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Required Tests



Tests Used Primarily for Course Placement

Before students can register for certain lower-division courses, most are required to take tests, the results of which will be used for placing students at the appropriate instructional levels. Academic departments use tests for placement in six areas: rhetoric and writing, entry-level mathematics, freshman technical chemistry, computer sciences, foreign languages, and mechanical engineering. Students who perform well enough on these tests can receive credit by examination for courses in those areas.

In the School of Journalism, Journalism 315, and other upper-division courses have prerequisites that require satisfactory performance on one or two basic skills tests, which are not used as bases for awarding course credit.



Who Must Take Required Placement Tests

Students can be exempt from taking tests that otherwise would be required of them if:
  • they score high enough on the College Board Advanced Placement Examinations in calculus or chemistry, or on International Baccalaureate Examinations in chemistry or mathematics, or
  • they took College Board Advanced Placement Examinations in foreign languages or International Baccalaureate Examinations in foreign languages.

To be exempt from the required placement tests students must have a score on record with the University of Texas at Austin. Students who have taken the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in Calculus, or International Baccalaureate Examination in Mathematics, but have not received their score, and do not have a score on the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 or 2 will be required to take the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 during their orientation.


Students who do not plan to register for a course for which a test is required do not have to take the test. They may, however, choose to take the test to attempt to earn credit by examination, provided they do not already have a passing or a failing grade for the course.


Where Required Tests May Be Taken

Students should take The College Board (CB) SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 or Level 2 in CB test centers while still in high school. The SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 is offered on campus during testing periods scheduled by UT Austin.


All other required tests can be taken only on the UT Austin campus. A UTEID is required for taking tests on campus.


RHE 306 PLACEMENT

A satisfactory score on The SAT Reasoning Test Writing Section or the ACT Writing Section will allow students to claim credit for RHE 306. All students should plan to take the Writing Section of The SAT Reasoning Test or the Writing Section of the ACT while still in high school.

In addition to a satisfactory score on the SAT Reasoning Test Writing Section students may receive credit for RHE 306 through transfer credit for an English course equivalent to UT Austin's RHE 306, or a satisfactory score on The College Board Advanced Placement Examination in English Language and Composition.

Examinations used for course placement in RHE 306 for the Academic Year 2007-2008*

Examination
Scores
UT Austin Credit Earned
SAT Reasoning Test Writing Section 600-800 RHE 306, CR
ACT Writing Section 26 and higher RHE 306, CR




MATHEMATICS PLACEMENT
CB SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1. Almost all mathematics courses have as a prerequisite either a minimum satisfactory score on the CB SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 or credit for a specific college mathematics course with a minimum satisfactory grade. Also, a Math Level 1 Test score is a prerequisites for enrollment in Computer Sciences 303E, 305J and 307. Students meeting a course prerequisite with an SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 score should save their score reports until after the first day of classes. Although SAT Mathematics Level 1 is the preferred test, students may use a score on the CB SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2. Contact Instructional Assessment and Evaluation for information on how the SAT Mathematics Level 2 Test is evaluated. The Math Level 1 or 2 Test also serves as a basis for credit in M 305G, a precalculus course.

The SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 requires the use of a scientific or graphing calculator. Calculators will NOT be provided; you must bring one with you for your use. Calculators may not be shared during the test.

The 2006-2007 Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1 score requirement and other prerequisites for some mathematics courses are given below. The prerequisites and course descriptions are also given in the official Course Schedule each semester.

Math Course
Prerequisite
M 408C
Differential and Integral Calculus
Math Level 1 Test score of at least 560 or a grade of at least a C in M 305G or M 304E*, or C in M 308K or M 408K (not 403K).
M 408K
Differential Calculus (first course in three-part calculus sequence)
Math Level 1 Test score of at least 520 or a grade of at least a C in M 305G or M 304E*.
M 305G
Elementary Functions and Coordinate Geometry (Pre-Calculus)
Math Level 1 Test score of at least 480 or a grade of at least a C in M 301, or M 304E*.
M 303D
Applicable Mathematics
Math Level 1 Test score of at least 430 or a grade of at least a C in M 301.
M 316
Elementary Statistical Methods
Math Level 1 Test score of at least 430 or a grade of at least a C in M 301.
* M 304E, Trigonometry, is not offered at UT Austin.

