Placement Exams

Before you begin your first year of classes, make sure you have taken any necessary placement exams. See the current Placement Exams and Proficiency Exam Schedule.

A few things to keep in mind about placement exams:

• Placement exams help you determine the course level in which to enroll.
• Don't guess answers on placement exams. Artificially high scores could lead you to enroll in a course for which you are not adequately prepared.
• There is no fee for the Math or Language Placement Exam. There is a fee to take the Writing Placement Exam.

Types of placement exams:

• Math: Take the Math Placement Exam if you have not met a math course prerequisite for pre-calculus or first quarter calculus. This 90-minute, multiple-choice exam is free of charge.
• Language: Take the online Language Placement Exam if you have had some exposure to a language that you would like to study further. This 45-minute, multiple-choice exam is free of charge.
• Writing Placement Exam: Take the Analytical Writing Placement Exam if you have not fulfilled the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement. This 2-hour essay exam has a fee.
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  For more information on the writing requirement, see:
  • How to Fulfill the UC Entry Level Writing (Subject A) Requirement
  • How to Enroll in a Basic Writing Class

If you have questions, please contact the appropriate resource:

• Your college
• Mathematics Testing and Placement Office, (858) 534-3373
• Linguistics Department (Language Placement), (858) 822-2711
• Basic Writing Program, (858) 534-6177