Testing & Placement

We recommend that students familiarize themselves with the format of each test by reviewing the information and sample questions linked below. With the exception of the math test, all placement tests can only be taken once. Because these tests are used to register students for appropriate courses, we encourage them to simply do their best individual work at the level that is typically comfortable for them. We want their time at Rutgers to be successful and accurate placement will enable that.

Students must ensure they are feeling well when they test. Additionally, placement tests should be completed in a quiet, solitary environment. Reference materials cannot be sued. No books, cell phones, or outside assistance of any kind is permitted. Test materials may not be copied or shared, as they are the copyright of Rutgers University or McGraw-Hill.

Once you begin a test, you must complete that subject within the allotted time; you cannot pause the test. If you finish any section early, you may go back to review your answers, or you may submit your answers and move to the next section.

Once you submit your first placement test, please complete the remaining subjects within 72 hours. You may do all required tests consecutively or take a break between subjects.

Be sure you are feeling well and have a strong, secure, and reliable internet connection when taking your tests. You must use a laptop or desktop computer to complete your tests – no cell phones.

If you encounter a problem while taking a test, do not continue or submit the test. Stop testing and email us with the following information:

• Your NetID
• Your nine-digit RUID number
• A description of the issue
• A screenshot, if possible

There is no fee to take the placement tests. However, students must pay their Rutgers acceptance fee to activate their Rutgers NETID, which allows them to log into the test sites. Students will be able to access the tests within two business days after that payment is made.

Each student must take their placement tests on their own, and their answers must be based on their accumulated knowledge and skill in that subject. This is important so that we can get a fair assessment of that student's abilities and place them into classes where they can succeed. An incorrect placement may result in a lower GPA, repeated coursework, and a delay in graduation. Cheating on the placement tests is a violation of the university’s academic integrity policy and may result in disciplinary action. 

Reference materials cannot be used during any placement testing. No books, cell phones, or calculators are allowed. An on-screen calculator will be available if required. Scratch paper is permitted and must be discarded after you complete your tests. Test materials may not be copied or shared, as they are the copyright of Rutgers University or McGraw Hill.

Academic Integrity Agreement

Since placement tests are completed online, it is necessary that students have access to a compatible computer and the capabilities required for each test. We have outlined the technology required for each test type, along with important considerations that will help students prepare. Many common troubleshooting issues are addressed here.

Generally, placements are available within 1-2 weeks after testing. However, it's common for manually graded language tests to take several weeks.

Students can find their placements one of two ways:

1) In the Placement Testing section of your myRutgers dashboard (if you're an incoming student) OR

2) Via Degree Navigator (DN). After logging into DN, click the "My Course List" tab on the left. You will find all processed placements towards the bottom of the list. You can click the course/placement code hyperlink to get the full description of your placement.

Learn more about how to interpret math test results.

For First-Year Students:

After completing your required tests, you should still register for and attend your advising day, even if you are waiting for or don't know your placement results. Advisors can access processed placements and can guide your course selection.

An English placement status of "DPT" indicates departmental review. Once the English placement test is reviewed by the writing program faculty, your placement will be updated.

If you are placed into a course for which you sent qualifying AP scores through CollegeBoard, don't worry. Your academic deans will be able to see that before creating your schedule.

Note for Upperclassman:

If your placement is needed to register for a course, you can register via WebReg once your appropriate placement is on file.

Consider Retaking the Math Test

Students are allowed up to two attempts on the math placement test, as long as the attempts are taken within 365 days of each other and the student has not taken a math course after their 1st attempt. You will find more information on Math Retesting, under the "ALEKS Math Test" tab on this site.

Rutgers Business School and STEM-major students are strongly encouraged to retest if they do not place into Calculus I on the first attempt.

Rutgers (NB) uses the ALEKS PPL (McGraw-Hill) placement test, part of an adaptive learning platform widely used by universities nationwide. Each take of the test allows you up to 3 hours to submit up to 30 open-ended (not multiple choice) questions. Most students spend 60-90 minutes on the assessment. This test is adaptive, meaning your answers determine subsequent questions. Because of this, you cannot go back and change or review your answers to previous questions. Click here for a brief overview video. Before you start the test, a tools tutorial will show you how to enter the answers.

