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Placement Tests

Placement tests are required for all Institute for English Language Programs (IEL) courses, some economics and mathematics courses, ENVR S-200, and MUSE S-101, as described below. Students are advised to take placement tests as early as possible. Those who need accommodations for placement tests should call the disability services coordinator at (617) 495-0977. Photo IDs must be presented at on-campus tests.

Economics Proficiency Exam

This exam is required for the following economics courses in the Summer School: ECON S-1010, S-1012, S-1123, S-1530, and S-1941. Students who do not take or pass the economics proficiency exam are withdrawn from courses that require it. See Economics for more information. The test dates are as follows. (Both are in Emerson 105):

English Language Placement Test

This test is required for all IEL courses except for students who take the post-test in an IEL course at the Extension School in the previous term. IEL students are assigned to classes based on their English language placement test or post-test scores. Local students who must meet the English proficiency requirement can meet the requirement by earning a score of 70 on the May 29 test. Test locations will be announced.

*Reservations are required for the May 29 test. Students may reserve seats online until noon the day of the test.

Mathematics Placement Test

This test is required for MATH S-Y, MATH S-Ar, S-1a, S-1b, and S-1ab. It is offered online from the start of registration through June 22 and on campus at the times listed below. Both tests will take place in Science Center E.

The test is recommended for MATH S-21a, S-21b, S-21u, S-101, S-152, S-302, S-307, and S-308. The test for these courses is available only online. See Mathematics for more information.

Test of Critical Reading and Writing Skills

This test is required for ENVR S-200 and MUSE S-101. Students who pass the test are eligible for these Summer School courses (and for the Extension School course EXPO E-25). Students who register for these courses initially have a registration status of “Waiting for Placement.” Students must pass the test and complete the other prerequisites listed in the course descriptions before they are registered or waitlisted in the class.

This is a timed one-hour test and must be taken online. It is available daily, between 4 am and 11:30 pm, until May 26 for Summer School courses. International students should take the test by April 20 to know their scores by the May 1 deadline for requesting an I-20. All students must take the test by May 26 to know their scores by the June 1 registration deadline. Late registration fees are not waived for students who take the test after May 18.

Test results are posted online, as follows: