Information for New Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students
All newly admitted students will receive information from the Admissions Office by email regarding placement testing. A majority of students do not need to take placement tests. Students should not sign up for placement testing unless the admissions office sends the student an email notifying them that placement testing is needed.
Placement testing is administered for writing and mathematics. Any incoming freshmen with an adjusted high school GPA that is less than 2.7 will be required to take both writing and math placement tests. In addition, students accepted into majors which require precalculus are also required to take a math placement test, regardless of their high school GPA. Any student who requires placement testing will be notified by the Admissions office that testing is required and will be asked to reserve a spot at an upcoming placement test through an online portal. Once a student registers for placement testing, they will receive an email from the Placement Office with more details about what specific tests they will need and some helpful online resources which provide information about the tests.
Transfer students in need of placement testing will be notified by the Registrar's office or an assigned academic advisor by email.
Placement tests must be completed before an incoming student attends summer orientation. Transfer students must complete any required placement testing before they can register for fall classes.
Information for Current Fitchburg Students
The Placement Testing office routinely sends email notifications to current students about upcoming placement testing opportunities. Any current student who needs to take or retake a placement test should read these email notifications and reserve a spot at an upcoming placement test using the online portal provided in these emails. Students are permitted to retake any placement test one additional time. Sign up for placement tests through the Admissions portal.
Upcoming Placement Testing Dates
The schedule for upcoming placement tests is available through the Admissions portal.
Remote Placement Testing
Students who live far away may opt to find a placement testing center closer to their home. It is the student's responsibility to contact remote placement testing centers and make arrangements for testing if they choose to test elsewhere. Students must pay any fees associated with remote testing. All placement tests given at Fitchburg State University are free of charge to students.
Massachusetts schools where placement testing is offered (PDF)
More About Placement Testing
Math and Writing placement exams are required for some freshmen in accordance with Massachusetts Board of Higher Education policy. The purpose of the placement testing is to provide information about a student's level of accomplishment in order to place students in the most appropriate math and writing course for their skill level. If an incoming student is required to take a placement test, they will be notified by the Admission's Office.
Transfer students will be notified by the registrar's office or their assigned academic advisor regarding what placement testing they are required to take.
Students planning to take French, Spanish or Latin are required to take a placement test if they meet the following conditions:
- Completed a high school level course in French, Spanish or Latin
- One of these languages is their native language
- They have had experience with the language
If you have not had any formal or informal experience with a Foreign Language, you do not need to take a placement test and may register for French for Beginners (FREN 1000) or Spanish for Beginners (SPAN 1000).
Fitchburg State University uses WebCAPE Language Placement Exams, developed by the Humanities Research Center at Brigham Young University. The French and Spanish tests, administered through the internet, are designed to determine which language course students should take, based on their achievement. The exam presents questions at different levels, selecting the next question according to your answer. Immediately after the test, you will receive your results and receive advisement as to the proper Fitchburg State foreign language course that you are required to enroll based on your placement score.
Latin is a pencil and paper exam. A Latin score that places the student higher than Intermediate Level 2 satisfies the Foreign Language graduation requirements.
If you do well on the Foreign Language Placement Test you may want to consider taking a CLEP Exam.
Shorten your path to a university degree! If you do well on the Foreign Language Placement Test you may want to consider taking a CLEP Exam. If you have extensive experience with a Foreign Language you may earn 3 - 12 college credits by taking the CLEP Exam.
Fitchburg State University does not administer CLEP exams. Information on CLEP Exams, Registration, Test Dates and Fees can be obtained from Mount Wachusett Community College.
Contact Mount Wachusett Community College regarding testing at 978.630.9244, 978.630.9220, or testingservices@mwcc.mass.ed.
The Official Study Guide for CLEP Examination can be purchased by calling 1.800.323.7155. The subject sample tests can also be downloaded from the College Board website.
If you have a disability or a temporarily disabling condition and you would like an accommodation for any required placement tests please contact Disability Services at 978.665.4020 well in advance of the time you would like to take the placement test. We may be able to arrange testing on a day other than the test dates listed. Other accommodations available include "Zoom Text," readers, and testing alone in a quiet setting.
If you are not satisfied with your test results, you can take any Placement Test one more time within the first two semesters. Practicing for the test increases the likelihood of improving your score. These tests are very reliable. Everyone who has attempted to retake a test and did not practice always earns a similar or worse score.
Description of Placement Tests
Placement Testing Codes
All students needing placement testing will be given a placement test number for placement testing purposes. The Placement Tests that correspond to these numbers are given below:
- Placement Test #1 - WritePlacer and QAS tests
- Placement Test #2 - AAF test
- Placement Test #3 - WritePlacer and AAF
- Placement Test #4 - WritePlacer, QAS and conditionally the AAF tests
- Placement Test #5- WritePlacer Test
- Placement Test #6 - QAS Test
- Placement Test #7 - QAS and AAF Test (both)
- Placement Test #8 - QAS and conditionally the AAF Test
The WritePlacer placement test is given to determine a student's placement into English courses. The test has a time limit of 1 hour and students are required to write/type (on the computer) a 300-600 word essay on a general topic.
The scores range from 0 - 8. Students who score 3 or less will be placed in a remedial basic writing course which must be completed before a student is eligible to enroll in college level writing courses. Students who score between 4 and 7 inclusive will be placed into the first college level writing course. Students who score an 8 will be placed in a second semester college level writing course.
More information about the test can be found on the College Board WritePlacer Guide (PDF) and the Test Prep Online Essay guide.
The QAS placement test is used for placement into all entry level college math courses except pre-calculus/calculus. The test consists of approximately 20 multiple choice questions given on the computer. The test is not timed – students can take as much time as needed to complete the test. Progression through the test is determined by how each question is answered - a student cannot go back and change any answers to previous questions. Students may not bring their own calculators. If a question requires the use of a calculator, a pop-up calculator will be provided. Most students spend about 1-1.5 hours on this test.
Scores range from 200 - 300 points. Students must score 268 or higher to be placed in a credit bearing, college level math course. Any score less than 268 will place a student into a remedial basic math course.
More information about the specific concepts covered on the test and sample problems can be found on the College Board Next-Generation Accuplacer page and Union Test Prep.
The AAF placement test is used to place students into pre-calculus/calculus courses. The test consists of approximately 20 multiple choice questions given on the computer. The test is not timed – students have as much time as needed to complete the test. Progression through the test is determined by how each question is answered – students cannot go back and change any answers to previous questions. Students may not bring their own calculators. If a question requires the use of a calculator, a pop-up calculator will be provided. Most students spend about 1 - 1.5 hours on this test.
Scores range from 200- 300 points. A student who scores between 243 and 262 inclusive will be placed into pre-calculus. Students who score above 262 will be placed into calculus. Any score less than 243 will place a student in a remedial basic math course.
More information about the specific concepts covered on the test and practice problems can be found on the College Board Next-Generation Accuplacer page and Union Test Prep.
Special accommodations will not be available at the date/time for which a student has signed up to take a placement test(s). If you have any learning disabilities and/or received accommodations in high school, you should contact our Disability Services office to determine whether you qualify for accommodations at Fitchburg. The Disability Services office can administer this test with accommodations for those students who qualify and those arrangements need to be made between you and the Disability Services Office. Please contact this office at 978.665.4020 or email disabilityserviceslist@fitchburgstate.edu.