The CATW stands for CUNY Assessment Test in Writing. It is a test of written English that you need to pass in order to take regular credited English courses in college. It is used by all the colleges in the CUNY system. Once you pass the test with a score of 56 or above, your score will be in the computer and you will not need to take the test again if you later decide to transfer to a different CUNY college.
In some colleges, the CATW test is used to place you in the appropriate ESL class or Remedial class. In any case, it’s an important test and you need to do your best on it.
Back in the 1990’s, the CATW was called the CWAT (CUNY Writing Assessment Test) and this test was later replaced by the ACT writing test. The ACT was used from about 2000 until the fall of 2010, when it was replaced by the current CATW. If you are a student returning to CUNY after a long absence, you may have taken one of the other two tests. If you passed either of them in the past, you should check with the testing office to see if your scores are still on file. If you passed the ACT within the last few years, you may not need to take the CATW.