Placement Assessments
Students entering the University arrive with varying levels of competence in reading, writing, math, chemistry, and physics. It is important that all students entering the University begin taking courses at a level that is appropriate for their continued success. High school grades cannot be used to determine placement for college-level courses. Students may refer to the information below to determine if they should take any placement assessments.
Register for an Exam.Reading Placement Test
Students may need to take the reading placement test to be placed in ENG 101. Students do not need to take the reading placement test if they meet any of the criteria listed below.
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section Score of 480 or above
- ACT ELA (English Language Arts) score of 20 or above
- ACT Reading score of 22 or above
- GED Reasoning Through Language Arts score of 165 or above
- HiSET Language Arts-Reading score of 15 or above
- Minimum grade of C in AD 082, AD 116, ENG 101, or ENG 102
Students who do not meet any of the criteria listed above should take the reading placement test.
Writing Placement Test
Students may also need to take the writing placement test to be placed in ENG 101. Students do not need to take the writing placement test if they meet any of the criteria listed below.
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section Score of 480 or above
- ACT ELA (English Language Arts) score of 20 or above
- ACT English score of 18 or above
- GED Reasoning Through Language Arts score of 165 or above
- HiSET Language Arts-Writing score of 15 or above with Essay score of 4 or above
- Minimum grade of C in AD 090, AD 092, ENG 101, or ENG 102
Students who do not meet any of the criteria listed above should take the writing placement test.
Prepare for the Reading and/or Writing Placement Test(s)
The reading and writing placement tests are untimed, multiple-choice, computer-adaptive assessments. The reading test consists of 20 questions, and the writing test consists of 25 questions.
Students may register to take the reading and/or writing placement test(s) at SIUE or request to take the test(s) from another location. There is no limit to the number of times students may take the reading and/or writing placement test(s). However, if students would like to retake the test(s), they must wait at least one month between test sessions and pay the $20 placement retest fee per session. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Math Placement
Students who plan to major in any of the areas listed below may need to take the math placement assessment to be placed in the initial math course required by their program of study. Students interested in these majors do not need to take the math placement assessment if they have earned credit for college-level math courses.
- Accountancy
- Biological Sciences
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Construction Management
- Economics
- Elementary Education
- Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Exercise Science
- Geography
- Mathematical Studies
- Pharmacy
- Physics
Math Placement (Request Access to Program)
Chemistry Readiness Exam
Students who plan to major in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental sciences, exercise science, pharmacy, or physics may need to take the Chemistry Readiness Exam to be placed in CHEM 121A or CHEM 131. Students interested in these majors do not need to take the Chemistry Readiness Exam if they meet any of the criteria listed below.
- Minimum grades of C in CHEM 113 AND (MATH 120E or MATH 120)
- Minimum grade of C in MATH 125, MATH 145, or MATH 150
Students may use their non-programmable, non-graphing, scientific calculator to help them answer 60 multiple-choice questions in 55 minutes. Students may take this paper-based exam a maximum of two times with at least one month between tests.
Register for the Chemistry Readiness Exam
University Physics Placement Examination
Students who plan to major in computer science, construction management, or engineering may need to take the University Physics Placement Examination to be placed in PHYS 141. Students interested in these majors do not need to take the University Physics Placement Examination if they meet any of the criteria listed below.
- ACT Math score of 28 or above (must submit official ACT score report)
- SAT Math Test Score of 32.5 or above (must submit official SAT score report)
- Minimum grades of C in PHYS 140 AND MATH 150
Students may use their non-programmable, non-graphing, scientific calculator (no cell phone) to help them answer 15 multiple-choice questions in 50 minutes. Students may only take this paper-based exam one time.
