Placement Testing
In order for your advisor to prepare for your first advising meeting, you must have completed all the necessary online placement tests before you attend Orientation--and you don't want to leave Orientation without your schedule in hand! It is suggested that the French, German, Latin, and Math (for transfer students) placement tests be completed by January 1, 2010. If you do not complete them by January 1, please take them BEFORE you attend orientation so you can have a good meeting with your advisor.
For many of these tests, you will need a computer with internet access. Choose one with the fastest possible internet connection (Ethernet or better). If one is not available to you at home, you may access a computer at your school or public library.
Foreign Language Placement Tests
- French, German, and Latin Placement Tests - Students who studied French, German, or Latin in high school are expected to complete an on-line test in that language.
- Spanish - You do not take a placement test. Instead, you are placed according to the number of years of high school Spanish you have taken. You can find more information about placement testing at the Hispanic Studies website.
- Other Languages - Arrangements can also be made for individual assessment in Arabic, Chinese, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian. These arrangements often need to wait until students and faculty are back on campus in August. For a placement evaluation in one of these languages, please see the contact list at the bottom of the page.
Math Placement Tests
Incoming freshmen DO NOT take a math placement test. Your placement level will be determined from information about math courses you successfully completed in high school as well as the math SAT or ACT score.
Foreign Language Placement Tests
Transfer students with college credit in a foreign language, who wish to continue in the same language, should not take the placement exam. Transfer students should sign up for the next appropriate language course.
Transfer students with college credit in a foreign language, who wish to continue in a different language, should take the placement exam.
Placement credit from other colleges/universities is not accepted as transfer credit at the College of Charleston.
- French, German, and Latin Placement Tests - Students who studied French, German, or Latin in high school are expected to complete an on-line test in that language.
- Spanish - If you transfer Spanish credits, you will be placed in the next sequential course. If you are not transferring Spanish credits, you will be placed in SPAN 101 Beginning Spanish if you have never studied Spanish, or in SPAN 190 Elementary Spanish if you studied Spanish in high school. You can find more information about placement testing at the Hispanic Studies website.
- Other Languages - Arrangements can also be made for individual assessment in Arabic, Chinese, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian. These arrangements often need to wait until students and faculty are back on campus in August. For a placement evaluation in one of these languages, please see the contact list at the bottom of the page.
Math Placement Test
Transfer students must take the math placement test if they are not transferring six or more credit hours in math (excluding college algebra). Transfer students must complete the math placement test before they meet with an advisor.
How to Prepare
• Check out the sample math test questions.
• Know the basics of algebra.
• Review pre-calculus (more advanced algebra and trigonometry).
• Try to answer all the questions.
• Relax and take a deep breath before you begin the exam.
Taking the test
If you are expected to take the math placement test, you will receive an e-mail to your College of Charleston e-mail account (also known as your Edisto account) with the instructions. This e-mail will include all of the information needed to access the online test and complete it. If you do not have access to a computer at your home, please note that the test can be taken at any public computer such as a public library or current college you are attending.
Arrangements can also be made for individual assessment in Arabic, Chinese, Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian. These arrangements often need to wait until students and faculty are back on campus during the school year. For a placement evaluation in one of these languages, please contact:
If you have questions, please check out the FAQ's.
If you still have questions after you read the FAQ's, then please e-mail orientat@cofc.edu or call 843.953.2017 on Monday-Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
updated
August 31, 2009
