About the Freshman Placement Tests
The purpose of UIUC Placement Testing is to find out what your level
of knowledge is in a subject so that we can recommend a particular UIUC
course that will continue your studies where you left off. Only students
who are coming to UIUC take the placement exams. Your acceptance of UIUC's
offer of admission must be officially processed before we can register
you to take the placement tests. If you are a transfer student rather than a freshman, click here.
The Center offers online placement tests in chemistry and four
foreign languages (French, German, Latin, and Spanish). If
you need to take a placement exam in another foreign language, contact
the department to make arrangements. You don't have to take a test in English because
we place you into your Rhetoric course based on your best ACT English
score (or SAT equivalent).
Results from the chemistry and language placement exams are valid for
one year. This means, for example, that if you choose not to enroll in
a foreign language course during your first or second semester, you may
still follow the placement recommendation when pre-registering for your
third semester. If you wish to enroll in a course after the one-year expiration, you need to take a departmental proficiency exam in order to obtain an updated evaluation of your knowledge level. Proficiency exams are offered only at the beginning of each semester.
The Math Department coordinates online placement testing in math. All
new students are required to take the ALEKS
Math exam.
After completing the ALEKS Math exam, you should
print out the final page with your test results and bring it with you
to registration. If you have questions about the ALEKS Math exam, please
email advising@math.illinois.edu.
Regardless of your Summer Registration date, you should complete all
of your placement testing as soon as you can. Waiting till the last minute
tends to cause stress, especially if your computer disconnects in the
middle of an online exam. If you complete your placement testing at least
one week prior to your Summer Registration date, we guarantee that your
results will be made available to your academic advisor.
Questions should be emailed to pnp@illinois.edu or you may call 217-244-4437 during normal business hours.