An increasing number of U.S. universities require students to pass a writing
proficiency examination before receiving undergraduate degrees. It is often
assumed that these exams present special problems for nonnative speakers
of English (NNSs). Johns (1991) reported on a case study of one student’s
difficulties with a writing proficiency exam. The student performed well in
other courses but failed the required writing exam twice-and had not
passed it prior to publication of the study. I