Respondus Lockdown Browser™ is required for this test: Click here to download the required version prior to testing. A functioning webcam is required for Respondus Monitor to operate. Click here to check the system requirements at the bottom of the page. If you do not have access to the necessary technology, please email otp@echo.rutgers.edu. When asked for ID, any photo ID is acceptable (high school, license, etc.) If you are under 18, please obtain the consent of a parent or guardian prior to testing.

Log in with your Rutgers NETID (e.g., abc123), not your nine-digit RUID number, select CONTINUE, and proceed to take the test.

During the test, DO NOT use your own calculator. An on-screen calculator will be provided if required. Scrap paper is permitted – dispose after testing. Do not use the back button on your browser once you’ve begun testing, this may result in inaccurate results. Once you start the test, you must complete it in one sitting. Once a student submits their first placement test, they are expected to complete the remaining subjects within 72 hours. They may do all required tests consecutively or take a break between subjects.

(Note: These math instructions are also available in Mandarin HERE.)

Stop testing and immediately send an email from your Rutgers email to otp@echo.rutgers.edu, including your RUID and the exact issue encountered, with a screenshot if possible.

Students are allowed up to two attempts on the math test and are highly encouraged to retest. Please note that students who decide to proceed with taking a math course based on the 1st attempt are ineligible to retest. Math retesting is only for students who haven’t completed a math course at Rutgers. The math retest does not fall under the 72-hour timeframe, however, it should be completed within one year (365 days) of the first attempt, or sooner. Students unsatisfied with their initial math placement score are strongly encouraged to retest; students typically improve on their 2nd attempt. To unlock the 2nd attempt, which can be completed after a 48-hour cool-off period, you must complete 8 hours of individually customized prep and learning modules in ALEKS; this is also the link for completing the 2nd attempt. Ideally, you should retest soon after completing the learning modules, but no later than one year (365 days) from your first attempt. We will use the higher of the two test scores for your placement. Beyond these two opportunities to take the test, there are no additional options for retesting.

Rutgers Business School and STEM-major students are strongly encouraged to retest if they do not place into Calculus I on the first attempt.

• Real numbers (fractions, integers, and percentages)
• Equations and inequalities (linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations)
• Linear and quadratic functions (graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas), exponents and polynomials (integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations), rational expressions (rational equations and rational functions)
• Radical expressions (higher roots and rational exponents)
• Exponentials and logarithms (function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations)
• Geometry and trigonometry (perimeter, area, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).

Sample Questions

For additional practice, see the final exam review exercises for each course:

• Elementary Algebra
• Intermediate Algebra
• Precalculus

On the test, you will see some, but not all, of the math you have learned previously. It is a placement test, not a preview of math courses at Rutgers (NB). It is designed to identify if you are prepared for a particular course.

One of the advantages of the ALEKS placement testing system is that it identifies exactly where the individual student is having trouble and customizes the learning modules specifically to those areas, allowing them to brush up where needed without taking an entire course and then starting in the right course in the fall semester. Sometimes, students have trouble with a particular section simply because they are rusty on that topic. Other times, students may not do well on a particular section because courses taken elsewhere may vary depending on which topics they emphasize. The ALEKS modules help fill in any gaps. Being able to work through these modules and then take the test a second time is a great opportunity not just to improve your placement but, more importantly, to build your math skills so that you are ready to begin your math studies at Rutgers with an appropriate course.

If your school is not listed, contact otp@echo.rutgers.edu

The English test is delivered on the eLearning online platform and is allotted 90 minutes; the test MUST be completed in one sitting. The English test consists of four sections:

Tests should only be taken for languages with which a student has experience. Taking the placement test fulfills the language requirement but does not necessarily obligates a student to continue studying that language. Likewise, student do not need to be proficient in the language or plan to continue studying it here at Rutgers. We are looking to assess their incoming knowledge level in the language.

If a student has proficiency in more than one language, they should test in the language they are most likely to study in college. However, there is no limit to how many language tests a student can take.

Students must not test in a language if they have no background in it. Students planning to start studying a new world language at Rutgers should NOT take the test in the new language. Instead, they would begin at the elementary level.

There are no exemptions for world language testing (e.g., IB exam, dual enrollment); however, students may receive credit after their school deans review their transcripts. Please see the "Exemptions" header for more information.

Note: We do not offer an American Sign Language (ASL) placement test. If you do not have experience in any other world language that we offer, you are exempt from the world language placement test. Please contact your school if you have further questions.

