TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PLACEMENT TESTING
INFORMATION FOR INCOMING STUDENTS – FALL 2014
WHO SHOULD USE THIS DOCUMENT
The information in this document is intended for newly admitted students (incoming freshmen or
transfer students).
This document is not applicable for current or non-matriculated students (students who are currently
enrolled in a degree seeking program and have already taken or have started taking courses as part of
their program OR students that are not formally enrolled in a degree seeking program but are taking or
are planning to take individual courses at Temple). If you are a current or non-matriculated student,
instead refer to the document Placement Testing Information for Current and Non-matriculated
Students.
INFORMATION ABOUT PLACEMENT TESTING
PURPOSE OF PLACEMENT TESTING
Temple University Placement Tests are designed to help assess mastery of certain basic skills, to point
out particular strengths and weaknesses, and to assist in designing a program of study.
Placement Tests are offered in English, Math, and Foreign Languages. Additionally, incoming students
are required to complete the New Student Questionnaire (NSQ) as part of the placement testing
process.
WHO MUST TAKE PLACEMENT TESTS
All incoming freshmen must use the Online Placement Testing website to take the required NSQ survey
and required placement tests prior to their first semester. Required tests usually include English, Math,
and possibly Foreign Language (if they have previously studied a foreign language and meet the criteria
as stated below in the Foreign Language Placement Examination section).
All incoming transfer students must use the Online Placement Testing website to take the required NSQ
survey and required Placement Tests prior to their first semester. Prior to placement testing, transfer
students receive an Evaluation of Transfer Credit statement from the Admissions Office which has
information about the tests from which they are exempt.
WHEN DO INCOMING STUDENTS TAKE THE PLACEMENT TESTS
After students have been formally admitted and have paid the tuition deposit, the Office of Orientation
sends an email to the student’s Temple email account explaining next steps, including placement
testing.
For incoming students, all placement tests are taken online.
For freshmen, the Orientation email includes a link to Online Placement Testing. For transfer students,
the email includes a link to Online Transfer Orientation (a brief, but required online tutorial). Toward
the end of the Online Transfer Orientation tutorial, transfer students are given the link to Online
Placement Testing.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities requiring accommodations for Placement Testing must first contact Disability
Resources and Services before they start placement testing.
HOW DO STUDENTS RECEIVE THE RESULTS OF THEIR PLACEMENT TESTS
Test results are made available to students when they meet with their academic advisor.
Students who take the English or Math placement test also receive an automated email sent to the
Temple email account containing test results and other information. Emails are not sent with Foreign
Language test results, but results are available when students meet with their advisor.
MAY STUDENTS RETAKE PLACEMENT TESTS
Students should direct all inquiries to retake a Placement Test to their academic advisor.
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PLACEMENT TESTS
The English, Math and Foreign Language Placement tests are timed tests. Once the student begins a
test, a timer starts and continues running even if the student exits the test or closes the browser before
completing the test. Once time runs out, the student will not be able to go back in to finish the test.
Therefore, students should not start taking one of the timed tests unless they have enough
uninterrupted time to complete it.
When the student is ready to take an online Placement Test, they should be sure to use a computer with
a reliable internet connection and a quiet, uninterrupted environment conducive to test taking. The
student will need their AccessNet username and password to log in to Online Placement Testing.
NEW STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE (UNTIMED)
The New Student Questionnaire (NSQ) must be completed by all students, even if they do not have to
take any other placement tests. The data collected by the survey are used to provide basic background
information describing Temple students. Temple also uses the results of this questionnaire to develop
programs and procedures to serve the needs and interests of its students. It is recommended that
students take the New Student Questionnaire first before taking any tests.
ENGLISH PLACEMENT EXAM (60 MINUTES)
GUIDELINES
All students are required to take the English Placement Test unless they transfer a course that has been
evaluated as a direct equivalent to Temple's English 0802 or 0812.*
DESCRIPTION
The English Placement Exam consists of one written essay. At test time, students choose one of
randomly presented topics on which to write. Each topic quotes a writer’s position on some issue and
students are asked to explain in their own words what the writer is saying and to take a position on the
writer’s argument. Students are not assessed based on having the “correct” position on an issue, but on
how well the student can explain the writer’s argument and present their own argument in an organized
and grammatically correct essay.
