchery Techniques - PBT1
Protection, Security and Investigation - PSI1
Recreation and Leisure Services - RLD2
Respiratory Therapy - RST4
Social Service Worker - SSW1
Tourism - Travel - TTC6
Veterinary Assistant - VTA1
Veterinary Technician - VTT1
Web Development and Internet Applications - IWD2
Welding and Fabrication Technician (Co-op) - WFT1 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

For more WRIT information about the assessment and a list of answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Frequently Asked Question

Contact Us

For any other WRIT inquiries, please email writ@fanshawec.ca. Please note that our team is working remotely and in-person at this time.

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