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Temple University Placement Testing

Placement Testing at New Student Orientation

As part of New Student Orientation, most incoming Temple students are required to take University Placement Tests prior to their first semester. These tests are designed to help assess mastery of certain basic skills, to point out particular strengths and weaknesses, and to assist in designing a program of study. Placement Tests are offered in English, Mathematics, and Foreign Languages. Incoming students also complete a New Student Questionnaire. 

IMPORTANT - Bring your TUid number when you come for Placement Testing.

Who Must Take Placement Tests?

All incoming freshmen must take Placement Tests prior to their first semester, including English, Mathematics, and Foreign Language (if a student has previously studied a foreign language).

Incoming transfer students may be required to take certain Placement Tests prior to their first semester. Transfer students will receive from the Admissions Office an Evaluation of Transfer Credit statement which has information about the tests they are exempted from taking.

Please note: See below for additional information concerning the English, Math, and Foreign Language Placement Tests and who must take each of the Tests.

How are Placement Tests Scheduled?

To schedule Placement Testing and Orientation dates, log onto TU Portal (http://tuportal.temple.edu). Enter your Access username and Password, and then select OWLnet from the Menu Tab across the top of the screen. You will be prompted to “click here” to schedule your Placement Testing and Orientation dates. For information about New Student Orientation, go to www.temple.edu/orientation.

What Do Students Need to Know Before Their Scheduled Placement Testing Day?

  • Please arrive for Placement Testing by 8:15 am. The tests start promptly at 8:30 am.
  • Report to the lobby of Anderson Hall, located at 12th & Berks Streets (north of Montgomery Avenue).
  • Review the information below on the tests you are required to take. Take the sample tests that are available.
  • If you are taking the English Placement Test, be sure to print out an Essay Topic Sheet, prepare for the essay, and bring the topic sheet on the day of the test.
  • If you are required to take all the Placement Tests, please plan to be at the test session until approximately 4:30 pm. Students who are not required to take all the tests will be dismissed upon completion of the required tests.
  • Test sessions will also include time for instructions, as well as for filling out the various answer sheets, and a break for lunch.

What Should Students Bring to Placement Testing?

  • Positive identification (preferably a picture ID)
  • Two #2 lead pencils
  • TUid number
  • Printed Essay Topic F or G (if you are taking the English Test). Essay topic sheets can be viewed below.
  • Sweater/Sweatshirt (sometimes the rooms are cool)
  • (Transfer Students) - Evaluation of Transfer Credit Statement (sent with Temple acceptance letter)
  • (Students taking all Tests) – Bagged lunch or money for lunch

Are the Procedures Different for Students with Disabilities?

Placement Test accommodations for students with disabilities may require alternate testing dates and times.  Students with documented disabilities who require accommodations for Placement Testing must contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) at 215.204.1280 (voice) or 215.204.1786 (TTY).   Please schedule your test as early as possible.

When will Students Receive the Results of Their Placement Tests?

Your test results will be available when you meet with your academic advising center during orientation. For information about New Student Orientation, go to www.temple.edu/orientation.


English Placement Examination (2 hours, 15 minutes)

All students are required to take the English Placement Test unless they transfer a course that has been evaluated as a direct equivalent of Temple's English 1002, 1012, 0802, or 0812. The English Placement Test consists of a multiple-choice portion and a written essay.

  • The multiple-choice component tests skills related to sentence structure, conventions of written English, and reading comprehension.
  • For the essay, students are asked to write on one of two topics which are included among four topics from the essay set below (F or G). Students are asked to review sample essays, to give some thought to each of the four potential topics provided, to make notes on the topic sheets, and to bring the sheets with them when they come to test. On the day of the test, the exam proctor designates two of the four topics on the topic sheet from which the students may choose. Each of the exam topics quotes a writer's position on an issue. The student is to explain the writer's position, and then to express his/her own position on what the writer has said. Essay readers need to see how well the student read the passage, explained the writer's argument, and presented his/her own argument in an organized essay with relatively few grammatical errors.

    Carefully read the exam directions (see essay topic sheets) and, with these in mind, look over the four topics. This preparation will allow you to get right to work on the day of the exam because you will have given some thought to each of the potential topics. Feel free to make notes on the topic sheet before the day of the exam. The link below has sample essays that we recommend you read to get an idea of the standards that will be used to judge your work.

