Last update: May 2024

Success at Temple University does not follow one particular pathway, as our students are varied and diverse in their backgrounds. For incoming students, it is important that they start on the right track, beginning with determining the appropriate courses for their first semester. Some students may be placed into courses using their high school grade point average, SAT/ACT scores, or AP scores while others will need to take placement assessments. At TUJ, placement assessments are offered in English, Math and Foreign Languages.

Temple's Placement Assessments serve to evaluate different levels of academic preparation. While you should take these assessments seriously, the goal is not simply to achieve high scores, but to demonstrate readiness for particular coursework. This is why it is important that you take an assessment independently, and are placed into courses that demonstrate your ability. An appropriate program of study includes courses that are not above or below your level of preparation, but offers an appropriate challenge and chance at success.

Please note that students with disabilities requiring accommodations for Placement Assessments must first contact Accessibility Services before they start the placement process. Various accommodations, including during the remotely proctored assessment, may be available. Please contact Accessibility Services for additional information. 

In addition, the New Student Questionnaire (NSQ) must be completed by all incoming students, even if they do not have to take any other placement assessments. The data collected by the survey are used to provide basic background information describing Temple students. Temple also uses the results of this questionnaire to develop programs and procedures to serve the needs and interests of its students.

Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students

Assessments are taken after students have been admitted to TUJ. Students will be loaded into the testing system before their New Student Orientation and will receive a notification about the assessments at their email. There will also be information displayed on the student's TUportal under "Next Steps."

Students are responsible to activate and log in to TUportal and TUmail. Students with activation difficulties should contact TUJ's Information Technology Services.

Please note that it's possible for a student to receive more than one course placement if, for instance, they receive an automatic course placement based on their SAT/ACT, and/or AP (English only) and then take an assessment to try to place into a higher level course. In these cases, the student may take the highest course into which they are placed.

Descriptions of Placement Assessments

English Placement Assessment New Tab (90 Minutes, Timed)

The English Placement Assessment consists of one written essay. At assessment time, students choose one of two presented topics on which to write. Each topic presents a writer's position on an issue. Students are asked to summarize the writer's argument in their own words and then take and develop a position on the topic the writer is arguing for or against. Students are not evaluated based on having the "correct" position on an issue, but on how accurately they can explain the writer's argument and present their own argument in an organized and grammatically correct essay. In order to prepare for their assessment, students may view essays that meet and do not meet Temple's writing requirements.

Students that are required to complete the English Placement Assessment can retake the English Assessment after they receive their English placement results.

Math Placement Assessment New Tab (150 Minutes, Timed)

The Math Placement Assessment is delivered online using ALEKS, a web-based learning platform. ALEKS assesses the student's current course knowledge by asking you a number of questions (usually 20-30). ALEKS chooses questions based on your answers to all previous questions. Therefore, each set of assessment questions is unique. It is impossible to predict the questions that will be asked. Some questions may require the use of a calculator, which is provided onscreen by ALEKS.

Students are required to take the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment in a proctored setting. You are still able to take the assessments online and at home but will be proctored virtually.  Students will receive information about the proctoring process by clicking on their Math Placement Assessment Next Step in TUportal.

Students who choose to retake the math assessment have two additional attempts, using their highest score for course placement. ALEKS provides adaptive learning modules to help students improve their skills; modules are available after the initial assessment.

Foreign Language Placement Assessment

TUJ offers Foreign Language Placement Assessments in Japanese, Chinese and/or Korean. Students may access the Japanese Placement Assessment in TUportal within their Next Steps channel. Students who wish to take an assessment in Chinese or Korean may arrange an assessment through their Academic Advisor during Orientation. 

Results

Math placement results are available immediately through ALEKS and are posted within 2-3 business days after the completion of the assessment to the student's Placement Results channel located within TUportal. English Assessment results will be available approximately one week after testing.

Please note that course placements into English 0701/0711, Math 0701/0702, GQ, Math 1015, and Statistics 1001 do not expire. Placement assessment results into all other courses are valid for two years from the start of the term for which they were taken. Current students who need to take or retake a placement assessment should contact their academic advisor.

Also note that, students who take a course in the math sequence (Math 0702, 1021, 1022, 1041/1941) are bound by their performance in the course for future course eligibility (rather than performance on previous or future placement assessment). Once a student completes a course in the math sequence, the student may not use their placement assessment results as a prerequisite for entry into a higher level course. Similarly, students cannot request an assessment after completing a course in the math sequence to place into a higher course.

Support for Students and Inquiries

Please direct any questions about University Placement Assessments to 215.204.8611 (M-F, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm EST) or send an email to [click-for-email].

Please also consult our FAQ for Placement Assessments page before making an inquiry.

Placement Test for the Bridge Program

All students entering the Bridge Program for the first time are required to take the Bridge Placement Test through New Student Orientation. The test will include a written essay and a reading comprehension component then a speaking and listening test will follow. No notes are allowed in the test. As the contents of the test change each semester, students don't need to prepare for the test. This test will determine whether students will be placed in Bridge 1, 2, or 3. A student's level is determined by a combination of their Placement Test score and their TOEFL or IELTS.