Math and Foreign Language Placement Tests
Information on Math & Foreign Language Placement Tests.
Foreign Language Placement Test for First Year and Transfer Students
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages welcomes you to Assumption University. Guidelines for the foreign language placement test are as follows. Unless you have received college credit for language study at a previous institution or through an AP test, you must take the online language placement exam. If you have had previous study of French, Spanish, German, or Italian in high school, you must take the online placement exam. Even if you did not take a foreign language before or you are not sure whether you will continue with the language, you need to take the online exam now, so that the results correspond to your current language level. Taking the language placement test is not optional and cannot be replaced by consulting your advisor or an administrator. The Assumption language requirement for all students is “two courses in a new language or one course at placement level.” If you have studied a language in high school or college other than those listed above, we will place you according to the information on your transcript(s).
The placement exam takes about 20 minutes. Its purpose is to place you with other students at a similar level. In order to achieve the most appropriate placement consistent with your language level, you should complete the placement examination to the best of your ability, without the use of textbooks, dictionaries, or any other type of assistance.
Take the placement examination as soon as possible so that your advisor has a placement and can approve the appropriate course.
- After opening the link, follow the directions to register. You will be asked for your name, an Assumption University ID number, an email address and a password of your choosing.
- Select the language (Spanish, French, Italian or German). The rest of the instructions are given at the exam site.
For additional information about the exam, see the Frequently Asked Questions below.
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures reserves the right to change your placement if we believe you have not been placed at the appropriate level. Also, if you feel you have been misplaced on the basis of the placement test, you should consult with the Department. You may not place yourself into a course lower than where you tested without permission of the Department.
We recommend that you register for a foreign language course as soon as possible after taking the placement exam so that it reflects your current abilities—and before you forget the language skills you acquired in high school or college.
If you have questions not answered by the FAQ (below), please contact Professor Juan Carlos Grijalva.
Sincerely yours,
Professor Juan Carlos Grijalva
Chair, Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Assumption University
500 Salisbury Street
Worcester, MA 01609-1296
Math Placement Test for First Year and Transfer Students
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science welcomes you to Assumption University! In order to take a mathematics course at Assumption, or any other math-related course such as Statistics or Microeconomics, you must take the online placement test. Every student must take a math course to fulfill the Core Curriculum requirement.
The placement exam takes 25 minutes and times out automatically regardless of where you are in the test. Plan to take the test in one sitting without interruptions or distractions, You many use any computer, but it should have a reliable internet connections. If you lose your internet connection, you will not be able to re-enter the test. Email Beth Peterson in IT at b.peterson@assumption.edu if you encounter technical difficulties.
Remember, this is NOT a test in the normal sense; it simply places you at a level appropriate to your skills and knowledge. To achieve the most appropriate placement consistent with your level of mathematics education and ability, you should complete the placement examination to the best of your ability, without the use of textbooks, calculators, or any other type of assistance. Use pencil and paper for calculations. If you do not recognize a topic or do not know how to answer a question, just skip it. DO NOT RANDOMLY GUESS AS IT CAN LOWER OR INFLATE YOUR PLACEMENT.
At the prompt, enter your official Assumption username and password.
The rest of the instructions are given at the exam site. You will be able to view your placement results by clicking on the "Exam Results" link in the Brightspace course after taking the exam.
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science reserves the right to change your placement if we believe you have not been placed at the appropriate level. Also, if you feel you have been misplaced on the basis of the placement test, you should consult with the Department. You may not place yourself into a course lower or higher than where you tested without the permission of the Department. You will not be able to register for a math class without a placement.
We recommend that you register for a mathematics course as soon as possible after taking the placement exam so that it reflects your current abilities—and before you forget the skills you acquired in high school.
If you have questions, please contact Professor Joseph Alfano, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I have to take the Placement Exam?
Yes, in order to take a mathematics course at Assumption, you must take the Placement Exam unless you are transferring in credit for a math class from another college or university.
Why do I have to take the Placement Exam?
The test helps us to assess both the level of material you have seen and the extent to which you retained what you learned. It is important that you give an accurate portrayal of your abilities without the use of any outside assistance, including calculators. If there is a topic you do not recognize, just skip the question; don¹t guess. Placing below your appropriate level may mean you will be bored and be required to take more math classes to meet our minimum standard. Placing at too high a level may mean you will struggle to succeed.
How many times can I take the Placement Exam?
You will take the exam only once, unless asked to retake it by the Department.
How long does the Placement Exam take?