    Multiple-Choice Component - Additional Information and Sample Test Items


    Essay Component - Additional Information, Sample Topic, and Sample Passing and Failing Essays

PLEASE BRING YOUR CHOICE OF ESSAY TOPICS F OR G WHEN YOU COME TO TAKE YOUR PLACEMENT TEST!

ESSAY TOPICS CURRENTLY IN USE: Essay Topic Sheet F Essay Topic Sheet G


Mathematics Placement Exam (1 hour, 15 minutes)

The Mathematics Placement Examination is required for all freshmen and transfer students who are not transferring a credit-bearing, college-level Math course. Additionally, the following students (regardless of transfer credits) are required to take the Math Placement Test:

  • all students within the Division of University Studies (DUS)
  • all students in a major within the Colleges of Science and Technology, Engineering, or Education
  • all students considering or required to take Math 1021 or higher
  • all students considering or required to take a Science course with a Math 1021 or higher prerequisite

The Math Placement Exam is a multiple-choice examination.  The use of calculators is not permitted during testing. The items range in difficulty from basic arithmetic and algebra to calculus readiness, and include the following:

  • Arithmetic operations
  • Decimals and fractions
  • Percents and ratios
  • Linear functions and inequalities
  • Algebraic operations on numbers and polynomials
  • Solving simultaneous, linear, and quadratic equations
  • Polynomials and polynomial equations
  • Exponents and logarithms
  • Inequalities and absolute values
  • Graphing
  • Word problems
  • Trigonometric functions and identities

The results of the Mathematics Placement Exam will be used to place students in the appropriate mathematics course.  These courses may include:

Math 1001
Elementary Algebra (no credit for College of Science and Technology students)
Math 1011
College Mathematics
Math 1021
College Algebra
Math 1022
Precalculus
Math 1031
Differential and Integral Calculus
Stat 1001
Basic Quantitative Foundations for Business and Economics I
Stat 1102
Basic Quantitative Foundations for Business and Economics II
Math 1041
Calculus I

Suggestions for review
We encourage students who are scheduled to take the Math Placement Exam to review basic arithmetic and algebra skills so that their test scores accurately reflect their ability and enable their adviser to determine the appropriate course. Here are some suggested texts for more extensive review:

  1. Integrated Arithmetic and Algebra, 2nd edition, by Bill E. Jordan and William P. Palow, Addison Wesley
  2. College Algebra and Trigonometry, 7th edition, by Raymond A. Barnett, Michael R. Ziegler, and Karl E. Byleen, McGraw Hill
  3. College Algebra, 7th edition, by Michael Sullivan, Prentice Hall
  4. College Algebra and Trigonometry, 7th edition, by Michael Sullivan, Prentice Hall
  5. College Algebra and Trigonometry - Basics through Precalculus, by John Schiller and Mary Wurster

Math Placement Review Items - This PDF file contains 37 review items that were developed by the Temple University Mathematics Department to help you specifically identify and review the concepts and skills needed to succeed on the current Math Placement exam. The items test your current grasp of important mathematical concepts and techniques and reflect the core content areas of the current Math Placement exam. Once you've attempted to answer the review items, look at the Answer Key to see how well you did and to determine in what areas you need further review.


Foreign Language Placement Examination (1 hour)

Freshmen and transfer students who previously studied a foreign language and are not transferring a credit-bearing, college-level foreign language course are required to take the Foreign Language Placement Test if they -

  • are in a BA program in the College of Liberal Arts, College of Science and Technology, orTyler School of Art
  • are a Communication Sciences major within the College of Health Professions
  • are an International Business Administration major within the Fox School of Business

OR

  • are interested in taking a foreign language course at Temple

Each exam is multiple-choice and tests basic skills in Language Usage (choosing the appropriate word or phrase to complete a sentence) and Reading Comprehension (interpretation of passages written in that language).

The examinations are offered in the following languages: French, German, Modern Greek, Italian, and Spanish.

If you have previously studied another foreign language and wish to be tested in that language, it may be possible to arrange testing. A Foreign Language Waiver Form and Procedures for Applying for a Foreign Language Waiver (Group 2 or Group 3 Languages) can be found on the Provost website at www.temple.edu/vpus/forms/index.htm.


New Student Questionnaire (25 minutes)

This is a personal data collection survey that must be completed by all students. The data are used to provide basic background information describing Temple students. Temple also uses the results of this questionnaire to develop programs and procedures to serve the needs and interests of its students.


Links to Other Temple University Sites of Interest

New Student Orientation

Undergraduate Bulletin

University Writing Center

Math Science Resource Center

 

 




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