In order to ensure a smooth academic transition, the University of South Carolina offers placement tests in two areas:  mathematics and foreign language.  Tests must be taken prior to Orientation and academic advisement.  New students to the university are required to take these tests to determine proficiency level and therefore placement or exemption for each subject area; therefore, it is to the students’ advantage to perform honestly and achieve accurate scores so that they may register for appropriately challenging courses in which they will be successful.  These exams are NOT pass/fail, nor do results affect admission status.  Placement scores are considered binding.  Students may not re-test without written permission from their academic advisor and approval of the Office of Orientation and Testing Services.

All placement testing should be completed prior to your scheduled Orientation day.
 

Math exams are available online now and can be accessed at http://assess.math.sc.edu using your USC Network Username and password.  Please note, the Username is different from both your Student ID/SSN or VIP ID.  Once a student has logged in to VIP, he/she can find the Username and establish or reset a password under the TECHNOLOGY menu (“Show Me Network Username (Blackboard, University E-Mail, Dept. Networks), Password Reset”).

Foreign Language exams in French, German, Latin, and Spanish will be administered on campus the day immediately before any Orientation session.

As a courtesy for current USC students who missed the regular testing dates and therefore have no placement score, the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures holds additional test sessions at the beginning of each semester.  Please check their website for further information.  The math test is available online at any time.

MATH:

There are two versions of the math test, Algebra and Pre-Calculus.  The appropriate test is determined by the student’s intended course of study.  No knowledge of calculus is required on either test.  Calculators are not needed and are not allowed.  

FOREIGN LANGUAGE:

The University of South Carolina requires that all students demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language, either through testing, coursework, or a combination of both.  No student may register for any foreign language course at USC without ONE of the following on record: a proficiency score, course placement form, or appropriate transfer credit.

The Office of Orientation and Testing offers testing to gauge proficiency levels in French, German, Latin, and Spanish, which are the most common languages studied in high school. Tests are multiple choice and consist of listening (except for Latin) and reading comprehension questions.  No dictionaries or other test aids are allowed.

If a student wishes to study a second foreign language at other than the beginning level, he/she should also take the test in that language for placement purposes.  Only one test may be taken during any one session, so a second test must be done on a separate date.

All students must take the Math Placement Test.  All students must take the Foreign Language tests unless they have college-level credit from previous institutions (e.g. transfer credit, high school/college dual enrollment programs, or Advanced Placement or International Bacculaureate exams) deemed adequate by the current major or college of enrollment at USC.  Refer to the Exemption Chart for the specifics of each college as the individual colleges are the authority. 
 

Other exceptions include the following:   
 

1)    The student studied a language other than French, German, Latin, or Spanish.  If the student studied a language other than those listed above, he or she should contact the Department of Languages, Literature and Culture (www.cas.sc.edu/dllc/geninfo/testing.html or 803-777-4881) prior to the beginning of classes for more information or to schedule a placement test in that language.  
 

2)    It has been more than five years since the student took a language course.  Students with language study more than five (5) years prior to enrolling at USC may elect to complete a Course Placement Form and enroll in the beginning course, OR take the proficiency test and enroll where placed.  Placement test scores are considered binding. 
 

3)    The student has never studied a foreign language.    Students with no prior language study are exempt from the test.  Instead, they will complete a Course Placement Form to start at the beginning of the language of their choice.  This form is available through their college advisement office or the appropriate language department.

4)    The student has satisfactory college level-credit in a foreign language.  Students who transfer credits for one semester of first-year Spanish are considered to have earned the equivalent of SPAN 109 and may enroll in SPAN 110 without placement testing; students who transfer credit for two semesters of first-year Spanish  are considered to have the equivalent of SPAN 109 and 110 and may enroll in SPAN 122 without placement testing. 

Students who transfer credits from at least one college language course in French, German, Latin, or Spanish at the intermediate level need not take placement tests.   However, if continued study is desired, students may be required to take a Phase II placement test.  Phase II tests are administered by the language department and consist of both written and spoken tests.  For more information on Phase II testing, see   http://www.cas.sc.edu/dllc/Geninfo/testing.html

5)     The student has received a score of ‘3’ or above on the AP exam or ‘4’ or above on the Higher Level IB exam in Foreign Language. These students are exempt from the language placement tests. Make sure official score reports have been submitted to the University of South Carolina so that proper credit is received. Click here for more information.
 

Students may receive college credit in other courses besides math and foreign language through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).   Students who receive course credit on any of the CLEP Mathematics exams are not exempt from the Math Placement Test.  Students cannot exempt the Foreign Language Test nor receive course credit by taking any of the CLEP language examinations at this time.  Our office administers College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams on Mondays.  Click here for more information.