Format of the CPE
The total time for the CPE is three hours. The examination consists of two tasks:
Task I - Analytical Reading and Writing - Two hours
You will be given two reading selections, a six to eight page selection to be studied in advance and a one and a half page selection at the time of testing. You must write a focused essay, drawing a relationship between specified elements of the two reading selections and extending it, as directed, to your own experience, understanding, or ideas.Task II - Analyzing and Integrating Information from Graphs and Text - One hour
You will be given a set of materials (two charts or graphs and a brief reading passage) on the same or similar topics. These materials are not released prior to the testing session. You will be asked to state the main claim of the reading selection and discuss the extent to which the data in the charts support or challenge that claim.
