Step 2: Placement Testing

Be prepared for Orientation

Make sure you are up-to-date with requirements and assignments on the fall accepted student checklist or spring accepted student checklist.

Your second step in the orientation experience!

Within two weeks of making your enrollment deposit, you need to take your placement test(s).

We will enroll you in the classes you need for fall, using your placement test(s) as a guide on the best options for you. You’ll review your schedule at Orientation with university staff who can answer any questions you may have.

Your UMassD login is required in order to access the tests. If you haven't already, activate your UMassD login. (You will need to set up multifactor authentication with the Duo mobile app.)

Please read all instructions prior to taking the test(s). Links for the tests can be found after the corresponding instructions.

Math

Algebra

All Charlton College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Nursing & Health Sciences majors and students majoring in math, science, or social science need to complete the Algebra Placement Test.

The Algebra Placement Test has a time limit of 2 hours. You may use a calculator, but no additional sources.

We encourage you to try the practice questions for this placement test prior to taking the test itself. Warming up your math skills prior to the placement test will help you attain your best score.

Algebra placement test topics include solving linear equations and inequalities, graphing linear equations, finding the slope of a line, working with polynomials, solving systems of linear equations, working with rational expressions, factoring, and solving quadratic equations and their applications.

When you have finished the Algebra Placement Test, the end page indicating you have finished will contain the link to the Pre-Calculus Placement Test. You cannot skip over the Algebra Placement Test to take the Pre-Calculus Placement Test.

Calculus

Students with majors that require calculus also need to take the Pre-Calculus Placement Test:

all engineering majors (including computer science, physics & data science)
chemistry
math (BA and BS)
pre-engineering & pre-science
anyone interested in attending medical school after college

If your major does not require calculus and you aren't interest in attending medical school, the Pre-Calculus Placement Test is optional. If you are interested in taking a calculus course in the future, we highly recommend taking the Pre-Calculus Placement Test now, rather than waiting.

The Pre-Calculus Placement Test has a time limit of 2 hours. It must be completed in one sitting. You may use a calculator, but no additional sources.

We encourage you to try the practice questions for this placement test prior to taking the test itself. Warming up your math skills prior to the placement test will help you attain your best score.

Pre-calculus placement test topics include basic algebra (percent, negative and fractional exponents, multiplying polynomials, factoring simple polynomials, simplifying rational and radical expressions), equations and functions such as linear, quadratic, and simple rational and polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric.

Take the math test(s)

If you encounter an error, please contact the Academic Resource Center at 508.910.6866.

Chemistry

The following programs need to take the Chemistry Assessment Test:

arts & sciences undeclared: pre-engineering & pre-science
biology
bioengineering
chemistry
civil engineering
engineering undeclared
medical laboratory science
mechanical engineering
nursing
pre-health track

The Chemistry Assessment Test will help us identify your strengths and weaknesses in math that could affect your success in chemistry. We ask you to complete it to the best of your ability. Based on your score, you may be offered some support strategies in the form of summer programming. Be on the lookout for an email from the Academic Resource Center.

The assessment consists of 20 arithmetic and algebra questions. You will have 40 minutes to complete the test. You may use a calculator and scrap paper.

take the chemistry assessment

Foreign Language

Students whose majors require the study of a foreign language, as well as anyone interested in taking a foreign language class at UMassD, must complete a language placement exam—unless they have never studied a foreign language previously. Students with no prior language experience will simply begin at the introductory (101) level. Your test must be completed in one sitting.

