Imagine devoting all your time to obtaining a degree in communication when suddenly, you have to change majors.

You think the pressures of completing homework, studying for class tests and sitting through boring lectures is hard-try the grammar, spelling and punctuation test that only communication students are required to take.

The GSP test is composed of 50 questions designed to test students skills in grammar, spelling and punctuation. Communication students are required to pass the test with a grade of 70 or higher. Each student is allowed three chances to pass; students that do not pass are required to choose an alternative major. Most students do not pass the first time they take the test.

Not only does this test try to fool students with tricky grammar, spelling and punctuation errors, but the awkwardly structured sentences and the dreaded letter "E" answer, "The sentence is correct as written," make the test outrageously confusing.

So how can a student expect to obtain a degree in communication if they cannot pass this test?

Do not worry communication students; there is a strategy to passing this test. A majority of the students who pass memorize the answers to the practice test. If you take the practice test enough times, you should have no problem passing the actual test. The practice test and answers are available, upon appointment, in the Writing Center.

Does passing the GSP test prove that students have mastery of the tested material?

Argumentatively, this test is designed to show mastery; but if a student passes, because he or she memorizes the answers, then the test is unsuccessful in proving mastery. The test is actually testing the students' ability to retain information, not their basic knowledge of grammar, spelling and punctuation.

The student temporarily memorizes the test information and regurgitates the information back on the test. No constructive information is permanently retained and the overall purpose is defeated.

Why are communication students forced to waste their time and energy on a useless endeavor like this test? The university needs to do away with the GSP test and seek an alternative approach of testing mastery.

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