If you are a new first-year student starting Fall 2021, the information below will help you determine if you need to take WSU Placement Exams, and if so, which ones. Registration for your exams is part of the Orientation Registration Process. See https://wayne.edu/orientation for more information. If you still have questions, please consult an academic advisor at wayne.edu/advising.  It is better to ask an advisor and take the right exam than take an unnecessary exam prior to orientation.

About placement testing

Several introductory courses at Wayne State University (WSU) are taught with the expectation that the student has attained a certain level of prior knowledge and skill in the subject. Placement tests have been designed to ensure that you have the required prior knowledge before taking a class. It is better to be placed into a lower level course by an examination than to fail a higher-level course for which you are not adequately prepared. Prepare to do your best by reviewing the material on the web sites indicated and getting plenty of rest the night before your exam(s). 

Determining the exam you need 

These are the four subjects  typically taken by first-year students which may require placement testing: The links above will take you to their specific pages which contain details about the tests and registration instructions.  Please review the information on this page to determine which you need, before visiting those pages.

These are the four courses typically taken by first-year students that require placement testing. Biology, Chemistry, English, and Mathematics. Whether a student needs to take a test is related to the following:

Intended major 

Your major will determine what courses you are required to take. If a class is not required by your major, an exam is not needed. For example, all students must take English, but other placement exams are only required for certain majors.

Advanced Placement (AP) or College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP)

Some introductory course requirements may be met by AP and CLEP scores. If you have taken one of these exams, you may not need to take a placement exam. AP scores are delivered to the university in late summer. You may want to see what course credit you have earned prior to taking a placement exam. However, if you want to take your placement test early, you cannot lose credit that you earned through AP or CLEP.

Course placement by the ACT or SAT 

• ACT and SAT scores may be used to satisfy your prerequisites; see the charts below. 
• If you have satisfied the pre-requisite with your ACT or SAT score, you do not need to take the placement exam. 
• If you did not satisfy the pre-requisite with your ACT or SAT score, you may take the placement exam to try to improve your placement. 
• If you have not taken the ACT or SAT, you must take the placement exam for the required courses. 
• Students are encouraged to visit STARS to ensure an official ACT or SAT test score is on record.
• "New SAT" refers to any SAT test taken on or after March 2016.

Placement Exam Information

Biology

• Students whose program requires biology (see listed courses below) and who took the ACT or SAT before August 2019 should register to take the Biology Placement Exam.  This includes Biology and other science majors, including Science-Education and pre-Allied Health students.   
• For clarification about your requirement, contact Academic Advising. 
• Supplemental instruction is available for BIO 1500. 

Register

Chemistry

ACT/SAT scores can not be used for Chemistry placement. If you intend to pursue one of the following academic programs, you will need to take the Chemistry Placement Examination to place into the courses CHM 1040, 1100/1125 and 1130:

• Chemistry
• Pre-Clinical Laboratory Science
• Pre-Dental 
• Pre-Medicine
• Pre-Pharmacy
• Pre-Physical Therapy
• Biology
• Cytotechnology
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Geology
• Nutrition and Food Science (including Dietetics)
• Physics
• Secondary Science Education

Register

Mathematics

• Students who took the ACT or SAT before August 2019 should contact the Testing Office to register to take the Math Placement Assessment. It is especially important that you register to take math your first semester.
• Free study materials for the Mathematics Placement Assessment are available from the Math Department.

Students may also place into Mathematics using external exams. These are the requirements. 

Register

English

• All students are required to complete ENG 1020 and are strongly encouraged to register for English in their first semester or year. 
• Students who took the ACT or SAT before August 2018 should register to take the English Qualifying Exam. 
• Writing support for students is available at the Writing, Research, and Technology Zone. 

Register

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I take my exams before I attend Orientation?

Yes if possible. At Orientation, you will meet with an academic advisor to confirm your course selections for the upcoming semester. It is helpful to have completed your testing and received your test results in order for the advising and course selection process to be accurate and effective. However, if you are unable to take your exams before Orientation you can still attend, and then take your exams and adjust your schedule later.  For information on Orientation, please visit http://www.orientation.wayne.edu. 

I took one or more Advanced Placement (AP) Exams in high school. Do I take the WSU placement exam(s) anyway?
In general, no. If you feel you did well enough to achieve at least an AP score of "3=qualified," wait to schedule the WSU placement exam until after you have received your AP test results. The WSU AP policy is available at http://transfercredit.wayne.edu/tests.php.  

How will I receive my test results?

Results are displayed on the monitor at the conclusion of the exam. An email is sent after they have been posted to your academic record. 

I received my test results but the registration system will not allow me to sign up for the course. What should I do?
The Testing Office must post a Permit to Register in the student records system before you can register for a Biology, Chemistry, English, or Math course.  If more than one week has passed since you received your test results and you are still unable to add your course, please email testing@wayne.edu.

How long are the test results valid?

• Biology Placement Exam results are valid for three semesters.  
• Chemistry Placement Exam results are valid for four semesters.
• Mathematics Placement Exam results are valid for three semesters.

What can I use for identification when I test?
Acceptable identification must have a current photograph or physical description and be valid (i.e., not expired). Examples of acceptable identification include a Wayne State OneCard, driver's license, passport, or Michigan Personal Identification Card.  Examples of unacceptable identification include a Social Security Card, birth certificate, credit card, or any expired ID.

I have a disability that requires special accommodations for testing. How do I arrange this?
If you have a documented disability that requires testing accommodations, register with Student Disability Services for coordination of accommodations. Student Disability Services (SDS) is located at 1600 David Adamany Undergraduate Library in the University Advising Center. SDS is available at 313-577-1851 and studentdisability.wayne.edu.

How do I get to campus and where do I park?
We recommend parking in a University structure.  Students are not allowed to leave a test session to add money to a parking meter. Visitor parking structures require payment by credit or one card. Further information is available at maps.wayne.edu and parking.wayne.edu.  

If I still have questions how do I contact your office?
You can reach the Testing, Evaluation, and Research Services Office at testing@wayne.edu.