Placement Test Information
Placement into English, math, and reading courses are based on ACT/SAT scores and transfer credit. Students who did not submit standardized test scores for admission can still submit scores for placement purposes. Without scores, students may need to take a placement test to determine appropriate placement.
Students with specific questions about transcript submission, interpretation, or pre-requisite enrollment requirements, should contact their advisor or enroll@usi.edu.
To view your placements
- Go to my.usi.edu.
- Log in with your myUSI username and password.
- Click on the Self-Service Icon.
- Click on Student, Student Records, and then View Test Scores.
Look for a placement for English, math, and reading. For reading, a code of "UREAD" means that no reading course is needed. If no placement is listed, it means you need to take a placement test. You should also consider taking the placement test if your data is more than 5 years old.
Placement Testing Registration
- For those students who required testing to determine placements, tests are available in English, math, and reading.
- A student ID number and photo ID are required to test.
- On-campus testing is available in Rice Library Testing Center at various times daily unless Rice Library is closed.
- Students unable to come to campus may take their tests online by using a remote option. The virtual remote proctor
- costs the student $25;
- is available all day every day;
- allows the student to test at home using their own computer;
- requires a high-speed internet connection and a webcam.
- Allow 1 hour each for the English and math tests and 30 minutes for the reading test. However, the English test is the only timed test (50 minutes).
- Students with disabilities who are requesting special accommodations: Must be registered with USI Disability Resources. A letter stating approved accommodations must be on file before additional time for testing may be granted.
- Students who think they can improve their automatic placement in Math English, and /or Reading can take the placement test to see if they can place higher.
- One retest will be allowed on the Math and/or Reading if the student still thinks they can improve their score. Students will be allowed one retest per subject and must wait a minimum of one week before the retest occurs. Please see the section "Preparing for the Placement test" for links to study materials.
The following resources may help you prepare for the tests.
Reading/Math/Writing
https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/student/practice
https://www.mometrix.com/academy/accuplacer-study-guide/
https://www.mometrix.com/academy/accuplacer-practice-test/
Quantitative Reasoning is the first math test. Study the following link thoroughly to prepare for the test.
If you score 263 or more on the above test, you will trigger a second test, Advanced Algebra and Functions. The better you do on this test, the higher the placement.
For additional math review:
Mandatory placement for all entry-level mathematics courses is required by the Department of Mathematics. The appropriate level course for a student is determined by the SAT/ACT math score. If your ACT-Math and SAT-Math scores place you into different courses, you will be permitted to take the higher-level course. Course selection should be made in consultation with your academic advisor. If an ACT or SAT score is not available, then a math placement test is required.
|
Course |
ACT Math score | SAT Math score |
Accuplacer Score Quantitative Reasoning Score |
Accuplacer Score Advanced Algebra and Functions Score |
| MATH 230 | 29 and higher | 660 and higher | 258 to 300 | |
| MATH 230 | ACT Math ≥ 26 and HSGPA ≥ 3.0 | SAT Math ≥ 620 and HSGPA ≥ 3.0 | 258 to 300 | |
| MATH 115/118 | 24 to 28 | 580 to 650 | 250 to 257 | |
| MATH 111/114 | 22 or 23 | 550 to 570 | 236 to 249 | |
| MATH 085/114 | 21 | 530 to 540 | 200 to 235 | |
| *MATH 081/085 | 18 to 20 | 470 to 520 | 237 to 262 | |
| MATH 081/085 | 16 or 17 | 400 to 460 | 237 to 262 | |
| MATH 081 | 15 and below | 390 and below | 236 and below | |
| Must take the placement test | No Scores | No Scores |
The Accuplacer Quantitative Reasoning test is given first. Students who score 263 or higher will then take the Advanced Algebra and Functions test, which is the test used for obtaining higher placements in math.
Students who think they can place higher by taking a placement test are allowed to do so. Refer to the section on “General Placement Testing Information” for information about taking the placement test.
*Students who score in this range are strongly encouraged to take the placement test to see if they can place higher.
Math Placement Test
The math placement test is administered using the computerized ACCUPLACER test.
- The test is untimed, allowing students to work at their own pace.
- No calculators are permitted on the test, but scratch paper and pencils are provided.
- ACCUPLACER provides an adaptive testing environment. This means that if a student answers a question correctly, the next question will be at the same level or more difficult. If a student answers incorrectly, the next question will be at the same level or easier. Points are awarded according to the level of difficulty of the question.
- The ACCUPLACER Quantitative Reasoning test is given first. Students who score 263 or higher will then take the Advanced Algebra and Functions test, which is the test used for obtaining higher placements in math. For this reason, students should put forth their best effort particularly on the first test.