You will have 25 minutes to complete the test. The test times out automatically after 25 minutes, and your placement will be based on whatever your score is at that point. So it¹s important to set aside 25 minutes and do the exam in one sitting without distractions. You cannot pause and finish the exam later.
When should I take the exam?
You should complete the placement test as soon as possible in order to be placed into a course at an appropriate level during your advising session. You will not be able to register for a mathematics class until you have taken the Placement Exam.
How do I access the exam?
Go to the Assumption main homepage and click on “Information for Current Undergraduate Students” (top of page). The scroll down and click the link to “Brightspace.” Enter your official Assumption username and password.
When do I find out the results of the Placement Exam?
You will be able to view your placement results by clicking on the "Exam Results" link in the Brightspace course after taking the exam.
Your advisor can explain your placement and how the course fulfills requirements for the core or major.
I placed into a course that is too easy for me. What should I do?
WebAdvisor is linked with placement scores and it will allow you to register only for the course that coincides with your placement. If you placed into MAT 111, you must contact the Chair of the Department of Mathematics for permission to take any other course.
I placed into a course that is too difficult for me. What should I do?
Contact the Chair of the Department of Mathematics before registering for a course. WebAdvisor is linked with placement scores, so it will not allow you to register for a course lower than your placement.
The section of the math course I'd like to take (or that fits in my schedule) is full. What should I do?
You will probably be able to rearrange your schedule so that you can register for another section of the same course. You can also opt to be placed on the waitlist for the course. You can also opt to take math in a later semester, though sooner is definitely better.Do I receive credit for taking the Exam?
No, the Placement Exam is only for placement in the appropriate mathematics courses.
If I took the AP Calculus, should I take the Placement Exam?
Depending on your AP score and level of placement, you may decide to take the course indicated by the Placement Exam instead of accepting your AP credit. Make sure that you have your AP scores sent to the Office of the Registrar, and you can discuss your options with your advisor. -
Do I have to take the Placement Exam?
Yes, if you have studied French, Spanish, Italian or German in high school and plan to continue, you must take the Placement Exam unless you have already received college credit for language study either through an AP test or through a course at another institution. If you have taken a different language, you will be placed at an appropriate level for that language by members of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages according to your high school record.How many times can I take the Placement Exam?
You will normally take the exam only once, unless asked to retake it by the Department. If you need to resume a test due to an internet interruption, please do not click "Start exam from scratch," click “Resume.” If you take the exam but do not register for a foreign language course until several years later (which is not advisable but occasionally happens), you will be asked to retake the exam, since your language proficiency will change over time.How long does the Placement Exam take?
About 20 minutes.When should I take the exam?
As soon as possible in order to give our Department time to check your result. You should definitely take it before meeting with an advisor in order to be placed in an appropriate course. You will be asked to take it after meeting with an advisor if you don’t take it before.What do I type as my email address?
Your username is your Houndmail email address.When do I find out the results of the Placement Exam?
Immediately following the exam your score will be shown automatically. You are advised to take a screenshot showing your score in the (unlikely) event the Department of Modern and Classical Languages does not receive your score. It is also recommended you have a copy of this with you during your advising session.I didn't get my Placement Exam results. What do I do?
If you complete the exam, the score should appear at the end. You can also go back to the exam screen, enter your information EXACTLY as you did when you first took the exam, and click Resume. Your final score will show here. The Department will receive it in time for Orientation and will keep a record.What if I don't understand my placement result?
Contact the Chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages & Cultures, Dr. Juan Carlos Grijalva.
I placed into a course that is either too difficult or too easy for me. What should I do?
Contact the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures before registering for a course. WebAdvisor is linked with placement scores, so it will not allow you to register for a course that does not coincide with your placement. Changes in placement require authorization from the department and then re-entering by the Registrar’s Office.Do I need to call the Department before I register for the course that the Placement Exam indicates?
No, unless you have any questions.The section of the language course I'd like to take (or that fits in my schedule) is full. What should I do?
You will probably be able to rearrange your schedule so that you can register for another section of the same course.Do I receive credit for taking the Exam?
No, the Placement Exam is only for placement in the appropriate language courses.If I took the AP test in a foreign language, should I take the Placement Exam?
Yes. Depending on your AP score and level of placement, you may decide to take the course indicated by the Placement Exam instead of accepting your AP credit. Make sure that you have your AP scores sent to the Registrar’s Office for proper awarding of credit. We can’t award credit without official scores.
If I'm bilingual or a native speaker of Spanish, do I have to take the Placement Exam?
Yes.
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