Placement Exams

Depending on your major and ACT/SAT scores, you may benefit from taking a Math or English Placement Exam.

If your ACT/SAT scores do not permit you to qualify for your major's first Math or English class, you should take a placement exam to ensure that you stay on track with your curriculum.

Placement exams are designed to assess your academic strengths and where you may need extra support. By taking a placement exam, the University can match your current knowledge with the coursework that's right for you.

The goal is to earn placement in your major's first English or Math class (if you haven't already done so through your ACT/SAT scores, GPA, or dual enrollment). Otherwise, you may have to enroll in a supplemental support lab or begin in a lower-level class and work your way up to the required-level coursework.

Learn more about our placement exam offerings below.

Math Placement Exams

If your ACT/SAT scores do not qualify you for the first mathematics class of your major and you have never taken a college-level mathematics course, you should take a Math placement exam. To determine whether or not you qualify for your major's first math class, follow these steps:

View our Programs of Study in the Academic Catalog and select your major.
Under "Freshman Year," click the first math class listed.
Review the prerequisites for your first math class. If you do not meet the minimum prerequisite requirements, you should schedule a math placement exam.

There are two Math Placement Exam options: ALEKS PPL and ACCUPLACER QRAS. The exam you take will depend on your major and, more specifically, the first math class required for your major.

ALEKS PPL

The ALEKS PPL exam is suggested for students majoring in Architecture and those with majors in the Colleges of Engineering and Sciences. ALEKS PPL is recommended for students in degree programs that require MATH 109, 110, 143, or 270 and do not qualify for the course based on their testing score.

If your major requires you to take Math 109, 110, 143, or 270 and your ACT/SAT score does not qualify you for that class, then you should take the ALEKS PPL.

ACCUPLACER QRAS (Math)

The Math ACCUPLACER QRAS is suggested for students majoring in degree programs that require MATH 102 or 105, which includes most non-science majors.

If your major requires you to take MATH 102 or 105 and your ACT/SAT score does not qualify you for that class, then you should take the ACCUPLACER QRAS.

The ALEKS PPL assessment is an online exam administered by the McGraw Hill Company. For information about the exam and associated learning tools, visit the Math Department's ALEKS PPL page. Frequently asked questions are also addressed online here.

Important note: You must take the ALEKS PPL Math Assessment BEFORE attending Orientation to ensure proper course placement. Please plan accordingly.

To access this page, you will be prompted to log in with your ULID (C00######) and password.

Please contact math@louisiana.edu with questions about the ALEKS PPL.

The ACCUPLACER QRAS (Math) is offered on select weekdays from 2:00-5:30 PM with both in-person and remote options. After you complete the registration form, a representative from the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment will contact you to schedule your exam.

If you need to take the exam from home, indicate that you need a remote testing option on the registration form.

Important note: You must take the ACCUPLACER QRAS before attending Orientation to ensure proper course placement. Please plan accordingly.

To access this form, you will be prompted to log in with your University email (C00######@louisiana.edu) and password.

Additional Information

More information about the ACCUPLACER QRAS is available on the Math Department's website.

The ACCUPLACER QRAS is an untimed exam and includes 20 questions with two sample questions. Outside calculators are not allowed, but a calculator will be provided for select questions. There is no fee to take this exam.

Please contact accuplacer@louisiana.edu with questions about the ACCUPLACER QRAS.

Practice Resources

If the ALEKS PPL assessment is recommended for you and you do not make the appropriate score, then you can take the exam up to four more times (visit the Mathematics Department website for more details). If you still do not make the appropriate score, then you will enroll in a lower-level Math class that you meet the requirements to take. At Orientation, your academic advisor will work with you to determine which Math class you qualify for that is also a pre-requisite for the higher level Math classes that you will be required to take eventually.

If the ACCUPLACER QRAS (Math) is required for you and you do not pass it, then you will be required to enroll in both a 3-credit hour Math lecture class and an additional 3-credit hour support lab. At Orientation, your academic advisor will work with you to determine which Math lecture and support lab you need to take.

English Placement Exam

If your ACT/SAT scores do not qualify you for English 101, you should take the English placement exam (ACCUPLACER Writing Exam). To qualify for English 101, you must have one of the following:

ACT English subscore of at least 18
SAT ERW of at least 500
ACCUPLACER Writing Exam score of least 250 on a previous attempt
3.0 final overall high school GPA (on a 4.0 scale)

If you do not meet one of these requirements and have never taken a college-level English course, you should schedule the English placement exam.

The English Placement Exam (ACCUPLACER Writing Exam) is offered on select weekdays from 2:00-5:30 PM with both in-person and remote options. After you complete the registration form, a representative from the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment will contact you to schedule your exam.

If you need to take the exam from home, indicate that you need a remote testing option on the registration form.

Important note: You must take the English Placement Exam BEFORE attending Orientation to ensure proper course placement. Please plan accordingly.

To access this form, you will be prompted to log in with your University email (C00######@louisiana.edu) and password.

Is there a fee for taking the exam?

There is no fee for this exam. You can take it free of charge.

Are practice resources available?

Yes! Free practice materials are available to help you prepare

How many questions are on the exam and is it timed?

There are 25 multiple choice questions on the exam and it is not timed.

Who can I contact with questions about the exam?

Please contact accuplacer@louisiana.edu with questions.

If you do not qualify for ENGL 101 and do not pass the English Placement Exam, you must enroll in ENGL 103 and ENGL 104 (3-credit hour lecture and required 3-credit hour support lab).

To pass the English Placement Exam you must earn a score of at least 250. Doing so will enable you to enroll in ENGL 101 without an additional support lab.