All students must pass an approved mathematics course and an approved English composition course to graduate. The placement exams are designed to help you fulfill these requirements by identifying the courses that best match your skills.

Mathematics and writing placement exams are offered during Fall Alive!

Special needs

Persons needing special accommodations for the math or writing placement exams should call the Disability Resource Center at 509-335-1566.

Mathematics placement exam

The exam is offered at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 17th, 2009, which is the first day of the Fall Alive! orientation session.  A $25.00 testing fee will be billed to your student account when you take the exam (this fee is not part of your orientation /matriculation fee).

WSU offers an intermediate mathematics placement test, which covers intermediate algebra, and an advanced mathematics placement test, which covers pre-calculus topics. If you seek placement in a calculus-level mathematics course at WSU, you will need to take the advanced test. Otherwise, you should take the intermediate test. It is your responsibility to take the correct exam.

Do I need to take the mathematics placement exam?

All incoming students are required to take the mathematics placement exam, unless they meet certain criteria.

You are not required to take the mathematics placement exam if:

• You have satisfied the prerequisites for a Washington State University 100-200 level mathematics course or above. High school courses (even those called College Calculus) do not count unless you explicitly receive official college credit.
• You have taken the AP test in Calculus AB or Calculus BC and your results have been sent to Washington State University.
• You have a quantitative SAT score of 680 or better.
• You have a quantitative SAT score of 530 or better and do not intend to enroll in a calculus course.
• You are a transfer student with an AA degree and do not intend to take a Washington State University mathematics course.

If you took the math test at another university in the state of Washington within the past year, you can transfer the scores to WSU by calling the Academic Placement Testing Program (APTP) at 206-543-1790.

Please note: the mathematics placement exam is offered at locations throughout the state of Washington in the spring. Information on dates and locations of the statewide examination are available through the APTP or by calling WSU Testing Services at 509-335-1744.

Please bring these items to the exam:

• Photo identification (driver's license or similar ID)
• Two sharpened No. 2 pencils
• Social Security number
• WSU identification number

Calculators are not allowed.

You should plan to review relevant material before taking the test to ensure that your score accurately reflects your level of preparation for mathematics courses at Washington State University. Practice problems are available at:
www.sci.wsu.edu/math/HS
www.washington.edu/oea/services/testing_center/aptp/index.html

Writing placement exam

The exam is offered at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, which is the 2nd day of Fall Alive!  Your results will be available the day after your test, when you register for classes with your advisor. A $13.37 testing fee will be billed to your student account (testing fees are not included in the orientation/matriculation fee).

The writing exam is administered in a two-hour session. You will write two essays, one argumentative and the other self-reflective.

Based on the results of the placement exam, you may be placed in one of five course options:

• English 100: a course that prepares students for the rigors of academic writing found in English 101. Student must then complete English 101.
• English 101: an introduction to academic writing.
• English 101 with English 102: a writing tutorial that accompanies English 101.
• English 104: a course that prepares non-native speakers of English for English 105 and 102.
• English 105 with English 102: an introduction to academic writing for non-native speakers of English.

Students placed in English 100 or 104 will be given fall semester sections of those classes. English 101 and English 105 may be taken in fall or spring semester.

Students who write exceptional placement exam essays may earn credit for English 101, fulfilling the written communication requirement.

Do I need to take the writing placement exam?

All incoming students who have not received equivalent credit for English 101 must take the writing placement exam. Students who have received scores of four or above on the AP test in English will receive credit for English 101 and do not have to take the placement exam.

Please note: WSU does not accept outside scores for placement in writing courses. If you are unable to attend this exam date, you may take the writing placement make-up exam at various times during the fall semester for English course placement in spring.

Please bring these items to the exam:

• Picture ID (drivers license or similar ID)
• Two ink pens (black or blue)
• WSU identification number

For additional information regarding the writing placement exam, contact the Writing Assessment Office at 509-335-7959 or visit the Writing Assessment Office online.