Testing and Course Placement
Contact information:
Location: CAS 212
Testing Lab: CAS 207
Testing Hotline: 908-737-0340
Website: http://placementtest.kean.edu
The School of General Studies (SGS) conducts the placement testing of incoming freshmen and freshmen-level transfer students prior to registering for classes. Incoming freshmen are required to take the ACCUPLACER® Computerized Placement Tests in reading, writing and mathematics unless they are notified that they have been exempted from all or part of this testing due to their SAT scores. Freshmen-level transfer students are also required to take these placement tests, unless their prior college course-work or SAT scores justify exempting them from all or part of testing. The criteria used for SAT exemption is as follows:
- READING: Students with SAT-Critical Reading (Verbal) scores of 520 or higher (on the former SAT) or scores of 480 or higher on the Evidence-based Reading & Writing section of the Redesigned SAT are exempt from the reading portion of the test (i.e., the Reading Comprehension section).
- WRITING: Students with SAT-Writing scores of 520 or higher (on the former SAT) or scores of 480 or higher on the Evidence-based Reading & Writing section of the Redesigned SAT are exempt from the writing portion of the test (i.e., the Essay section).
- MATH: Students with SAT-Math scores of 530 or higher (on either SAT test) are exempt from the math portion of the test (i.e., the Elementary Algebra section).
- Students with SAT-Critical Reading (Verbal) scores at least 520, and SAT-Writing scores of at least 520 on the former SAT (or scores of at least 480 on the Evidence-based Reading & Writing section of the Redesigned SAT) and SAT-Math scores of at least 530 (on either SAT test) are exempt from all of the parts of the test indicated above. Students with a 23 Composite ACT score are also exempt from placement testing.
- Students exempt from the Elementary Algebra section who are planning to major in accounting, business, economics, finance, management, marketing, mathematics, computer science, or other applied or natural science, or who have applied/been accepted into the NJCSTM Program, are also required to take the College Level Mathematics section of the test. The CLM is used to determine preparedness for higher-level math courses such as Pre-Calculus and Calculus . Students not majoring in these areas are encouraged (but not required) to take the CLM.
The purpose of placement testing is to determine incoming students’ levels of proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics. The initial course placements of incoming freshmen are individualized in order to maximize each student’s potential for academic success.
Although Kean University does not have a Foreign Language requirement, students who have previously studied FRENCH, GERMAN, or SPANISH in high school and plan to continue studying that language, are required to take the Web-CAPE Foreign Language Placement Exam to determine appropriate placement.