Placement & Competency

When and where are placement and competency tests offered?

Tests are offered at no charge at the beginning of each semester: August during New Student Orientation and January the day before classes begin.  A fee is charged for tests given individually at other times.
Preregistration is required.  Preregister at least 24 hours prior to your test time by email: jweaver@goshen.edu

Test times and locations

• Students who want a placement test for Spanish, French, German or Chinese should contact Judy Weaver (jweaver@goshen.edu) to register for taking the exam. 
• Students who want to take an ASL placement exam should contact Amanda Flickinger (aflickinger@goshen.edu) to schedule a time.

More information

Who should take a language placement test?

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, or Chinese 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 have transfer college credit in a foreign language.
• Your native language is not one of the testing languages and you plan to pursue the SST alternate option.

Ready to take the test? Here’s what you need to know:

• Don’t study for the test. The purpose is to get a snapshot of your language ability right now and place you in the correct level to keep learning.
• Don’t use help from any other person, book, or the internet. The exam must be your own work.
• Find a quiet place and time to take the test without distractions. It takes most people 20-25 minutes, but you can take as long as you need.
• Take the test only once. If you would like to take a second test in another language, there is a $40 fee. If you’re interested in a second test, contact Judy Weaver (jweaver@goshen.edu).
• Be prepared with your Goshen College email and ID number.

 

Interpreting language scores

Who should take the Quantitative Literacy test?

The Quantitative Literacy test is primarily for students who do not have SAT or ACT math scores. Others should plan to meet the requirement with one of the first six options below.

How can I establish Quantitative Literacy?

All students are required to establish Quantitative Literacy in one of the following ways:

• 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 570 or higher (new SAT)
• ACT math score of 24 or higher
• College mathematics credit that has been transferred to Goshen College and determined by the registrar to demonstrate quantitative literacy
• Completion of one of these Goshen College courses: Math 105 Quantitative Reasoning, Math 115 Applied Algebra, Math 131 Math for Elementary Classroom, or Math 170 Functions, Data & Models.
• Score of 60% or above on the Quantitative Literacy test

What can I expect from the Quantitative Literacy test and how can I prepare myself?

Review basic mathematical concepts, including algebra, geometry, proportions, statistics, etc. Please arrive at the testing room 10 minutes prior to the start of the test. You will need:

• a simple calculator (your calculator may not be your phone)

Most of the problems on the Quantitative Literacy test do not have multiple choice answers. You will be given scratch paper for figuring.

Here is a Practice Test.

Interpreting math scores

Interpreting your placement/competency test scores

What your Spanish, French, German or Chinese 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 advisor 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 advisor 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 Assistant Prof. Terry Martin, 574-535-7582, tmartin@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. If your score is 15 or higher, you may enroll in MATH 115 Applied Alegebra, MATH 131 Math Concepts for Elementary Classrooms, or MATH 170 Functions, Data and Models.

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

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.