Academic Resource & Writing Center :: Student Life at Goshen College

Placement and competency testing

Required testing
First-year assessment test
Optional testing
Interpreting your test scores

All entering students are required to demonstrate math competency and take a language placement test. Students may choose to take a biblical literature test. See the Registrar's office Web site for details about the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

When and where are the placement and competency tests offered? The tests are offered twice a year, during fall orientation and on the day before classes begin in the spring. Preregistration is required. Preregister in person at the ARWC , or phone or email: 574-535-7576 or lmartin.

The Spring 2009-2010 test schedule is as follows:

Date	Time	Test	Location
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2009	2:00 p.m.	French Placement	GL 102
	2:00 p.m.	Spanish Placement	UN 004
	2:00 p.m.	German Placement	AD 21
	3:30 p.m.	Math Competency	UN 004
Students must have username and password prior to taking all tests.

What can I expect from the tests and how can I prepare myself? Please arrive at the testing room 10 minutes prior to the start of the test. You will need to bring a number two pencil to all the tests and a simple calculator (graphing functions are not necessary) to the math competency test. You will need your username and password for all tests.

All of the tests involve multiple choice answers. In addition, the language placement tests include dictation to be written in the target language and a listening comprehension section. All tests are administered by computer.

Math competency test

All students are required to establish mathematical competency in one of the following ways:

Score of 60% or above on the math competency test
AP Calculus score of 3 or more
SAT math score of 550 or higher
ACT math score of 23 or higher
College mathematics credit that has been transferred to GC and determined to demonstrate mathematical competency by the registrar

Interpreting math scores

Language placement tests

Language placement tests are required for all students who:

Enrolled in language classes (French, German or Spanish) in high school and wish to pursue that same language at GC. Taking the language placement test ensures placement into the course that best matches your level of expertise.
Grew up in the United States, speak both English and one of our offered languages (French, German or Spanish) at home and wish to pursue that same language at GC. Taking the language placement test ensures placement into the course that best matches your level of expertise.
Successfully completed several years of a language in high school and wish to establish international language proficiency in that language for SST.

You do not need to take a language placement test if:

You have never studied the specific language you wish to pursue at GC.
You will not study a language at GC

Interpreting language scores

First-year assessment: CIRP test

All first-year students take part in the CIRP test, which is given at hundreds of colleges nationwide. The results of this assessment allow us to compare our incoming students with those of other schools and also to assess the difference that Goshen College has made in students by the time they graduate.

Optional testing

Biblical Literature test

Some students have taken Bible courses in high school and feel that they would be better served by taking a Bible course that is more advanced than GC’s entry level Biblical Literature class. Such students may take the Biblical Literature test to see if their knowledge of biblical theology and history would help them succeed in an upper-level Bible course.

-CLEP

See the Registrar's office Web site for details about the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Interpreting your placement/competency test scores

What your French, German or Spanish placement test scores tell you

I scored below 40 on my foreign language placement test: You should start with the beginning course, 101. If you have had some language in high school, the first few weeks will be review. If you scored 35-39 AND you feel you are ready for the more difficult course, talk with your adviser and the language instructor. The language professor may decide your verbal skills are good enough that you could be successful in 102. It is the professor's decision, based on expertise and experience.

My score was 40-69: You are ready for 102 level language classes.

I earned 70-89 on the foreign language placement test: We feel you will be most successful in the 201 level. A score of 70 or above meets GC's SST language prerequisite as well as the SST alternate language prerequisite.

I scored 90 or higher on the foreign language placement test: Talk with your adviser and language professors about your goals for further language learning. You are qualified to take 202, 205 or 300 level courses. Your decision depends upon your major and dreams for the future.

Questions? Please contact Assoc. Prof. Dean Rhodes, 574-535-7575, edeanr@goshen.edu.

What your Biblical Literature placement test scores tell you

Professor Keith Graber Miller will notify advisers of their advisees' scores and correct placement.

If a student scores 10 points or more, we recommend that he or she take Bibl 200. Nevertheless, scores between 10-15 points indicate that Bibl 100 would be sufficiently informative to make it worth taking if students choose to do so. Those who score 35 or more out of 50 on the exam may take an upper-level Bible or Biblical Language to satisfy the Bible 100 / 200 General Education requirement.

Questions? Please contact Prof Keith Graber Miller, 574-535-7436, keithgm@goshen.edu.

What your Math competency test score tells you:

I scored below 60% (19.2 points) on the Math competency test: You should enroll in Math 105 to gain prerequisite skills for other GC math and science courses. Successful completion of Math 105 will also satisfy GC's general education math competency requirement.

I earned 60% (19.2 points) or higher on the Math competency test: Congratulations! Your score has established math competency.

Questions? Please contact Patricia Oakley, 574-535-7311, poakley@goshen.edu.