UGA Undergraduate Admissions / Orientation / First-Year Orientation / Placement Testing for New UGA First-Year Students

Orientation

Placement Testing for New UGA First-Year Students

Academic advising and class registration will take place at your Orientation session. To assure that new students are placed in the correct level of certain core curriculum courses, most incoming first-year students will be required to take placement tests in English and mathematics prior to class registration. Students should take these tests seriously, but no preparation is necessary. Performance on these tests determines placement in advanced, core or introductory courses, as follows:

  • Advanced courses. Students may place into upper level classes by exempting core courses, such as English 1101, and placing directly into the second level, ENGL 1102.
  • Core courses. Students may place directly into core courses, such as ENGL 1101.
  • Introductory courses. Students may place into introductory courses for elective degree credit. Based on the results of the initial tests, some students may be asked to take the Writing Sample and/or Algebra Test during Orientation. These tests will determine which introductory course is recommended, OR the tests may place you directly into core courses. In previous years, approximately 10 percent of entering first-year students placed in one or more such classes based on the placement tests.

Following is an explanation of the required and optional tests offered at Orientation:

  • English Placement Test. Students with an SAT Verbal score of 580 or below, or an ACT English score of 25 or below are required to take this test. However, since students may earn credit in ENGL 1101 (English Composition I) with this test, any student may choose to take it. Performance on this test determines placement in ENGL 1101, ENGL 1102, or requires a Writing Sample. The Writing Sample determines placement in an introductory English course or in ENGL 1101. For further details, please consult our information on first-year English at UGA.
  • Mathematics Placement Test. This test determines placement in introductory mathematics courses, MATH 1101 (Mathematical Modeling), MATH 1113 (Pre-Calculus), or MATH 2200 (Differential Calculus) as appropriate. Performance on this test may require an additional Algebra Test to determine placement into introductory level mathematics OR directly into core curriculum courses. No credit is given for exempted courses, but exemption of MATH 1113 or MATH 1101 may satisfy Core and/or Degree requirements. Calculators are not permitted for this test. For more information about math placement and preparation for math courses, visit the UGA Math Department’s Web site.
  • Reading Comprehension Test. Some students will be notified on their confirmation letter that the Reading Comprehension Test will be required. This requirement is based on the SAT Verbal/ACT English score or high school grade point average. Please be sure to check your Orientation confirmation letter to see if you will be required to take this test at Orientation. The Reading Comprehension Test determines placement into an introductory reading course.
  • Writing Sample. The Writing Sample determines placement into an introductory English course or ENGL 1101. Students will be notified during Orientation as to whether their performance on the English Placement Test will require them to take the Writing Sample.
  • Algebra Test. This test determines placement into an introductory mathematics course or core curriculum. Students will be notified during Orientation as to whether their performance on the Mathematics Placement Test will require them to take the Algebra Test.

Optional Tests
If required as noted above, the Reading Comprehension Test takes precedence over these optional tests. (The optional tests are not offered at the June 5 or August 14 Orientation sessions. Students attending those sessions who wish to take these tests must make arrangements to do so at another time at the Testing Center in Clark Howell Hall.)

  • Foreign Language. The Foreign Language placement test is required for those students who plan to continue the same foreign language at the University of Georgia that they studied in high school. Because not all students will be required to take a foreign language for their major, the cost for this test is not included in the Orientation fee. Therefore, students should plan to pay the $15 cost of the test with cash or check. This cost will be assessed at Orientation; do not send money in advance. The testing staff will not be able to make change, so please bring the correct amount of money. Students who are not able to take this test during Orientation may take it anytime during the academic year at the Testing Center in Clark Howell Hall.
  • Chemistry. CHEM 1110 (Elementary Chemistry), CHEM 1211 and/or 1212 may be exempted with credit through this test. This test is strongly recommended for those students majoring in Chemistry, BioChemistry or Pre-Medicine.

Exempting Placement Tests with Advanced Credit
Students with class exemption or credit through College Board Advanced Placement, SAT-II, International Baccalaureate, or through college joint enrollment will be exempt from taking the equivalent placement tests at Orientation only if the Admissions Office has received the appropriate test scores prior to their Orientation session. If we have not received your scores by the time of your orientation session, you will be required to take the tests administered at Orientation. When your AP, SAT-II, IB scores, or joint enrollment transcripts are received, we will use the scores that benefit you the most.