Testing & Placement

Everything you need to know about placement testing for new students.

• About the Tests
• Prior to Testing
• After the Tests
• Helpful Handouts

Placement Tests Are Closed!

They reopen Monday, October 21, 2024, until Monday, January 13, 2025, at 3:00 PM.

About the Tests

Now that you have been admitted to Rutgers–New Brunswick, you will need to take placement tests to determine your preparedness in a subject area (math, English, world language).

The placement tests serve a different purpose than standardized exams and tests in school. Accurate results are important, since they are used to select appropriate courses based on the skills you bring to college. As you complete your tests, do your best independent work but do not stress about the outcomes. You cannot fail the placement tests and the results have no impact on your admission to Rutgers.

Requirements for Students

First-year students must complete required placement tests within 30 days of accepting your offer of admission to Rutgers (unless awaiting accommodations processing by the Office of Disability Services). Students must complete all required tests to attend an academic planning and advising program and submit their course requests.

If you accepted your offer of admission prior to March 1, you have until March 30 to complete testing. Students who accepted their offer of admission while the testing cycle is closed have 30 days to complete testing once it reopens.

• Englishplacement testing is required for all incoming first-year students, unless exempt. All students will also complete an in-class writing sample in the first week of the semester to confirm the placement test results.
• Mathplacement testing is required for all incoming first-year students, unless exempt.
• World languageplacement testing is required for all:
  • School of Arts and Sciences students (including Honors Program and Honors College students)
  • International students who plan to study their first language (other than English) at Rutgers
  • Students in the Honors College through the Rutgers Business School

  Students in any of the following other schools intending to continue studying a world language at Rutgers: Rutgers Business School, School of Engineering, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Mason Gross School of the Arts, and School of Nursing

  Note: You should only test in a language with which you have experience. Students planning to start studying a new world language at Rutgers should NOT take the test in that language. American Sign Language(ASL): We do not offer an American Sign Language (ASL) placement test. If you do not have experience in any other world language, you are exempt from the world language placement test. Please contact your school if you have further questions.

  Transfer/continuing students should only complete placement tests if advised to do so by a Rutgers University advisor, or if indicated on their transfer summary/credit evaluation.

  Accordion Content

  Test Exemptions

  If you are exempt from any placement test, you do not need to inform us if you've sent all relevant scores to Rutgers. Scores sent with your admissions application do not need to be resent. If you are waiting for scores or have not sent them yet, you should take the placement test. More About Exemptions