Placement and competency testing

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

Required Testing

• All entering students are required to demonstrate quantitative literacy. See below for a list of ways to establish quantitative literacy.
• Students who have studied Spanish, French or German in high school and do not have college-level credit must take a language placement test.

Optional Testing

• A music theory placement test is offered before each fall semester.

What will the quantitative literacy (mathematics) test cover?

Click on the following link to information about the quantitative literacy test and helpful websites.

When and where are the placement and competency tests offered?

The tests are offered twice a year at no charge, during fall orientation and on the day before classes begin in January. A fee is charged for tests given individually at other times.

NOTE: Preregistration is requested. Preregister at least 24 hours prior to your test time by email: lmartin@goshen.edu or call 535-7576.

Click here for the upcoming testing schedules: Tuesday, January 6, 2015

View the Testing Schedule

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:

• a number two pencil
• a simple calculator for the quantitative literacy test
• your Goshen College username and password

Most of the problems on the Quantitative Literacy test do not have multiple choice answers. The language tests are multiple choice questions tailored to each student’s ability. All tests are administered by computer.

Quantitative literacy test

All students are required to establish quantitative literacy in one of the following ways:

• Score of 60% or above on the quantitative literacy test.
• AP Calculus score of 3 in either the AB or BC level.
• IB score of 5 or higher in Mathematical Studies or Mathematics.
• SAT math score of 550 or higher
• ACT math score of 24 or higher
• College mathematics credit that has been transferred to Goshen College and determined to demonstrate quantitative literacy by the registrar.
• Completion of Math 105, Quantitative Reasoning

Interpreting math scores

Language placement tests

Language placement tests are required for all students who:

• Enrolled in language classes (French 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 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 Spanish, French, German, Chinese or Russian language study 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.

 

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 Quantitative literacy (mathematics) test score tells you:

I scored below 60% (19.2 points) on the quantitative literacy test:

You should enroll in MATH 105 to gain prerequisite skills for Goshen Core Perspectives courses. Successful completion of MATH 105 will also satisfy the Goshen Core quantitative literacy requirement.

I earned 60% (19.2 points) or higher on the quantitative literacy test:

Congratulations! Your score has established quantitative literacy.

Questions?

Please contact Professor David Housman, 574-535-7405, dhousman@goshen.edu.