A cut score validity analysis for a pretest writing prompt and the SAT Verbal and Math assessments was performed for academic writing course placement. This study was carried out as part of a broader program of assessment aimed at understanding the impact of the writing course and eventually set the baseline for assessing the impact of 'writing across the curriculum' initiatives on student learning. The discussion and report will review pertinent findings for the cut score validity analyses and discuss issues related to the scope of methods and presentation of findings. In particular, there are many guides in the literature on undertaking a cut-score analysis and the current study included a myriad of methods to inform its research. Appended is a scoring guide.