Academic Testing & Placement

Incoming freshmen have the opportunity to test out of specific classes and be placed into higher-level courses that better fit their academic skills.

Quick Reference

Writing Placement

Math Proficiency

Reading Proficiency

Foreign Language Placement

Advanced Placement (AP)

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Writing Placement

If a student scores at or above 550 on the SAT Evidence Based Reading/Writing, or 42 on the ACT English + ACT Reading, or 52 on CLT Verbal Reasoning + Grammar/Writing, or completes AP Language and Composition or Literature and Composition, and their High School GPA is at or above a 3.0, the student will be enrolled in ENG 110. 

If a student scores below 450 on the SAT Evidence Based Reading/Writing or 33 on the ACT English + ACT Reading, or 41 on the CLT Verbal Reasoning + Grammar/Writing, the student will be placed in ENG 101. However, the student can request to take the writing placement test if they choose.  

Students who score between the above values or have no test scores will be asked to take a writing assessment for placement into either ENG 110 or ENG 101.

Math and Reading Proficiencies

To be placed in the appropriate courses, all new students must demonstrate proficiency in math and reading. Proficiency requirements are as follows:

Math Proficiency

The Math Proficiency will be fulfilled if a student meets one of the following:

• Scores at or above 550 on the (pre-2016) SAT Math
• Scores at or above 570 on the (new 2016) SAT Math
• Scores at or above 24 on the ACT Math
• Scores at or above 21 on the CLT Quantitative Reasoning

Students not meeting the above conditions must take the Math Proficiency exam. If the Math Proficiency exam is not passed, the student must enroll in MAT 100 Fundamentals of Math. Failure to pass the Math Proficiency exam at the end of MAT 100 will require the student to repeat the class the following semester.

Reading Proficiency

The Reading Proficiency will be fulfilled if a student meets one of the following:

• Scores at or above 540 on the (pre-2016) SAT Critical Reading
• Scores at or above 29 on the (new 2016) SAT Reading
• Scores at or above 23 on the ACT English
• Scores at or above 55 on the CLT Verbal Reasoning & Grammar/Writing

Students not meeting the above conditions must take the Reading Proficiency exam. If the Reading Proficiency exam is not passed, the student must enroll in IAS 140 Academic Reading.

Foreign Language Placement

Fulfill the Bachelor of Arts Requirement

Students interested in a BA degree are required to take two years (four semesters) of a language. Those who do not want to take the language placement exam will be placed into a language based on the amount of the language they took in high school. We offer Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Advanced French (for completion only).

Which Level of Spanish or Advanced French Will I be Placed into?

Students with a strong background in Spanish or French are encouraged to take the Spanish or French Placement Exam because you could pass the beginner courses. Students who do not take the placement exam will be placed into a language course by the Registrar’s Office based on the following criteria:

• 1 full year of high school Spanish/French—register for SPA/FRE 101
• 2 full years of high school Spanish/French—register for SPA/FRE 102
• 3 full years of high school Spanish/French—register for SPA/FRE 201
• 4 full years of high school Spanish/French—register for SPA/FRE 202

Can I Gain Class Credits Based on My Current Proficiency?

Students can receive language credits without additional classes if they place beyond Spanish 202 and pass the CLEP exam.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

The College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP) is designed to test the knowledge of secondary school students who have taken college-level courses in high school. The tests are offered at participating schools in May of each year. Students must request a copy of the AP grade report be sent to Taylor University.

Taylor offers college credit according to specific institutional criteria. Learn more about Taylor’s AP policies and specific course requirements. Please note all applicable deadlines and requirements.

For information or assistance regarding AP, contact your high school or contact the AP program.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers credit to students who earn satisfactory scores on a select list of subject examinations. Taylor offers college credit in selected courses according to specific criteria. Learn more about Taylor’s CLEP policies and specific course requirements. Please note all applicable deadlines and requirements.

CLEP subject examinations may be taken at Taylor University or at other CLEP testing centers throughout the country. For a list of testing centers, contact the CLEP program.

The fee for CLEP subject examinations taken at Taylor University is $80 per exam plus $15 administration fee and $20 per credit hour recording fee.

International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a rigorous pre-university course of study that leads to examinations. For a student to obtain IB credit, the courses must be at the higher level (HL), scores must be 5 or higher, courses for the major are subject to departmental review, and transcripts must be requested from the IB office and not the high school.

Contact the Testing Office