Some courses require you to take a placement test before you can register. Math and English placements are based on a variety of factors. These tests are designed to measure your mastery of a particular subject and can help you and your academic advisor determine which courses offer you the best chance for success.
If you have registered with Disability Support Services you may be eligible to receive certain testing accommodations.
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English Course Placement
Placement in English Composition 101 (EH 101)
- Minimum score of 20 on both the English and Reading sub-scores of the ACT; or
- Minimum Reading test score of 26 on the SAT
Transfer students who have not earned college credit for English Composition (EH 101) are placed in Introduction to Freshman Writing (EH 106) and the co-requisite course (EH 096L).
Placement in English Composition 102 (EH 102)
- Have completed English Composition (101) with a grade of C or better; or
- Have earned college credit for English 101 based on qualifying AP, IB, AICE, or CLEP scores.
If you have not already sent your scores to UAB, please bring a copy of your score with you to orientation.
International Students Only
Placement in English Composition for Second Language Writers (EH 108)
- Have not completed English Composition (101) with a grade of C or better at your transfer institution AND have a TOEFL Writing sub-score of 16-22 or an IELTS Writing sub-score of 5.5-6.0.
If your TOEFL Writing sub-score is below 16 or your IELTS Writing sub-score is below 5.5, you will be placed in the requisite course in UAB’s INTO Program.
Eligibility to Repeat English Composition Courses
English Composition 101:
- If you have previously taken English Composition 101 and not obtained a passing grade of C or better.
English Composition 102:
- If you have previously taken English Composition 102 and not obtained a passing grade of C or better.
Please note that the College of Arts and Sciences only allows students to repeat English Composition courses once. If you should fail the course a second time, you will need to apply for a waiver from the College of Arts and Sciences. Contact your academic advisor for more information.
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Math Course Placement
Students who have no math credit or no math credit above the remedial level who wish to register for a math course at UAB must take the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment (MPA).
- Students must be admitted to the university before they can access the MPA.
- The MPA is provided at no cost to the student.
- Students who have no math credit, no math credit above the remedial level, or choose not take the Math Placement Assessment must register for MA 094 (Basic Mathematics) or MA 098 (Basic Algebra).
- Students awaiting alternative credit score reports (i.e. AP, CLEP, AICE, DSST, etc.) should take the MPA and register for the highest math course in which they placed. Once scores are submitted, students can adjust their registration accordingly. Alternative credit score reports should be sent to UAB as soon as possible.
Note: Keep in mind that if you do not complete the Math Placement Assessment and are placed in remedial-level math, registration for science courses and timely completion of any science-dependent major will be delayed/impacted.
Exceptions
- Incoming students who are transferring a 100-level, college math course or higher with a grade of C or higher (excludes remedial college math and MA 110 – Finite Mathematics*).
Examples of 100-level math courses are Intermediate Algebra, Pre-Calculus Algebra, Pre-Calculus Trigonometry, Calculus, Calculus II, etc. If you’re unsure whether you are required to take the MPA, contact your academic advisor. - Students who have earned credit for MA 110 and do not require any additional math to meet degree requirements, are not required to take the Math Placement Assessment.
If you think you have a math course that you can transfer to UAB, please check the Transfer Credit Equivalencies Guide. - Students who have earned college credit for math based on having received qualifying AP, IB, AICE, or CLEP scores (excludes MA 180 – Statistics). Review the list of qualifying scores.
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World Language Course Placement
If you have never taken a world language course, you do not need to take a world language placement test. You will begin with a 101 world language course.
It is recommended that you take a world language placement test if:
- You have had one or more years of world language in high school (within the last two years)
- You wish to take courses in French, Spanish, German, and Chinese.
If you wish to take courses in Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, or Japanese, please contact the Department of World Languages and Literatures to ensure appropriate placement.
If your native language is French, German, or Spanish, you cannot take a beginning course in your world language for credit. It is recommended that you take the world language placement test to determine the appropriate level course to register for.