Students’ high school GPAs, ACT English scores, and SAT Evidence-based Writing scores determine what entry-level English courses they can take. If test scores are not available, only their high school GPAs are used. If neither are available, students are required to write a timed English Placement essay. English Placement results are available within two-four business days of writing this essay.
|
Course |
ACT English + Reading* score |
SAT ERW Scores* | No Test Scores |
| ENG 101 | 18 and higher and HS GPA > 3.0 | 480 and higher and HS GPA > 3.0 | HS GPA > 3.0 |
| ENG 100 | 17 and lower and HS GPA < 2.99 | Less than 479 and HS GPA < 2.99 | HS GPA < 2.99 |
| Essay test required | Test scores and GPA indicate conflicting placement | Test scores and GPA indicate conflicting placement | No GPA available |
*SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
Students with no ACT/SAT scores, who need to take the placement test, should refer to the section “General Placement Testing Information” for information about taking the placement test.
English Placement Test
Students who do not have SAT/ACT scores will need to take an English essay test.
The English essay test is given using ACCUPLACER’s Writeplacer test.
Essay test
- Students will give a written response to a writing prompt.
- The essay will be timed for 50 minutes.
- The essay will be completed on the computer.
- The essay will be read and scored by members of the English department.
- No essay test will be given if an English placement has already been made.
- No retests will be given for English.
Mandatory placement in an entry level reading course is required if the placement indicates the course is necessary. Students are exempt from a Reading course if they officially transfer 9.0 or more hours of college credit to USI.
The appropriate level course for all other students is determined by the SAT/ACT Reading score or by high school grade point average if a test score is not available. If none of these are available, then an ACCUPLACER Reading test will be required.
|
Course |
ACT Reading score | SAT EBRW* score | SAT Critical Reading subscore | Without ACT or SAT test scores | Accuplacer score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University Reading Level (UREAD) |
17 and higher | 480 and higher | 23 or higher | High school GPA 3.0 or higher | 253 and higher |
| GENS 151 | Less than 17 | Less than 480 | Less than 23 | High school GPA 2.99 or lower | less than 253 |
| Placement test required | No Scores or scores older than 5 years | No Scores or scores older than 5 years | No Scores or scores older than 5 years | No GPA or GPA older than 5 years |
*SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
Students who place into GENS 151 must take the GENS 151 course.
Students who need to take the placement test should refer to the section “General Placement Testing Information” for information about taking the placement test.
Reading Placement Test
Students who do not have SAT/ACT scores or an available high school GPA will need to take an Accuplacer Reading test.
The Reading placement test is administered using the computerized ACCUPLACER test.
- The test is untimed, allowing students to work at their own pace.
- ACCUPLACER provides an adaptive testing environment. This means that if a student answers a question correctly, the next question will be at the same level or more difficult. If a student answers incorrectly, the next question will be at the same level or easier. Points are awarded according to the level of difficulty of the question.
- Students who think they can improve their placement can take the Reading placement test. The test must be completed at least two weeks before their Orientation session.
- One retest is permitted for Reading, but the student must wait at least a week before retaking the test.
Foreign Language Placement
Students who have taken French, German, or Spanish classes in high school and want to continue study of that language at USI will be placed according to number of years they have studied the language.
| Years in High School | USI placement |
| 0-1 years | FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH 101 |
| 2 year | FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH 102 |
| 3 year | FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH 203 |
| 4 year | FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH 204 |
| Heritage/Native speakers | FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH 306 |
If a student has taken any foreign language for college credit and received a grade of "C" or better in the class, they can take the next foreign language class in the sequence. They need to transfer those credits officially to USI.
Placement tests are available in French, German and Spanish in certain circumstances by appointment. Students who took Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Latin in high school should contact the World Languages and Cultures department at 812/465-7026 to schedule an interview.
Students can earn PLA-Challenge Exam credit in a world language if advanced placement is recommended. The student must earn a grade of 'B' or better in the USI world language course into which they have been placed (ARAB, CHIN, FREN, GERM, JPN, LATN, or SPAN).
After completing the course with a 'B' or better, the student must visit the World Languages and Cultures department to initiate the World Languages & Cultures Departmental Challenge Exam form to receive credit for the lower-level language course(s). The challenge exam will incur a fee of $50 per credit hour for each course to be awarded as credit.
- Language classes fulfill Core39 and major requirements
- They prepare you for graduate school and careers in the 21st century
- They enhance highly-valued cultural awareness skills
- They offer exciting study abroad opportunities