Although no other mathematics course requires a Math Level 1 Test score, the Mathematics Department does suggest that students would be well advised to take the test to determine their level of preparation before taking any UT Austin mathematics course. The Math Level 1 Test may be repeated in CB test centers but may be taken only once on the UT Austin campus.



CHEMISTRY PLACEMENT
UT Austin Test for Credit in Chemistry 301. This test is recommended for engineering majors (with the exception of electrical and computer engineering majors) and physics majors who have studied chemistry in high school and who do not have credit for CH 301 or it equivalent. The test is appropriate for any student with a strong background in high school chemistry. Students should seek advice from an adviser or other designated faculty member in their major area about receiving credit for required courses. CH 301, Principles of Chemistry I, is the first semester technical chemistry course specified for most students majoring in the natural sciences or engineering. It can fulfill part of the natural science requirement for other degrees. The test may be taken only once.



FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT
Students with prior knowledge of American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Vietnamese, SpanishRussian, however acquired, must take a placement test before enrolling for the first time in a UT Austin course in that language.

Exceptions: (a) Students transferring college credit in most foreign languages are not required, but are strongly encouraged, to take a placement test before enrolling in a UT Austin course in the language for which they have transfer credit; (b) If a student has eligible scores on the AP or IB exams, he or she may not be required to take the placement test. However, if a student with no college credit in Spanish would like to enroll in a higher-level course, he or she must take the placement examination before enrolling in any Spanish course.

College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations and The International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations in foreign languages are used by UT Austin for placement and credit.

Placement tests are offered regularly in American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Polish, Russian,Vietnamese, and Spanish. Tests in foreign languages other than these are scheduled on an individual basis; students who need to take placement tests in such languages should make arrangements directly with the appropriate foreign language departments.

Tests used for placement in foreign languages generally serve as bases for credit by examination in one to four courses. Foreign language tests may be taken only once.


For meeting a foreign language requirement, the language can be, but does not have to be, the same one studied in high school. As a general rule, students who choose to meet a requirement by continuing the study of a language they studied in high school, rather than by beginning the study of a new language, should plan to take the language test.



JOURNALISM COURSE PREREQUISITES

The School of Journalism Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation Test (GSP)
A satisfactory score on the GSP is a prerequisite to registration for Journalism 315 and any upper-division journalism course. Students with transfer credit for Journalism 315, or its equivalent, must have a score of at least 45 on the GSP test before they can enroll in their first UT Austin upper-division courses in journalism. Each Course Schedule lists journalism courses for which the GSP is a prerequisite. If you think you should be exempted from the GSP Test, please consult with the School of Journalism. The test does not serve as a basis for course credit. The test may be taken a maximum of three times.


The School of Journalism Word Processing Test
Demonstration of satisfactory word processing skill is a prerequisite for registration for Journalism 315 or any upper-division course in journalism. If you think you should be exempted from the Word Processing Test, please consult with the School of Journalism. The test does not serve as a basis for course credit. The test may be taken a maximum of three times.




Arrangements for Students with Disabilities

Any student with a documented physical or cognitive disability who requires academic accommodations should:

  1. contact Services for Students with Disabilities in the Office of the Dean of Students at (512) 471-6259 for an official letter outlining authorized accommodations, as soon as possible;
  2. provide a copy of this official letter to the Testing Services division of Instructional Assessment and Evaluation at least five business days before the day of the examination;
  3. contact IAE at (512) 232-2662 at least five business days before the day of the examination to make arrangements to take the test.



   

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