Borough of Manhattan Community College
Of the City University of New York
CUNY Proficiency Examination
Workshops
TASK 2
Analyzing and
Integrating Information
from Graphs and Text
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
Registering On-Line for the CPE
PANTHER – Login instructions for a test appointment
Go to the BMCC Website: http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu.
Click on PANTHER from the menu at the top.
Click on LOGIN HERE.
ENTER your student ID number (SSN). Click the ENTER button below.
Type in your PIN number (The default PIN is your birth date in the following format: DDMMYY.). Click the
ENTER button below.
From the main menu, click the button CPE Test Appointment (If this button does not appear, go to the Testing
Office, room N700.).
Select from the available test dates and times. You will receive a test appointment slip by E-mail. Be sure to print
and bring it with you to the test. If you need to change your test appointment, you can do so through PANTHER.
Be sure to download from the CUNY Portal —and start reading immediately— Reading Selection “A.” once in
the CUNY portal, go to “CPE” Materials.
Accessing your CPE Test Results
PANTHER – Login instructions for Test Results
Go to the BMCC Website: http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu
Click on PANTHER from the menu at the top.
Click on LOGIN HERE.
ENTER your student ID number (SSN). Click the ENTER button below.
Type in your PIN number (The default PIN is your birth date in the following format: DDMMYY.). Click the
ENTER button below.
From the main menu, click the button INQUIRE – Assessment Test Results.
Choose the link CPE Results and CPI Requirements. This will only tell whether you satisfied the CPE
requirements or not.
You can access your CPE Score Report through the CUNY Portal. For instructions go to
http://www.cuny.edu/ecpeinfo
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
Do’s and Don’ts for the CPE Test Administration
Do□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
Show up at least 45 minutes before the start of the test administration.
Bring a valid I.D. for admittance to the test administration.
Bring your test appointment slip.
Bring four (4) sharpened pencils with erasers and two (2) black or blue ink pens.
Bring one (1) paperback reference book- either a dictionary or a thesaurus.
Bring the Reading selection “A” with you. It will be collected at the end of the test.
Shut off all electronic devices including cell phones.
If an emergency arises, and you cannot keep your appointment, visit the Testing Office
(N700) as soon as possible to see if you can be rescheduled.
Don’t□
□
□
□
□
□
Be late for the test administration; you will not be admitted.
Forget a valid photo I.D; you will not be admitted.
Forget your test appointment slip; you will not be admitted.
Forget to bring pens and sharpened pencils with erasers.
Bring cell phones, foods, or drinks to the test session.
Attach, copy, or paste additional notes or materials to Reading Selection “A;” the additional
notes will be confiscated and you will face disciplinary charges.
□ Be disruptive, otherwise you will be removed from the test administration.
□ Bring friends or family members to the test administration with you; you will not be
admitted to the test administration.
Remember□ Allow at least 4 hours for the CUNY Proficiency Examination Session. Tests are timed, and
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
all materials are collected at the same time. If you are unable to stay for the entire period of
the test, please see the Test Administrator before the test begins.
If you need to change your appointment, go to the Testing office (N700).
Valid photo identification and a test appointment form are required for the admission to
the test.
Latecomers cannot be admitted to the test room.
You must bring a copy of Reading Selection “A” but no other papers. Reading Selection
“A” must be turned in with your test materials at the end of the session.
You are allowed one paperback reference book- either a dictionary or a thesaurus. No
electronic devices such as spellers or dictionaries are allowed.
Only the registered examinees will be allowed in the testing rooms.
If you need special accommodations for testing, please go the Office of Students with
Disabilities (N320).
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
Task 2—Analyzing and Integrating Information from Text and Graphs
(1 Hour)
Directions
On the following pages, you will see a brief reading selection and two figures (graphs, tables, charts, maps, or other
figures) on the same or a related topic. You should assume that the reading and figures came from different sources and
therefore may not be consistent with one another.
Your task is to identify the claims made in the reading selection and to evaluate whether and how relevant data in the
figures support and/or contradict these claims. You should discuss at least two claims from the reading and data from both
figures. Explain your findings on the lined pages of this test booklet.
Time Allotted
You will have one hour to read the text, examine the figures, and write your response. You may use your dictionary at any
time.
How to Prepare Your Response
You should use your time in this way:






Identify the claims in the reading selection. You may underline or mark on the reading.
Examine the data in the figures. You may take notes and/or mark on the figures.
Determine how the relevant data in the figures support and/or contradict claims in the reading.
Plan a response in which you state the claims in the reading and explain the relationship between these claims and
the relevant data in the figures. You should use the unlined page to plan your response.
Write your response on the lined pages.
Re-read your response to make sure that it will be clear to a reader.
How Your Response will be Evaluated
Your response on the lined pages will be graded on your ability to:


Identify and state accurately the claims in the reading selection; and
Explain the relationship between these claims and the relevant data in the figures with accuracy, clarity, and
completeness.
You should include at least two claims from the reading and data from both figures. Your response must be specific. Your
notes and marks on the reading or figures will NOT be graded. Your work on the unlined page will NOT be graded. Only
your work on the lined pages of the booklet will be graded.
What do the directions say that you have to do to successfully complete Task 2?
You need to:
 State at least two (2) claims (i.e., major or important points)
 Accurately, clearly and thoroughly explain the extent to which the information in each graph or
figure supports and/or contradicts those claims.
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
CUNY Proficiency Examination Task 2 Scoring Guide
Score
6
Accurately identifies two or more claims from the reading selection, and explains the
relationship of Figure 1 and 2 to these claims with accuracy, a high degree of complexity,
and insight. Examinees can demonstrate a high degree of complexity or insight by
successfully meeting the standards for a "5" AND by:
 introducing an additional claim and adequately discussing its relationship to one of the
figures; or
 explaining an additional aspect of a figure's relationship to a claim; or
 discussing the relationship between one or more figures and the reading using
perceptive analysis
5
Accurately identifies two or more claims from the reading selection and explains the
relationship of Figure 1 and Figure 2 to these claims with accuracy and a degree of
complexity. Examinees can demonstrate a degree of complexity by successfully
completing one of the following:


