Placement Testing

Please note that we are currently not conducting Placement Testing for Math and Languages. We will keep you posted once we determine how to best move forward.  Students who are advised to take a Writing Placement Test should check their FSU email and Blackboard accounts for additional information.

Every FSU student must complete Expository Writing.  It is important to accomplish this by the end of the first year.  Students may enroll in Expository Writing if they meet certain criteria including the high school GPA requirement or a score of at least 32 on the Reading section of the SAT.

Students who do not meet the criteria are eligible to enroll in Introduction to College Writing.  This may include a weekly writing studio.  Studio is an additional time each week for extra support and assistance with the coursework.  Students placed in Introduction to College Writing should take the writing placement test.  A high enough score would allow for enrollment in Expository Writing or determine if Introduction to College Writing could be taken without writing studio.

If you are placed in Introduction to College Writing and/or receive a letter regarding the Writing Placement test, you should take the writing placement test.  It is offered several times during the year.  It is online and at no cost.  If you have questions about this, you can e-mail placement@framingham.edu or first-year-writing@framingham.edu.

STEM majors - STEM majors have multiple math course requirements and are strongly encouraged to take the math placement test in order to be placed in the appropriate level math course. 

If you are not sure about your status or have questions, please e-mail placement@framingham.edu.

Non STEM majors - In most cases, 1-2 math courses are required for non STEM majors.  Please refer to the major worksheets section on the Advising page for more information about the courses required for each major.

Students who meet the high school GPA requirement may enroll in a math course without the math lab emporium; therefore, there is no need to take a math placement test.  Students who do not meet the GPA requirement may still enroll in a math course which includes the Math Lab Emporium.  Math lab is an additional time each week for extra support and assistance with the coursework.  In this situation, a student should consider taking the math placement test.  A high enough score would allow for enrollment in a math course without the lab.

If you are not sure about your status or have questions, please e-mail placement@framingham.edu.

All FSU students must satisfy the Domain I-C language requirement.  This is accomplished in one of the following ways:

  1. taking one semester of a World Language course (please see the catalogue for options)
  2. transferring a college level language course
  3. providing a passing AP, IB, or CLEP score
  4. qualifying score on a language placement test.  FSU currently offers standardized testing in Chinese, French, and Spanish*
  5. taking an assessment test in a language OTHER than Chinese, French, or Spanish.  This is coordinated by the Chair of the World Language Department*

* Students who qualify for a waiver under conditions 4 or 5 must then take a course under Domain I  A, B, or C to earn credit.  Your advisor can help you with this or you can contact the Advising Center at advising@framingham.edu or placement@framingham.edu.

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