Admissons


UW Placement Testing

Before you participate in academic advising and begin your classes at the University, you must take placement tests in English, mathematics and a foreign language. (The ACT or SAT tests do not fulfill this requirement.)

These tests will help University advisors refer you to the appropriate level of the subjects you are interested in, so that the courses you take will be neither too difficult for you nor repetitious of work you have already completed. You will be placed or advised to take work at your expected level of achievement based on your high school record and your placement test scores.

The UW English Placement Test will determine whether you are exempt from English 101 or 102.

The UW Math Placement Test is designed to measure mathematics knowledge in arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Your scores on this test will help determine the level at which you should begin your math studies. The math score will provide you and your University advisors with information needed for enrollment in certain science courses and are accepted by some campuses of the University of Wisconsin as an alternative to math course work.

Battery powered scientific calculators, although not required, may be used during the mathematics portions of the tests. GRAPHING CALCULATORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. Calculators will NOT be provided at the testing site.

You should also take the appropriate foreign language test if you need or wish to continue to study a foreign language that you began in high school. Testing is available in French, German, and Spanish only. Foreign language test scores measure your achievement in relation to the language courses offered at the University. The methods of determining credit for previously completed work vary from one language department to another, but all include the successful completion of the foreign language course in which you are placed. It is definitely to your advantage to take these tests because it is possible in some programs of study to obtain college credit for all foreign language courses you have completed in high school.

The majority of new students are highly qualified and do very well academically. Some students, however, may experience academic difficulties. In those instances, an advisor can help locate the difficulties by referring to placement test scores. We strongly recommend that you take all the placement tests for which you are eligible, even if you do not plan to take courses in those academic fields. You may change your mind later and the placement test scores can be used for advising at that time.

Taking the placement tests and using their results seriously can make your career at UWMC much more personally satisfying and academically rewarding. We want you to succeed!

Residual Testing: Residual Testing occurs in late spring for the following Fall Semester, and toward the end of the fall semester for first time students planning on enrolling in the Spring Semester. Students planning on Residual Testing must send in the fee registration form mailed to them in the Residual Testing packet or pay in person at Student Services. Fifty students will be allowed to register per test date.