SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION
GRAMMAR, SPELLING, AND PUNCTUATION TEST (GSP)

Students must earn a passing score (70%) on the Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation test at Texas State University-San Marcos before they enroll in Mass Communication 1313 or declare their major or minor to be Mass Communication. Students may take the test only three times. Students transferring credit for Mass Communication 1313 from another institution of higher education may not take any courses for which Mass Communication 1313 is a prerequisite until they have passed the test. If you have a disability and may require an accommodation (testing accommodation, information in an alternative format, reader service), you must contact the Office of Disability Services (245.3451) prior to taking the test the first time. Verification of disability will be required.

For GSP testing times, see Testing Lab Hours.

These times are subject to change. Call the TREC at 245.2276 to verify test times. No pre-registration is required.

Bring a photo ID (Driver's license, student ID, passport). Test payment is made on the day of the test. Check or money order for $40 (non-Texas State students: $45) must be made payable to Texas State University-San Marcos. Cash in the exact amount only will be accepted. 

Results may be obtained in person only in the Journalism and Mass Communication office, Room 102, Old Main. 

This is a special test for the Texas State School of Journalism and Mass Communication. It is a separate test from other writing proficiency tests you may have taken, and other tests may not be substituted for it. 

Students are encouraged to study a grammar handbook that discusses grammar and punctuation rules and lists of frequently misspelled words. Three books that are helpful are: 

             When Words Collide by Lauren Kessler and Duncan McDonald 
             Grammar for Journalists by E.L. Callihan 
             Cliffs Verbal Review for Standardized Tests by Wm. A. Covino and Teeter Z. Orton 

Tutoring help is available from several agencies on campus: 

• Student Learning Assistance Center in the library building offers free tutoring sessions. Contact the center for tutoring hours. 
• The Writing Center in the English Department provides tutoring sessions. 
• For residence hall students, the Residence Hall Tutoring Program offers free assistance by the student tutors who have shown competence in an academic area. The schedule of sessions, which varies from hall to hall, is available at hall desks. 
• First generation college students, low income students and handicapped students may qualify for help from Special Services in the Psychology Building. The Program, funded by the Department of Education, offers a semester-long remedial program for those who qualify. 

The questions below are samples of the test format: 

1. Martha, who was elected president of the organization learned yesterday that she has been awarded an academic scholarship. 

1. "Who" should be replaced with "whom." 
2. "Learned" should be replaced with "found out." 
3. A comma should be placed after "president." 
4. A comma should be placed after "organization." 
5. The sentence is correct as written. 

2. The rate of failures are decreasing as a result of the remedial classes students are taking. 

1. A comma should be placed before "as." 
2. The first "are" should be changed to "is." 
3. "Students" should be changed to "student's." 
4. The second "are" should be changed to "is." 
5. The sentence is correct as written. 

3. Select the correctly spelled word from the list: 

1. acommodate 
2. acomodate 
3. accommodate 
4. accomodate