Placement Guide

COVID19 UPDATE:

Math, English and World Language Placement

• Math

  • Mathematics placement will be based on the UW Math Placement Test, ACT math subscore, or SAT math subscore. All students are required to submit one of the listed test scores for mathematics placement. Beginning March 15, 2021 students can register for the UW Math Placement Test at https://exams.wisc.edu/placement/regionaltesting/information.php.

• English
  • Students will be placed into an English class based on ACT or SAT subscores (if available).
    • If students do not report an ACT/SAT or did not take either exam, students will be required to complete the English placement exam.  Registration for the exams can be found at https://exams.wisc.edu/placement/regionaltesting/information.php.
• World Language
  • If a student hopes to continue in a world language (Spanish, German, French), they will be required to take the appropriate world language placement exam.  Registration can be accessed at https://exams.wisc.edu/placement/regionaltesting/information.php.
    • Heritage speakers/speakers of Spanish will be referred to the World Language Coordinator (Alicia de Gregorio – through Summer 2021, Pilar Melero – Fall 2021) to determine whether or not they should take the UW System Spanish Placement test.
    •  Students interested in taking Arabic, Chinese or Japanese should contact the World Language Coordinator.

While students are not charged a fee the day a regional placement test is taken, a one-time fee (i.e., 'Course Placement Fee') will be placed on students' first tuition bill.  

NOTE:  New students are required to submit ACT/SAT scores or take the English and/or math placement test unless they have transfer coursework or credit by exam scores in these areas.  More information regarding equivalencies for test scores and retrocredits can be found at https://www.uww.edu/testing/exams-for-credit.

Students will need to register on the University of Wisconsin Center for Placement Testing website (https://exams.wisc.edu/placement/regionaltesting/information.php) for any placement exam.  Note there will be some lag time when UW-Whitewater will receive your scores, therefore, we strongly suggest you test (and submit your test) at least a week before your SOAR date.

We ask that transfer and non-traditional aged students connect directly with your assigned academic advisor or the math department (262-472-1313) and/or English department (262-472-1036) for assistance.  International students are required to take the math placement exam.  

It is strongly encouraged that current students take the paper-based math and English placement tests.  If this cannot be done, current students may take the un-proctored online placement tests.  If a student pursues the latter route, the student must contact the appropriate department chair for placement levels to be individually added to one’s student record.  Contact information can be found below:

Angela Harlan - Math Department Chair
harrisak@uww.edu 

Elena Levy-Navarro - English Department Chair
levye@uww.edu 

UW-Whitewater at Rock County students - please visit the following website for placement information:  https://www.uww.edu/rock/solution-center#placement-test-faqs