What is the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW)? The CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW) is a standardized writing test that measures a student’s ability to do college-level writing in English. Entering first-year students take the test to determine their placement into English composition, ESL, or developmental courses. In addition, the CATW is used to determine when students are ready to exit from developmental writing courses and move on to college-level courses. The term “standardized test” means that the test is given to all test takers in the same manner and under the same conditions; it is scored by trained readers using “standard” rules or.
