placement information
Placement Opportunities -- Mathematics, First Year Writing, Foreign Language and AP Credit
Mathematics Placement
Successful completion of freshman year mathematics is one of the best early indicators of ultimate graduation from NC State. For that reason, we require admitted freshmen to take a test to determine proper placement in math prior to attending New Student Orientation and registering for fall classes.
One option is to take the SAT Subject Test - Mathematics Level 2 in the spring prior to attending orientation and have your scores reported electronically to NC State (code #5496). More information about test registration and deadlines is available at http://www.collegeboard.com.
Alternatively, you may take the NC State online Mathematics Skill test. To ensure proper course placement you should plan to complete this assessment by June 16. To login and take the test you will need your Unity ID and password, which is assigned upon acceptance and displayed on your WolfPAW application status screen. There is no charge for this test, which is available at https://www.webassign.net/ncsu/math.html.
If you do not take the "SAT Subject Test - Mathematics Level 2" or the "NC State online Mathematics Skill test" you will not be allowed to register for a calculus course, which could result in a lower math placement and adversely affect your fall schedule.
The only exceptions to the placement test requirements will be for:
- students who have College Board Advanced Placement Calculus scores of 2 or better
- students who have completed transferable math credits through dual enrollment at a college or university
- students who graduated from the NC School of Science and Mathematics and have letters of placement
- students enrolled in a 2-year Agricultural Institute program (separate math placement testing will be conducted at Orientation)
For more information about placement in Math contact Dr. Harvey Charlton, Dept. of Mathematics, at 919-513-2291 or at charlton@math.ncsu.edu.
First Year Writing Placement
You will be placed in English courses at NC State based on SAT-Critical Reading l (formerly "Verbal") or ACT-English scores, Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores, or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam scores. If more than one of these scores is available, NC State will use the one which places you in the higher level course. Please refer to the Freshman Writing Program website for complete details.
Foreign Language Requirement and Placement
Since fall 1994, competency at the FL 102 (second semester foreign language) level is a graduation requirement at NC State. Some majors will require competency through the FL 201 level (third semester foreign language). You will be required to complete two years of the same language in high school and demonstrate proficiency, or determine appropriate placement by one of the following: taking the SAT II - Foreign Language Test, the Advanced Placement (AP) Foreign Language or Literature exam, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Foreign Language or Classical Language exam (Higher Level), or the NC State Foreign Language Placement Test on campus.
We strongly recommend that students who take the SAT Subject Test in Languages do so in their junior or senior year of high school.
For further information and a complete explanation
of foreign language proficiency and placement, you may refer to
the following website: http://sasw.chass.ncsu.edu/fl/place.htm.
Advanced Placement Opportunities at NC State
Students at NC State may receive placement in advanced courses and accelerate their studies through the College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP), the International Baccalaureate Program (IB), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or NC State University departmental placement exams.
Each year nearly fifty percent of incoming freshmen at NC State present College Board Advanced Placement (AP) scores to receive advanced placement and/or credit. Typically, students who score 3,4, or 5 on AP exams can receive advanced placement and/or credit. (Some exams may require a higher minimum score for placement or credit.)
NC State also recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Typically, students can earn advanced placement and/or college credit with scores of 5, 6, or 7 on Higher Level exams. (Some exams may require a higher minimum score for placement or credit.) Students will be granted placement or credit on a course-by-course basis, depending upon individual exam scores, rather than on the basis of completion of the IB Diploma.
Students may also earn credit through the College Board's College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Students may earn placement or credit for exam scores of 50 or higher, although credit is not awarded for many CLEP tests.
In order to receive placement or credit for AP, IB, and/or CLEP exams, students must have their official exam scores submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly from the testing agency. Scores will not be accepted from high school or college transcripts.
Details on AP, IB and CLEP placement are contained in the following tables:
