Tests

Placement Testing Information
for Students Attending PREP

Placement Testing Information

What is Placement Testing?

Registration in math and English courses is determined by your ACT/SAT scores.  Certain scores require a student to take developmental course(s) before enrolling in freshman-level math and English classes.  Placement tests are designed to allow individuals who feel their ACT scores do not accurately reflect their skill level the opportunity to be placed in freshman-level math and/or English courses.  These exams are administered by the ULM Testing Center.

Foreign language departmental exams are offered for students who wish to demonstrate a proficiency in French, Latin, or Spanish.  If you are placed in French, Latin, or Spanish 102 and earn a grade of A or B, you can apply for credit in French, Latin, or Spanish 101.  If you are placed in French 205, Latin 201, or Spanish 205 and earn a grade of A or B, you can apply for credit in French 101 and 102, Latin 101 and 102, or Spanish 101 and 102.  These exams are administered by the ULM Foreign Languages Department.

Scores are available on the day of the test, allowing you to select appropriate courses when scheduling classes.

Content and Review

ULM uses a computerized exam for placement in math and English courses. The math exam addresses beginning algebra concepts, and the English exam covers sentence skills.

The math test includes basic operations with fractions, basic operations with integers, percentages, basic operations with decimals, exponents, square roots, and scientific notation, averages (means, medians, and modes), ratios and proportions, multiples and factors of integers, absolute values of numbers, counting problems and simple probability, range, linear equations in one variable, substituting values into algebraic equations, setting up equations for given situations, basic operations with polynomials, factoring of polynomials, exponents and radicals, solving polynomial equations by factoring, formula manipulation and field axioms, linear inequalities in one variables.  Sample questions for the exam are available at http://act.org/compass/sample/prealg.html and http://act.org/compass/sample/algebra.html .

The English exam measures your understanding of sentence structure, how sentences are put together, and what makes a sentence complete and clear.   You will be asked to correct sentences and to find the most effective way to combine sentences.  Clarity is a key issue. Be aware of grammatical errors and wordiness.   Preparation should include a review of the following: sentence combining, comma rules, parallelisms, and subordination.  Any handbook (Bedford, Harbrace, Beacon, Wadsworth ) or high school English textbook will be useful for your review.   Sample test questions can be found at the following links: http://www.act.org/compass/sample/pdf/writing.pdf and http://www.act.org/compass/sample/write-s.html .

Eligibility

Math and English
ACT/SAT scores are used to determine placement in English and math courses.   Individuals who earned exam scores as indicated below are eligible to take the placement test for that subject.  Individuals scoring below the minimum score in math or English are required to take the appropriate developmental course.   Adult learners are automatically eligible to take the math and/or English placement exam.

ACT Math	SAT Math	Course/Test Out Eligibility
19 or above	460 or above	Math 1011
18	430-450	Math 0093/Placement Exam
17	400-420	Math 0093/Placement Exam
16	380-390	Math 0093/Placement Exam
15	350-370	Math 0093/Placement Exam
14 or below	340 or below	Math 0093

 

ACT English	SAT Verbal	Course/Test Out Eligibility
18 or above	450 or above	English 1001
17	430-440	English 0090/Placement Exam
16	410-420	English 0090/Placement Exam
15	390-400	English 0090/Placement Exam
14 or below	380 or below	English 0090

Foreign Languages
A minimum of two years of high school French, Latin, or Spanish is required to be be eligible to take the respective placement exam.

Registration

Online Registration is available. Seating is limited. Therefore, it is advisable to register for the test early.

Questions?

Contact:

For Math and English
Placement Exams

Testing Center
318-342-5336
testing@ulm.edu

For Foreign Language
Departmental Placement Exams

University of Louisiana Monroe
Foreign Language Department
(318) 342-1525
rusmith@ulm.edu

 

Register online NOW!