World Language Testing is Required for:

• Incoming SAS first-year students 
• SEBS students planning to complete the 5-year Ed.M. for New Jersey Teacher Certification
• International students who plan to study their first language (other than English) at Rutgers 
• Students with experience in a language who wish to continue studying the language at Rutgers

And Optional for:

• RBS students
• MGSA students
• SoN students
• SoE students
• SEBS students not planning to complete the 5-year Ed.M teaching certification
• EMSOP students

We offer a wide array of language tests. You can click the language titles below for more departmental information about each language test. The maximum times are included in the chart below. However, students may find they complete the test in less time. Note: Once a student submits their first placement test, they are expected to complete the remaining subjects within 72 hours. They may do all required tests consecutively or take a break between subjects. 

(*) Important Note about our Manually Graded Tests

It is common for manually graded language tests to take longer than the standard two weeks. First-year students should not be concerned if their language requirement is not marked complete in the student portal after taking the test; they should continue with their enrollment pathway while their placement is being determined. Students are welcome to follow up with the Testing and Placement office to check on the status of their placement test after 4-6 weeks. 

Students should email the Testing and Placement office for more assistance: otp@echo.rutgers.edu. 

Math and English testing are required unless you qualify for an exemption. If you qualify for any of the outlined math exemptions and have already sent your scores to Rutgers, you are exempt from the ENTIRE Math test and should not complete any portion. If you qualify for any of the outlined English exemptions and have already sent your scores to Rutgers, you are exempt from the ENTIRE English test and should not complete it. 

Senior year AP, IB exams, and college transfer credit will be evaluated, and appropriate credit will be awarded, but they do not exempt a first-year student from Rutgers Placement Testing. Once official scores or transcripts are received, credits will be issued accordingly and supersede any placement test results. Please complete all required placement tests by June 1.

Note about Advanced Placement (AP) exams: AP exams must have already been taken in 2024 or earlier to be considered for a placement testing exemption. 

World Language Exemptions  

World language placement testing is required for all School of Arts and Sciences students and International students who plan to study their first language (other than English) at Rutgers. There are no exemptions for world language testing (e.g., IB exam, dual enrollment); however, students may receive credit after their school deans review their transcripts. Please see the "World Language Placement Test" header for the language requirements list by school.

Note: We do not offer an American Sign Language (ASL) placement test. If you do not have experience in any other world language that we offer, you are exempt from the world language placement test. Please contact your school if you have further questions.

Transfer students may be exempt from placement tests that their Rutgers school generally requires. Therefore, they should only test if advised by their Rutgers advisor or indicated on their transfer summary/credit evaluation. 

Note to transfer students: If you've already had an official transcript sent to Rutgers, please review the Transfer Credit Evaluation site to see if an evaluation has been completed. 

How to Send ACT, SAT, and AP Scores

Please note that exemptions only count after official qualifying scores have been sent to Rutgers. If a student has already sent their scores, there is no need to send them again. Refer to the appropriate link for more information:

ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/scores/send/ 

SAT: https://sat.collegeboard.org/scores/send-sat-scores 

AP: https://apscore.collegeboard.org/scores

For questions regarding college-level academic credits and courses, please contact the appropriate advising office:

School of Arts and Sciences (SAS)

• First-year students: firstyears@sas.rutgers.edu 
• Transfer students: transfers@sas.rutgers.edu

School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS)

• First-year students: first_year@sebs.rutgers.edu 
• Transfer students: transfers@sebs.rutgers.edu

School of Engineering (SOE)

• First-year students: firstyear@soe.rutgers.edu 
• Transfer students: transfer@soe.rutgers.edu

School of Nursing (SoN)

• First-year students: firstyear_nb@sn.rutgers.edu

Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA)

• First-year & Transfer students: advisement@mgsa.rutgers.edu

Rutgers Business School (RBS)

• First-year students: firstyears@business.rutgers.edu
• Transfer students: alexandra.charles@business.rutgers.edu

Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

• First-year & Transfer students: academicservices@pharmacy.rutgers.edu

Click the hyperlink to open a handout, and be sure to read it thoroughly.

Placement Test Info in Mandarin

ALEKS Math Score Chart

Interpret Your Math/Chemistry Placement

Interpret Your English Placement