Overview

Note: This document is primarily intended to provide information about the CIL requirement and exam to students preparing to earn the Associate of Arts degree. This document will be updated as new or updated information becomes available.

AA Degree Requirement

Information technologies have become an essential part of our daily lives. In order to participate fully and effectively in today’s society, students need to develop basic competencies in using computers to locate, manage, and communicate information. For this reason, it is now a requirement for the AA degree for students to successfully complete the college’s Computer and Information Literacy (CIL) exam. This requirement applies to students who began attending Windward Community College during the fall 03 semester or later, or students returning to WCC after a break of at least one regular semester (not counting the summer semester).

The Scope of the CIL Exam

The complete CIL exam consists of four components. By taking the exam, you will demonstrate basic knowledge and skills in:

1. File management and word processing, and
2. Email, and
3. Information literacy, and
4. Spreadsheet

Gaining Computer and Information Literacy Skills

You may gain the required skills in a variety of ways; including credit courses, non-credit courses, workshops, and by self-directed learning. While the college will continue to identify and make available a variety of means for students to acquire the skills needed to pass the CIL exam, it is ultimately each student’s responsibility to ensure he or she has prepared for the exam.

Credit Courses

Several existing credit courses will, to one degree or another, give you experience and training in the skill areas covered by the CIL exam. Check the Learning Resources page for more information.

Non-Credit Courses

Students may opt to take non-credit courses that focus on the CIL skills. Several appropriate workshops are offered by OCET each semester, and students may register for those courses at half price. Check the Learning Resources page for more information.

Workshops

Each semester, free workshops will be given to help students prepare for specific components of the exam. Check the Workshops page for more information.

Self-Directed Learning

Numerous resources can help you learn CIL skills on your own. The WCC Library has instructional CD-ROMs, videos and books for students to use, and free tutorials are available online. Check the Learning Resources page for more information.

Preparing for the Exam

To prepare for the exam, we recommend reviewing the lists of tested skills, exam samples, and scoring rubrics for each component of the exam. These are meant to let you know exactly what skills you need and what to expect on the exam so you can prepare accordingly. Go to the Exam Samples page for these study tools.

Passing Scores

You will need a minimum score of 70 points out of 100 (70%, or a "C") to pass each component of the CIL exam. Detailed scoring rubrics can be accessed from the Test Samples Page. If you get a score of less than 70 percent on a component, you'll need to retake that component. Once you've successfully completed all four components, a record of completion will be added to your student file.

Deadlines for Completion

You are strongly advised to complete the CIL exam no later than the semester before you intend to graduate. This will allow the you time enough to gain the skills you need if you fail one or more of the exam's components.

You will need to successfully complete the CIL exam by the last testing date of the semester in which you intend to graduate.

Exam Schedule

The CIL Exam will be given in The Learning Center (TLC) on the first and third Wednesdays and Thursdays of each month. The TLC is open from 8 AM to 8 PM, and you may sign up to take one or more components during your scheduled testing day. Students may elect to complete all four components of the exam, or may choose to complete fewer components.

A special makeup exam day will be offered during finals week of each semester. Priority for signing up for a makeup exam during finals week will be given to those scheduled to graduate at the end of the current semester.

Registering for the Exam

You need to register at least three business days before a scheduled exam. You may register by visiting or calling The Learning Center at 235-7498.

If you have questions about the exam, contact either Bryan Shon at 236-9243 or bshon@hawaii.edu, or Tara Severns at 235-7440 or severns@hawaii.edu.

Priority for registration will be given to students graduating at the end of the current semester.

Taking the Exam

You will need to arrive at The Learning Center with a picture ID a few minutes before your scheduled starting time. Only students pre-registered for the exam with positive identification will be allowed to take it.

You may take the whole exam, or may complete just the component or components you’re ready for. You may also retake components you previously did not pass.

You'll have following amounts of time to complete each component:

Note: If you complete a component before the end of the allotted time, you may immediately begin work on another component.

Retakes

If you fail to pass one or more component of the exam, you will need to retake only the component(s) you've failed. You will receive feedback about the component(s) of the exam you did not pass, with suggestions about how to get the needed skills in preparation for the retake. You can schedule a retake for the next month’s scheduled exam period. A makeup exam day will also be scheduled for finals week. Only retakes will be scheduled on the makeup day. Students expecting to graduate at the end of the current semester will be given priority when registering to retake a component on the makeup day.

You may register to retake a failed component during the testing periods the following month. An exception is made for students who take the exam during the last regularly scheduled exam period of the semester. They may sign up for a retake during finals week, with priority sign-ups going to those who are scheduled to graduate that semester.

While there is no limit to the number of times you may retake a component of the exam, you are expected to use the practice modules and learning resources to prepare to pass.

Fees

There are no fees to take the exam.

Distance Education Students

Students earning the Associate of Arts Degree through distance education courses should contact either Bryan Shon at 236-9243 or bshon@hawaii.edu, or Tara Severns at 235-7440 or severns@hawaii.edu at least six weeks in advance to arrange to have the exam proctored or to take the exam online. Distance Education students may also choose to take the exam on campus.

Disability Accommodation

Students who need disability accommodation to take the Exam will need to notify either Bryan Shon at 236-9243 or bshon@hawaii.edu, or Tara Severns at 235-7440 or severns@hawaii.edu at least six weeks in advance.

Course Equivalencies

Though there are credit courses available which may teach you the skills you need to pass the CIL exam, completion of one or more of these courses does not exempt you from the CIL exam requirement.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism, will not be tolerated. As defined in the WCC College Catalog, cheating “includes but is not limited to giving unauthorized help during an examination, obtaining unauthorized information about an examination before it is administered, using inappropriate sources of information during an examination, altering answers after an examination has been submitted, falsifying any official University record, and misrepresenting the facts in order to obtain exemptions from course requirements.” Plagiarism, “includes, but is not limited to submitting any document to satisfy an academic requirement that has been copied in whole or part from another individual’s work without identifying that individual; neglecting to identify as a quotation a documented idea that has not been assimilated into the students style, or paraphrasing a passage so closely that the reader is mislead as to the source.”

Misconduct will be addressed as per the procedures for Handling Impermissible Behavior, the Academic Grievance Procedures, and in CCCM No. 2210 UH Community College Procedure, copies of which are available at the WCC Student Services Office (Hale ‘Ākoakoa).