introducing a third claim and adequately discussing its relationship to one of the
figures
explaining an additional aspect of a figure's relationship to a claim
4
Accurately identifies two claims from the reading selection and adequately explains the
relationship of Figure 1 to one of these claims and Figure 2 to the other.
3
Accurately identifies two claims from the reading selection and adequately explains the
relationship of one claim to one figure, but the connection between the other claim and a
second figure is missing or inadequate (e.g., the connection is based on a misreading of
the figure or simply repeats the language of the claim).
2
Accurately identifies one claim from the reading selection and adequately establishes a
relationship between that claim and one or both of the figures.
1
Makes an attempt but does not accurately identify any of the claims or identifies one or
more claims without establishing an adequate connection to either of the figures.
0
Blank, completely off-topic, illegible, or written in a language other than English.
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
Task 2: Analyzing and Integrating Information from
Graphs and Text
For Task 2 you are given 3 sets of materials: a short reading and two different figures (usually
graphs or a set of graphs). You are asked to write about whether the data given in each figure supports
and/or contradicts the points made in the short reading. The three sets of materials are usually not
directly related and often come from different sources – i.e., they don’t deal with the exact same
subject so you may have to work a little harder to see the connections between the reading and each
figure.
Let’s look at Task 2 more closely:
First, you are told to read the passage. You need to identify at least two (2) points (“claims”)
made in the reading. Do not make the mistake of summarizing the whole reading; just be sure you
cover the important information.
Carefully examine the graphs. Focus on each graph individually. Look at the title of the figure:
that’s the topic of the graph. Look at the labels, which tell you the units of measurement being used
(e.g., year, in thousands, in millions, in dollars, percentage, etc.). Notice the trends and find the
extremes. Think about what each graph or set of graphs is saying.
How does the figure connect to one of the claims you have identified? Something in each figure
either supports or contradicts a claim the reading made. Sometimes the same figure contains
information that supports and contradicts a particular point, or partially supports and/or contradicts.
Repeat with the other figure and another claim.
If you cannot find a connection, perhaps you need to look again to see if you have missed a
claim that the reading makes. Does the figure relate in some way to a different point in the reading?
The directions say that you are expected to write a “response.” This means that your answer to
Task 2 does not have to be in essay form. You can simply list the claims and the information in the
figures that support your analysis.
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
Be sure that:
 You have mentioned at least two (2) claims made in the reading.
 You have written something about how each graph relates to those claims.
o Remember, you get points for correctly linking one figure to one claim and the
other figure to a different claim.
o Be sure to explain how or why a figure supports and/or contradicts the claim:
don’t just say that it does.
o Refer to specific information in the graphs as well as general trends.
o You get no points for comparing the figures to each other!
 You interpreted the graphical material correctly. Recheck labels and calculations so that
the data you use to make your points are accurate, e.g., if the y-axis is labeled “in
thousands,” and be sure you write 25,000 instead of 25. Check that you don’t mix up the
year(s) and that you are clear and accurate when you speak of percentages vs. absolute
amounts, etc.
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
CPE Task 2 Worksheet
You may find this worksheet helpful in constructing your response.
Claim 1 from the reading:
How one of the figures supports and/or contradicts Claim 1. Be sure to refer to specific information from the
figure to back up your statement(s):
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
Another claim (Claim 2) from the reading:
How the OTHER figure supports and/or contradicts Claim 2. Be sure to refer to specific information
from the figure to back up your statement(s):
Other claims and how they relate to the figures or additional aspects of how figures relate to claims (see scoring
guide):
Borough of Manhattan Community College
CPE Workshop – TASK 2
CUNY Proficiency Examination Workshops & Resources at BMCC / CUNY
See BMCC’s website for days, times, locations, and changes
□ Overview of the CPE (1 ½ hours).
□ Successful Test-Taking Strategies (1 ½ hours).
□ TASK 1 (2 hours).
□ TASK 1I (1 ½ hours).
□ GRAPHS (1 ½ hours).
□ Peer Study Sessions to discuss the actual Reading Selection “A” (2 hours).
□ CPE Blog: 24 / 7 Peer Study Sessions online to discuss the actual available through
BMCC’s CPE web page www.bmcc.cuny.edu/cpe or http://plato.bmcc.cuny.edu/wordpress.
□ Reading Lab Workshops (S500R) will demonstrate general strategies useful for the two
different types of TASK 1 readings and will use practice reading material. They will not
discuss the actual Reading Selection “A.”
o Long Reading Workshops help students understand how to handle the TASK 1
Reading Selection “A” (Advanced Reading/ Long Reading) (1 hour).
o Short Reading Workshops help students understand how to handle TASK 1 Reading
Selection “B” (Short Reading). (1 hour)
□ Special Writing Center CPE Workshops (S500W) only for students who have failed the
CPE 2 or more times.
□ CPE Video explaining in-depth all different parts of the CPE. Available at BMCC’s CPE
website, www.bmcc.cuny.edu/cpe .
□ BMCC CPE Web Page is full of additional CPE resources and practice materials
www.bmcc.cuny.edu/cpe .
□ Interactive Web Tutorial for the CPE: http://socrates.bmcc.cuny.edu/cpe .
□ CUNY CPE Web Page: http://www.cuny.edu/cpe .