PREPARING FOR THE ENGLISH PLACEMENT EXAM
Students should print out and review the topic sheets which are available on our website at:
http://www.temple.edu/ira/exam-services/forms.html
Each topic sheet contains four topics to choose from. To be well prepared, a student should choose one
of the topic sheets and then be prepared to write an essay on any of the four topics on that sheet. At
test time, students are presented with two random topics from each of the topic sheets. Preparing for
all of the topics on one of the sheets, guarantees the student will be prepared to write on one of the
randomly presented topics at test time.
Prior to starting the exam, students should print one the topic sheets, read the exam directions carefully
and with these in mind, prepare notes for each topic. This preparation allows students to get to work
immediately once they begin the test because they have given thought to each of the potential topics.
Also available on our website are examples of passing and failing essays.
It is extremely important that the student has a printed topic sheet available at test time. Exam
readers will expect students to refer directly to the ideas in the prompts and address the specific points
presented in the chosen topic.
-------------* Transfer students who completed an English placement test at their previous institution and tested
out of their previous institution’s English Composition or comparable requirement may be waived from
the English 0802 requirement if they have documentation of their placement and have successfully
completed a higher level English/Writing course. Acceptable documentation includes an official letter
from the university’s Registrar, advising unit, a faculty member, or other appropriate university official.
MATH PLACEMENT EXAM (75 MINUTES)
GUIDELINES
All students enrolled in the following schools and colleges are required to take the Math Placement Test,
regardless of transfer credits.
•
•
•
•
•
Division of University Studies
College of Science and Technology
College of Engineering
College of Education
Fox School of Business and Management
All students within the following colleges are required to take the Math Placement Test unless they
transfer a credit bearing QA, QB or GQ designated Math course. (QA, QB and GQ designations are listed
in the far-right column of the Evaluation of Transfer Credit Statement.)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Boyer College of Music and Dance
College of Health Professions and Social Work
College of Liberal Arts
Division of Theater, Film and Media Arts
School of Media and Communication
School of Environmental Design
School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Tyler School of Art
All students considering or required to complete Math 1021: College Algebra or higher or a Science
course with a pre-requisite of Math 1021: College Algebra or higher are required to take the Math
Placement Test, regardless of transfer credits.
DESCRIPTION
The Math Placement Exam is a multiple-choice examination containing items that range in difficulty
from arithmetic and algebra to calculus readiness, and include the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Arithmetic operations
Decimals and fractions
Percents and ratios
Linear functions and
equations
Quadratic equations
Polynomials and rational
functions
•
•
•
•
•
•
Exponents and logarithms
Inequalities and absolute
values
Graphing
Word problems
Trigonometry
Functions and function
operations
Student should review basic arithmetic and algebra skills so that test scores accurately reflect the
student’s ability and enables the advisor to determine the appropriate course. Students may choose to
use the services of an online, in-depth Math review program called MyMathTest
(http://mymathtest.com).
Note: students are not allowed to use calculators during this exam.
