Placement
Placement is an assessment of a student's level of preparation in a subject. The purpose of placement is to help students enroll in the courses in which they are most likely to be successful.
These commonly taken courses use placement to help students identify the course for which they are best prepared:
Who Needs to Review Placement Requirements for these Courses?
English Composition: All students, unless he or she already has college credit for an English Composition course.
Algebra, Precalculus, Calculus and General Chemistry: If a student intends to pursue a science or engineering major or intends to go on to a health profession after completing the bachelor’s degree, she or he probably needs to take these courses. A number of business and technical majors require specific math courses. Students should check the information on majors of interest to determine if algebra/precalculus/calculus and/or general chemistry are required.
College-level foreign language is required by several programs: Liberal Arts and Sciences and the B.A. programs in the College of the Arts have a proficiency requirement; students in Journalism and Communications may choose between foreign language proficiency or a quantitative option. Construction management majors must complete one semester of Spanish.
English Composition Placement
Students will be placed based on their SAT or ACT verbal score, unless they already have college credit for an English composition course.
- Students with a 640 (or lower) on the verbal portion of the SAT and/or a 28 (or lower) on the verbal portion of the ACT must enroll in ENC 1101.
- Students with a 650 (or higher) on the verbal portion of the SAT or a 29 (or higher) on the verbal portion of the ACT may enroll in any 1000/2000-level composition course beyond ENC 1101. These students should not enroll in ENC 1101.
- Students with college credit for English Composition (from AICE, AP, CLEP, IB or dual enrollment) should consult an advisor to determine which, if any, additional courses are needed to meet degree requirements.
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Algebra, Precalculus and Calculus 1 Placement
Placement is used for the following MAC courses:
- MAC 1105 Basic College Algebra (3 credits)
- MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra (3 credits). The sequence MAC 1140 and MAC 1114 covers the same material as MAC 1147, but at a slower pace.
- MAC 1147 Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry. A fast-paced review of both areas.
- MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus 1 (3 credits)
- MAC 2311 Analytical Geometry and Calculus 1 (4 credits). Typically recommended for pre-health students.
The math courses a student will take depend on what his or her major requires (or if a student is pre-health), the ALEKS placement score, other information about the student's math background, and whether she or he has incoming math credit.
To determine which math course (if any) is required for a major, please check the requirements for that
major. If a student's major requires MAC 2234 or MAC 2312 or higher, he or she must have credit for the prerequisite course. If a student has credit via AP, consult the
AP Scores for Calculus Placement table. If not, consult with an academic advisor.
Some graduate programs in the health professions such as pharmacy, optometry, and veterinary medicine may require calculus as a prerequisite to admission. Consult the
Pre-Health Pre-Requisite Course Chart for more information.
- If a major requires no particular math course, students may take Gen Ed math courses such as MGF 1106 or MGF 1107 without any placement.
- If a student needs one of the MAC courses listed above and doesn't have incoming credit, they should take the ALEKS placement exam.
- If a student has incoming math credit, they may use that as placement into MAC courses if the credit appears on their UF transcript or he or she provides proof of credit. However, the ALEKS placement is the best predictor of success in UF MAC courses. Even if a student has credit, they are strongly encouraged to take ALEKS. Taking ALEKS will assess a student's current knowledge base and its fit with the UF curriculum.
It can be helpful for students to take a lower course or even retake a course to strengthen their foundation before moving on to a higher class. A student's ALEKS score can help assess her or his current preparation. Consult with an academic advisor if unsure.
Placement via ALEKS Score
| Majors that Require MAC 1105, MAC 1140, MAC 1147, or MAC 2311; or for Pre-Health |
|---|
| ALEKS Score |
May begin with the course in bold (or a lower course) |
| 0 – 34% |
MAC 1105
|
MAC 1140 |
MAC 1114 |
MAC 2311 |
| 35 – 49% |
|
MAC 1140 |
MAC 1114 |
MAC 2311 |
| 50 – 74% |
|
|
MAC 1147 |
MAC 2311 |
| 75% and Above |
|
|
|
MAC 2311 |
| Majors that Require MAC 2233 |
|---|
| ALEKS Score |
May begin with the course in bold (or a lower course) |
| 0 – 34% |
MAC 1105
|
MAC 1140 |
MAC 2233 |
| 35 – 49% |
|
MAC 1140 |
MAC 2233 |
| 50% and Above |
|
|
MAC 2233 |
ALEKS score cutoffs are rigidly enforced for students who do not meet any other prerequisite for MAC 2233 or MAC 2311.
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Placement via Incoming Credit
If a student has earned credit with a C or better for:
- MAC 1105: take MAC 1140 (if needed)
- MAC 1140: take MAC 1114 or MAC 2233 (depending on the student's requirements)
- MAC 1147 (or both MAC 1140 and MAC 1114): take MAC 2311 if needed. Credit must be in progress at UF, completed and on the student's UF transcript or the student must provide proof of incoming credit.
- It may be helpful for students to retake a course to strengthen their foundation before moving on to a higher class. This is especially true if the incoming credit course was taken more than one year ago or if the student earned a grade lower than B. A student's ALEKS score can help assess her or his current preparation. Consult with an academic advisor if unsure.