Majors that require the study of a foreign language:

Art History
Communication
Crime and Justice Studies
Economics BA
English
Health and Society BA
History
Liberal Arts
Mathematics BA
Philosophy
Political Science
Portuguese
Psychology
Public Administration BA
Spanish
Sociology/Anthropology
Women's and Gender Studies

Note:

If your major is not listed above but you are interested in studying a foreign language in college, you are encouraged to take a language placement exam at this time.
If you have never studied a foreign language and are not a native speaker, you do not need to take a language placement exam. You will begin with an introductory (101) level course.
Available tests: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. If you are a native speaker or previously studied a foreign language for which a test is not available, please discuss options with a professional advisor in the STAR Center.

take the foreign language test

2024-25 Math course placement guide

College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)

Biology including Marine Biology (BIO)

Score	Placement
Algebra score greater than or equal to 70 AND Pre-calculus score greater than or equal to 47	MTH 149
Algebra score greater than or equal to 70	MTH 148
Algebra score between 45-69	MTH 148E*
Algebra score less than 45	MTH 100†

Chemistry (CHM) & Mathematics (MTH)

Score	Placement
Algebra score greater than or equal to 70 AND Pre-calculus score greater than or equal to 55	MTH 151
Algebra score greater than or equal to 70 OR Pre-calculus score greater than or equal to 55	MTH 150
Algebra score between 45-69 AND Pre-calculus score less than 55	MTH 150E*
Algebra score less than 45	MTH 100†

Economics BA & BS (ECO-BA, ECO-BS)

Students are required to take both Algebra and Calculus Placement Tests.

Placement course will be determined by the Department Chairperson.

Healthcare Administration (HCA)

Score	Placement
Algebra score greater than or equal to 60	MTH 146
Algebra score between 45-59	MTH 146E*
Algebra score less than 45	MTH 100†

Psychology (PSY), Political Science (PSC), Public Administration (PAD), and Health and Society BS (HLT-BS)

Score	Placement
Algebra score greater than or equal to 60 OR SAT Math greater than or equal to 550	MTH 147
Algebra score between 45-59 AND SAT Math less than 550 OR No SAT	MTH 147E*
Algebra score less than 45 AND SAT Math less than 550 OR No SAT	MTH 100†

All other majors in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)

All other majors in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS): Crime & Justice Studies (CJS), Communication (COM), English (ENL), History (HIS), Health and Society BA (HTL-BA), Liberal Arts (LAR), Philosophy (PHL), Portuguese (POR), Sociology & Anthropology (SOA), Spanish (SPA), Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) will be placed in MTH 140 or MTH 140E.

Charlton College of Business (CCB)

Charlton College of Business (CCB): all majors

Score	Placement
Algebra score greater than or equal to 60	MTH 146
Algebra score between 45-59	MTH 146E*
Algebra score less than 45	MTH 100†

College of Engineering (COE)

College of Engineering (COE): all majors

Score	Placement
Algebra score greater than or equal to 70 AND Pre-calculus score greater than or equal to 55	MTH 153
Algebra score greater than or equal to 70 OR Pre-calculus score greater than or equal to 55	MTH 150
Algebra score between 45-69 AND Pre-calculus score less than 55	MTH 150E*
Algebra score less than 45	MTH 100†

College of Nursing & Health Sciences (CNHS)

Nursing (NUR) & Medical Lab Science (MLS)

Score	Placement
Algebra score greater than or equal to 70	MTH 148
Algebra score between 45-69	MTH 148E*
Algebra score less than 45	MTH 100†

College of Visual & Performing Arts (CVPA)

All majors in CVPA will take MTH 140.

*E - Enhanced section - 3 credits course with an extra hour of class time scheduled.
†MTH 100 - Refresher math course that does not earn academic credits (may delay progression in the major).

Notes

Students who score less than 45 on the Algebra Placement exam will be invited to participate in a Math Summer or Winter Bridge program in order to improve their placement and potentially place directly into the class specific for their major.

Students whose majors require calculus (MTH 151 or 153) who score less than 55 on the Pre-Calculus Placement Exam will be offered a Math Summer Bridge program in order to improve their placement and potentially place directly into 151 or 153.

Students who place into "E" sections may also choose to participate in the Math Summer or Winter Bridge program in order to improve their placement and potentially place into the regular (not "E") section of the course.

Math classes