The results of the Math Placement Exam are used to help place students in the appropriate math
course. These courses may include:
Math 0701
Math 0702
Gen Ed Quantitative
Courses
Elementary Algebra (no credit for College of Science and
Technology students)
Intermediate Algebra (no credit for College of Science and
Technology students)
Critical Reasoning and Problem Solving (0828), Digital
Mapping (0821), Investing for the Future (0822), Math for a
Digital World (0823/0923), Mathematical Patterns
(0824/0924), and Statistics in the News (0826)
Math 1011
Math 1015
Math 1021
Math 1022
Math 1031
Stat 1001
Stat 1102
Math 1041
College Mathematics
Introduction to Numbers & Figures
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Differential and Integral Calculus
Basic Quantitative Foundations for Business and Economics I
Basic Quantitative Foundations for Business and Economics II
Calculus I
SUGGESTED READINGS FOR REVIEW
Below are some suggested texts for more extensive review:
•
•
•
•
•
Integrated Arithmetic and Algebra, 2nd edition, by Bill E. Jordan and William P. Palow, Addison
Wesley
College Algebra and Trigonometry, 7th edition, by Raymond A. Barnett, Michael R. Ziegler, and
Karl E. Byleen, McGraw Hill
College Algebra, 7th edition, by Michael Sullivan, Prentice Hall
College Algebra and Trigonometry, 7th edition, by Michael Sullivan, Prentice Hall
College Algebra and Trigonometry - Basics through Pre-Calculus, by John Schiller and Mary
Wurster
Available on the Institutional Research and Assessment (IRA) website
(http://www.temple.edu/ira/exam-services/forms.html) are Math Placement Review Items - This PDF
file contains 37 review items that were developed by the Temple University Mathematics Department to
help specifically identify and review the concepts and skills needed to succeed on the current math
placement exam. The items test the student’s current grasp of important mathematical concepts and
techniques and reflect the core content areas of the current math placement exam. Once the review
items are completed, students can view the Answer Key (also on the IRA website) to determine in which
areas the student needs further review.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT EXAM (60 MINUTES)
GUIDELINES
Freshmen and transfer students who previously studied a foreign language and are not transferring a
credit-bearing, college-level foreign language course are required to take the Foreign Language
Placement Test if they are:
•
•
•
OR
in a Bachelor of Arts program in the College of Liberal Arts, College of Science and Technology,
or Tyler School of Art,
a Communication Sciences major within the College of Health Professions and Social Work,
an International Business Administration major within the Fox School of Business and
Management,
•
interested in taking a foreign language course at Temple.
DESCRIPTION
Foreign Language Placement Exams are offered in French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Each exam is multiple-choice and tests basic skills in Language Usage (choosing the appropriate word or
phrase to complete a sentence) and Reading Comprehension (interpretation of passages written in that
language).
If the student has previously studied another foreign language and wishes to be tested in that language
for a waiver, it may be possible to arrange testing. The Foreign Language Waiver Form and Procedures
for Applying for a Foreign Language Waiver can be found on the Office of the Senior Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Studies website at www.temple.edu/vpus/forms.
RESPONSES TO COMMON ONLINE PLACEMENT TESTING INQUIRIES
I only need to take the New Student Questionnaire (NSQ) because I’m exempt from all Placement Tests.
What should I do?
1. Follow the instructions in the email you received from the Office of Orientation on how to
access the Online Placement Testing and NSQ website.
2. Login to the online Placement Testing and NSQ website.
3. Click 'Take' next to NSQ.
Where may I get a copy of my Evaluation of Transfer Credit statement?
Contact the Admissions Office weekdays from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at 215-204-7200, toll-free
888-340-2222 or via email at tuadm@temple.edu.
I want to schedule an advising appointment before I take my Placement Tests.
You must take the NSQ and required Placement Test(s), before scheduling an academic
advising appointment. Please review the information stated on the Orientation website at
www.temple.edu/studentaffairs/orientation.
My AccessNet is not working?
• A typical AccessNet username resembles ‘tuxxxxx’.
• Please confirm that you activated your AccessNet account.
• If you’re still experiencing problems, please contact Computer Services at 215-204-8000.
NOTE: The ability to enter TUportal does not confirm AccessNet activation.
How may I activate my AccessNet account?
1. From the Online Placement Testing login page, select the “Forgot your password” option.
2. Select “activate my AccessNet account” in the lower right corner.
3. Follow the prompts.
4. If you’re still experiencing problems, please contact Computer Services at 215-204-8000
LINKS TO OTHER TEMPLE UNIVERSITY SITES OF INTEREST
New Student Orientation (http://www.temple.edu/studentaffairs/orientation)
Undergraduate Bulletin (http://www.temple.edu/bulletin)
University Writing Center (http://www.temple.edu/writingctr)
Math Science Resource Center (http://www.temple.edu/msrc)