Placement Exams

Placement Exams are an essential part of the orientation process and ensure proper placements into academic classes. There are two placement exams that students may take as part of the orientation process: Math Placement Exam and Foreign Language Assessment. 

Math Placement Exam

UM-Dearborn requires an ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses. ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment is up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After the Placement Assessment, an individualized Prep and Learning Module is available for students to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics. Students then have the opportunity to reassess and improve their placement. 

ALEKS consists of three parts:

  • An Initial Placement Assessment 
  • The Prep and Learning Module, an individualized, self-paced online review
  • Access to 4 additional Placement Assessments

We encourage each student to spend time in the Prep and Learning Module, even if the desired score is achieved, because time spent in ALEKS will ultimately lead to better preparation and improved grades.

What is the purpose of placement testing? The Placement Assessment results will be used to determine the most appropriate courses for each student as they move forward with college coursework. 

This is a “Placement Assessment,” not a test. The difference is that a Placement Assessment is designed to determine what a student knows and what a student needs to work on. At the end of the ALEKS PPL Assessment, a student will have a much better sense of his/her strengths and weaknesses in math. Students then have a chance to brush on topics that may have been forgotten or haven’t been practiced for some time. 

Be honest. It is important that the Placement Assessment is taken seriously and each student gives it an honest effort so that the Placement Assessment truly reflects their current level of knowledge and math preparedness. There is no benefit to cheating on the Placement Assessment – the only result will be that a student enrolls in a class that is too difficult, or not challenging enough, potentially costing time and money. Therefore, while taking the Placement Assessment, students should not consult any outside sources for help (friends/family, internet searches, textbooks, notes etc...). The purpose of the Placement Assessment is to give an accurate measure of a student’s current mathematical knowledge state so that he/she will be successful in mathematics courses. Please view Student Rights and Code of Conduct.

FAQs

Exemption Criteria

Students may waive the math placement exam requirement for any program if they meet any of the following criteria*:

  • Transferable credit equivalent to Math 105 or above
    • Placement will be into the next course in the sequence
  • A 3, 4, or 5 on an AP Calculus exam
  • SAT math section score of 620 or higher
    • Placement into Math 115 (Calc I)
  • ACT math score of 26 or higher
    • Placement into Math 115 (Calc I)

*These results must be on record at UM-Dearborn for this placement exam waiver to apply.

Requirements by Academic College

Current and Non-Degree Seeking Students (including Dual Enrollment and Prospective Degree-Seeking Students)
For current students and non-degree students that need to take the Mathematics placement exam because of their curricular choices, please email [email protected].

Foreign Language Assessment

The Foreign Language Assessment is strongly recommended for students with less than three years prior experience in a language who plan to continue in that language at UM-Dearborn (whether required for graduation or not). This assessment should be taken prior to attending your Orientation Session.

Assessments are proctored on campus in the Foreign Language Lab, Room 3065 CASL Building (CB). You must register for the assessment in advance as space is limited. If you are able, please bring your personal laptop to complete the assessment.

The results will be communicated by email. It may take up to two weeks for results to be available.

The assessments for FrenchGerman, and Spanish are in computer-based format, while the Arabic assessment is paper-based.

If you take a Foreign Language Advanced Placement (AP) Exam, the AP score will override the assessment score if it is higher. Foreign Language course credit is not awarded by assessment.

Placement into Composition

All students are required to take six credit hours of Written and Oral Communication courses within the Dearborn Discovery Core. Incoming students will have an initial placement into COMP 105.

Students may choose to appeal their placement by submitting a portfolio for faculty review. If the appeal is successful, students will be placed in COMP 106.

If applicable, a student's placement may be based on an Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam result, or previous dual enrollment or college credit.

Orientation

Outside 1600 - Social Sciences Building
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
View on Map