Undergraduate Placement Testing

Placement testing is an important step for most new students as well as for transfer students who have not successfully completed college level mathematics or English courses. The placement test process must be done prior to registration in order to enroll in any math or English course. Placement tests assess students’ levels of proficiency in mathematics and in the use of written English. Test results determine placement in mathematics and English composition courses. Students are required to register for the courses in which they place.

Placement Tests are administered by appointment only, Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm. Testing takes place in Testing Services, located on the second floor of Rhodes Tower West (RW 215). The math placement test is online and is accessible at any time. Students are not required to be on campus to take the math placement exam. Please call 216-687-2272 at least 48 hours in advance to schedule an appointment for a placement test.

ENGLISH

Students will be placed into English courses based on their ACT/SAT score, or HS GPA as follows:

ACT 19 OR BELOW
SAT 25 OR BELOW
HS GPA 3.49 OR BELOW
ACT 20-25
SAT 26-31
HS GPA 3.5 OR ABOVE
ACT 26 OR ABOVE
SAT 32 OR ABOVE
English 100 English 101 English 102

MATH

Students will be placed into math courses based on their ACT/SAT score, their high school GPA, and/or their math assessment score. Math placement is an important step for first year students as well as transfer students who have not yet successfully completed college-level math courses.

The math placement assessment is offered online through ALEKS ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment is up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After the Placement Assessment, an individualized Prep and Learning Module is available for students to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics. Students then have the opportunity to reassess and improve their placement. Students are not required to be on campus to take this exam.

Be honest. It is important that you take the Placement Assessment seriously and give it an honest effort so that the Placement Assessments truly reflects your current level of knowledge and math preparedness. There is no benefit to cheating – the only result will be that you enroll in a class that is too difficult, or not challenging enough, potentially costing time and money. Therefore, while taking the Placement Assessments, you must not consult any outside sources for help (friends/family, internet searches, textbooks, notes etc...). The purpose of the Placement Assessment is to give an accurate measure of your mathematical knowledge state so that you will be successful in mathematics courses.

HS GPA 3.49 OR BELOW
ACT 21 OR BELOW
SAT (OLD) 500 OR BELOW
SAT (NEW) 530 OR BELOW
HS GPA 3.5 OR ABOVE
ACT 22 OR ABOVE
SAT (OLD) 510 OR ABOVE
SAT (NEW) 540 OR ABOVE
Take Math Placement Test Automatically placed into a college level math class (pre-calculus or lower)*

* If you are pursuing one of the following majors, you will need to take the math placement exam. Testing into the calculus series of math will save you time towards graduation:

  • Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering
  • Computer Information Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Geology
  • Mathematics
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Physics
  • Pre-Pharmacy

Placement location: Log into your Admission Portal to find the link to the ALEKS assessment: https://go.csuohio.edu/status

In the Math Placement Information PDF you can find answers to frequently asked questions
For Technical Support visit ALEKS Technical Support

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Testing Services administers computerized placement exams in Spanish, French and Chinese. The Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures uses the test results in order to place students in the appropriate course.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Testing Services is located in Rhodes Tower West, Room 215.
  • Tests are administered by appointment only. Please call 216-687-2272 to make an appointment.
  • All students must present a photo ID on test day.
  • CSU accepts AP and CCP credits. Please see an academic advisor for approval.

Cleveland State University
Disability & Testing Services
2124 Chester Avenue
Rhodes Tower West (RW) 210
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Phone: 216-687-2015
Fax: 216-687-2343
ods@csuohio.edu

Testing Services
2124 Chester Ave.
Rhodes Tower West (RW) 215
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Phone: 216-687-2272
Fax: 216-687-2212
testingservices@csuohio.edu

Web Contact
Jeffrey Dell
Phone: (216) 687-2015
j.dell@csuohio.edu