Information for New Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students
All newly admitted students will receive information from the Admissions Office by email regarding placement testing. A majority of students do not need to take placement tests. Students should not sign up for placement testing unless the admissions office sends you an email notifying you that placement testing is needed.
Placement testing is administered for writing and mathematics. Any incoming freshmen with an adjusted high school GPA that is less than 2.7 will be required to take both writing and math placement tests. In addition, students accepted into majors which require precalculus are also required to take a math placement test, regardless of their high school GPA. Any student who requires placement testing will be notified by the Admissions office that testing is required and will be asked to reserve a spot at an upcoming placement test through an online portal. Once a student registers for placement testing, they will receive an email from the Admissions Office confirming their registration. Students will receive a reminder email 24 hours before their scheduled session with details on where their test will be located. Students are advised to check their spam folder if they do not see this email in their inbox. Transfer students in need of placement testing will be notified by the Registrar's office or an assigned academic advisor by email.
Placement tests must be completed before an incoming student attends summer orientation. Transfer students must complete any required placement testing before they can register for fall classes.
Upcoming Placement Testing Dates
The schedule for upcoming placement tests is available through the Admissions portal.
Placement Testing Location
The location of a Placement Test depends on the test session you register for. If you have registered for an On-Center Placement Test, you’ll be testing in-person on campus. Please refer to your reminder email for what building and room number your test session will be held in. If you have registered for a Virtual Placement Test, your test session will be held over Zoom and can be accessed from anywhere you have an internet connection! Please refer to your reminder email for the link to your Zoom meeting.
Foreign Language Placement Testing
Learn more about foreign language placement testing and the CLEP Exam.
Description of Placement Tests and Codes
All students needing placement testing will be given a placement test number for placement testing purposes. The Placement Tests that correspond to these numbers are given below:
- Placement Test #1 - WritePlacer and QAS tests
- Placement Test #2 - AAF test
- Placement Test #3 - WritePlacer and AAF
- Placement Test #4 - WritePlacer, QAS and conditionally the AAF tests
- Placement Test #5- WritePlacer Test
- Placement Test #6 - QAS Test
- Placement Test #7 - QAS and AAF Test (both)
- Placement Test #8 - QAS and conditionally the AAF Test
Fitchburg State University uses a student's adjusted High School GPA, previous college course credits, and a College Board/Accuplacer placement test to place students into the appropriate English course.
Incoming freshmen who have an adjusted High School GPA of 2.7 or higher (within the last 10 years) will be placed into ENG 1100 (Writing I) without having to take a placement test. Freshmen with adjusted high school GPAs that are less than 2.7 or more than 10 years old will be required to take the WritePlacer placement test
Incoming Transfer students will be placed into an appropriate English course based on their major and accepted transfer credits. Transfer students without accepted transfer credits in English are required to take the WritePlacer placement test.
The WritePlacer placement test is given to determine a student's placement into English courses. The test has a time limit of 1 hour and students are required to write/type (on the computer) a 300-600 word essay on a general topic.
The scores range from 0 - 8. Students who score 3 or less will be placed in a remedial basic writing course which must be completed before a student is eligible to enroll in college level writing courses. Students who score between 4 and 7 inclusive will be placed into the first college level writing course. Students who score an 8 will be placed in a second semester college level writing course.
More information about the test can be found on the College Board WritePlacer Guide (PDF) and the Test Prep Online Essay guide.
The QAS placement test is used for placement into all entry level college math courses except pre-calculus/calculus. The test consists of approximately 20 multiple choice questions given on the computer. The test is not timed – students can take as much time as needed to complete the test. Progression through the test is determined by how each question is answered - a student cannot go back and change any answers to previous questions. Students may not bring their own calculators. If a question requires the use of a calculator, a pop-up calculator will be provided. Most students spend about 1-1.5 hours on this test.
Scores range from 200 - 300 points. Students must score 268 or higher to be placed in a credit bearing, college level math course. Any score less than 268 will place a student into Quantitative Preparation or Algebraic Preparation.
More information about the specific concepts covered on the test and sample problems can be found on the College Board Next-Generation Accuplacer page and Union Test Prep.
The AAF placement test is used to place students into pre-calculus/calculus courses. The test consists of approximately 20 multiple choice questions given on the computer. The test is not timed – students have as much time as needed to complete the test. Progression through the test is determined by how each question is answered – students cannot go back and change any answers to previous questions. Students may not bring their own calculators. If a question requires the use of a calculator, a pop-up calculator will be provided. Most students spend about 1 - 1.5 hours on this test.
Scores range from 200- 300 points. A student who scores between 243 and 262 inclusive will be placed into pre-calculus. Students who score above 262 will be placed into calculus. Any score less than 243 will place a student in a remedial basic math course.
More information about the specific concepts covered on the test and practice problems can be found on the College Board Next-Generation Accuplacer page and Union Test Prep.
About Placement Testing
Math and Writing placement exams are required for some freshmen in accordance with Massachusetts Board of Higher Education policy. The purpose of the placement testing is to provide information about a student's level of accomplishment in order to place students in the most appropriate math and writing course for their skill level. If an incoming student is required to take a placement test, they will be notified by the Admission's Office.
Transfer students will be notified by the registrar's office or their assigned academic advisor regarding what placement testing they are required to take.
Yes! If you have any learning disabilities, a temporarily disabling condition, and/or received accommodations in high school, you should contact our Disability Services office to determine whether you qualify for accommodations at Fitchburg State. The Disability Services office can administer this test with accommodations for those students who qualify. Those arrangements need to be made between you and the Disability Services Office. Please contact this office at 978.665.4020 or email disabilityserviceslist@fitchburgstate.edu.
If you are not satisfied with your test results, you can take any Placement Test one more time. Practicing for the test increases the likelihood of improving your score. However, these tests are very reliable. Students who has attempt to retake a test and do not practice always earn a similar or worse score. If you are looking to retake a test beyond your first two attempts, please contact tutorcenter@fitchburgstate.edu to discuss your options.