AICE, AP, or IB exam credit: Refer to award of incoming credits to see which courses earn credit. For courses through MAC 2311, ALEKS is still the best predictor of success in MAC courses at UF, so students are encouraged to take ALEKS and follow the score guidelines.
Transfer credit: Earning the minimum grades in prerequisite courses does not guarantee success in the next math course. The Department of Mathematics encourages students to take the ALEKS exam even if they have credit for a MAC course. Quite often, a student's skills may need review and placement assessment can provide information and specific areas for additional study.
Please read the complete information about the mathematics placement exam.
General Chemistry Placement
The general chemistry sequence CHM 2045/2045L and CHM 2046/2046L meets the preprofessional requirements for many science and engineering majors. CHM 2095/2045L and CHM 2096/2046L is an alternate general chemistry sequence specifically for engineering majors.
Placement into CHM 2045 or CHM 2095 Requires
- Successful completion of MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (or both MAC1140 and 1114)
OR
the equivalent as determined by the Department of Mathematics (a 75% on the ALEKS math placement exam).
AND
- Successful completion of CHM 1025 Introduction to Chemistry
OR
a 75% on the ALEKS math placement exam.
If a student enrolls in and successfully completes CHM 1025 and MAC 1147 (or MAC 1140 and 1114), they can enroll in CHM 2045 or CHM 2095 the next semester. Students who enroll in CHM 1025 but do not successfully complete with a C or better cannot place into CHM 2045 using an ALEKS score of 75%. Such students will need to repeat CHM 1025 and earn a C or better to go on to CHM 2045.
Students with credit for CHM 2045 via AP and IB scores or dual enrollment (with a minimum grade of C) should discuss their next chemistry course with an advisor. Students who wish to repeat CHM 2045, take CHM 2095 or go on to CHM 2046/2096 must have successfully completed of MAC 1147 Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry, MAC 1140 and MAC 1114, or the equivalent as determined by the Mathematics Department (a 75% on the ALEKS math placement exam).
Students who wish to enroll in CHM 2047, the one-semester General Chemistry, and its co-requisite laboratory CHM 2047L, must meet the following conditions:
- AICE, AP or IB credit for at least CHM 2045 and laboratory
- Approval of the Honors Program office or the Department of Chemistry.
Foreign Languages Placement: German and Latin
If a student has previous background in one of these languages and she or he wishes to enroll in the same language at UF, they must demonstrate placement. Such students should take the SAT subject placement exam for the appropriate language (unless they have passing AICE, AP or IB scores for that subject). Please consult the placement charts for SAT Subject Tests, AICE, AP, CLEP or IB to determine placement based on scores.
In general, language placement is determined by a combination of placement scores and high school background in the language.
Foreign Languages Placement: French
- Students with no prior study of French or a maximum of French 1 on their high school transcript may enroll directly in FRE 1130. No placement exam is required.
- Students with French 2 on their high school transcript may enroll directly in FRE1134. No placement test is required.
- Students with French 3 or 4 on their high school transcript may enroll directly in FRE2220, but are strongly encouraged to take the SAT II placement exam to determine the best course based on their background. Students with French 3 or 4 may NOT enroll in 1000-level FRE courses without the permission of the French lower-division coordinator.
- Students who have taken French exams via Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate (IB), should consult the French Placement and Course Equivalency page to determine whether they have received credit for a French course and which course to take next.
- Students who wish to demonstrate proficiency in French in order to meet the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), College of Journalism and Communications (JM) or B.A. in the College of the Arts (FA) degree requirements must do one of the following:
- Complete the terminal course in the Beginning French sequence (or higher) with a satisfactory grade
- Take the SATII French exam and score a 500 or higher
- Earn sufficient scores on an AICE, AP, CLEP, or IB exam.
Foreign Languages Placement: Spanish
Students with any prior study or knowledge of Spanish who wish to enroll in a Spanish course are required to take the WebCAPE online placement test, which is designed to help them determine the best course based on their background.
- Students who took a language other than Spanish in high school are not required to take this test. They may enroll in SPN 1130.
- Students who have taken Spanish exams via Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) are encouraged but not required to take the WebCAPE and should consult the Spanish Placement and Course Equivalency page to determine whether they have received credit for a Spanish course and which course to take next.
- Students who wish to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish in order to meet the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), College of Journalism and Communications (JM) or B.A. in the College of the Arts (FA) degree requirements must do one of the following:
- Complete the terminal course in the Beginning Spanish sequence (or higher) with a satisfactory grade
- Take the SATII Spanish exam and score a 430 or higher
- Earn sufficient scores on an AICE, AP, CLEP or IB exam.
Anyone with any prior study or knowledge of Spanish MUST provide a test score to register for a Spanish course.
A passing grade in SPN 1131 or a higher level SPN courses successfully fulfills the foreign language proficiency requirement for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Journalism and Communications and B.A. programs in the College of the Arts. Students wishing to satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement by examination must do so through the appropriate AP, IB, or AICE Spanish scores, or through the SAT II Spanish test. WebCAPE is only a placement exam.
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