Placement Testing

Placement Testing Services

If you have been admitted to UIS, you may need to take a placement test for Math or English. Please see below for information about each.

Need to schedule a Placement Exam?

Email Testing Services to request an appointment Monday through Friday. Please indicate whether you prefer to take the tests in person (UIS campus in the Testing Center) or online with a proctor using Zoom. Please note if you choose to take the placement test in person you will need to schedule that on a different day than your orientation day.

If you are taking the exams online, you will receive another email with your Zoom Test Appointment confirmation and the Zoom link. Please set a reminder on your phone so you do not miss the Zoom call.

After your test, you will see your scores. Your academic advisor will also be able to see your scores and will use them to help you register for the appropriate courses.

Take some sample tests to familiarize yourself with ACCUPLACER:

Make an Appointment

Please email testing services to make an appointment. You may walk-in for testing; however, a desk or proctor may not be available. You must present a current photo ID (UIS iCard, state issued driver’s license, state issued ID, military ID, FOID card, or passport) to be allowed to test.

English

All incoming first-year students (non-CAP Honors) who need the full first-year writing sequence (ENG 101 or its equivalent) will need to take a placement test.

The Office of Testing Services in HRB 112 administers the ACCUPLACER WritePlacer Exam. This exam may be taken in person or remotely. ACCUPLACER exams provide a more in-depth assessment of students' skills and help college administrators and advisors determine the most appropriate class placement for their new students.

You will have 75 minutes to complete your placement test.

Math

If you do not have a standardized test score, you will need to take the Math placement test.

Students entering UIS with a standardized test score may need to take a placement exam prior to registering for their first courses. In order to determine whether or not you are required to take placement exams, please see below under your major to determine if your ACT or SAT score is high enough to exempt you from the placement exam. If you are unsure whether or not you need to take the placement test, please contact the Center for Academic Success and Advising at 217-206-7471 or email testingservices@uis.edu

The Office of Testing Services in HRB 112 administers the ACCUPLACER Math Placement Exam. This exam may be taken in person or remotely. ACCUPLACER exams provide a more in-depth assessment of students’ skills and help college administrators and advisors determine the most appropriate class placement for their new students.

Math Placement Testing

Students entering UIS with fewer than 30 credit hours are required to complete one (1) UIS college-level math course to meet the General Education math requirement. In some cases, your general education math course is determined by your major because some majors require specific math classes as pre-requisites to the major course of study. For example, Calculus is required for Computer Science, Math and some science majors.

The math courses you take are governed by the placement system utilized by the Math Department at UIS. Two outcomes are possible:

placement into a college-level math course appropriate for your skills and your intended major; or
placement into a developmental math course to build your skills for future success in a UIS college-level math class.

All math placements are made with your success in mind.

The Math Department at UIS uses a combination of ACT/SAT Math sub scores, ACCUPLACER Math Placement Test scores, prior college-level math credit and the intended major to determine for which math classes you are eligible to register. Based on this information, you may be placed in a college-level math course appropriate for your major or a developmental math course to further prepare you for college-level math. If you do not have prior college-level math credit, use the table below to determine if you are required to take the ACCUPLACER Math Placement Test.

YOUR ANTICIPATED MAJOR	REQUIRED TO TEST WITH ACT MATH SUB SCORE OF	REQUIRED TO TEST WITH SAT MATH SCORE OF
Biology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Communications, Criminal Justice, English, Environmental Studies, Exercise Science (Health & Wellness), Global Studies, History, Legal Studies, Nursing, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Work, Sociology/Anthropology, Visual Arts	23 and below	560 and below
Accounting, Business Administration (Comprehensive, Management Concentration, Marketing Concentration, Finance Concentration, Sport Management Concentration), Computer Science, Economics, Information Systems Security, Management, Management Information Systems, or anyone wishing to take Business Calculus	25 and below	590 and below
Biochemistry, Chemistry, Exercise Science (PA/PT), Mathematics, Pre-Med Biology, Pre-Med Clinical Laboratory Science, or anyone planning to take Calculus	27 and below	640 and below

Transfer students who have not already completed general education math courses, and whose ACT math subscore is 22 or below (24 or below for business and computer science majors, 26 or below for math and science majors) are also required to take the ACCUPLACER math placement exam.

Prior to taking the placement exam(s), you are encouraged to review the sample practice questions in college level math and elementary algebra or in reading/writing. It is best to complete placement testing exams prior to meeting with your advisor to register for classes in college level math and elementary algebra or in reading/writing. It is best to complete placement testing exams prior to meeting with your advisor to register for classes.

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