Placement Exams
- Taking the Placement Exams offered online through UC Merced will determine what classes you will be placed into for your first semester.
- The Placement Exams offered through UC Merced will help determine your placement in Writing, Math, Chemistry, and Computer Science.
- The Placement Exams are only offered once to students, during April and May before your first semester at UC Merced (or in winter if you are a spring admit), so it is very important to take them before your first semester as you will not be allowed to take them at a later time.
- If you are in a major that does not require Chemistry or Computer Science, then you will not be required to take those Placement Exams; however, it is still highly recommended to take all of the exams in case you decide to change your major or pursue a double major or minor.
- The Writing and Math Placement Exams should be taken by all students.
- Depending on your scores, you will be placed into either of the following classes:
- WRI 001 or WRI 010
- MATH 005 or MATH 011 / 021 (depending on major)
- CHEM 001 or CHEM 002
- CSE 005 or CSE 022
You can view the test scores UC Merced has on record for you within Connect. Log into Connect and select My Student Record. From there, choose Student Profile then Testing.
Once you’ve determined what scores you earned on the UC Merced placement exams, you can use the website below to learn course placement. Course placement refers to the course you are eligible to enroll in.
- For instance, if you earned a 3 on the Writing Readiness Review exam, you would register for WRI 001 in your first semester.
- If you earned a 23 or higher on the UC Merced Calculus Placement Exam, you would enroll in MATH 011 or MATH 021, depending on your major.
The website also provides helpful information about course placement based on AP, IB, ACT, and SAT tests, if those exams were taken.
- For instance, if you took AP English: Language/Composition and scored a 3, you would enroll in WRI 010 your first semester.
- If you took AP Psychology and scored a 2, you would enroll in PSY 001 if required for your major or based on your interests.
If you have any questions regarding your course placement, you can reach out to your advisor.
You can view the test scores UC Merced has on record for you within Connect. Log into Connect and select My Student Record. From there, choose Student Profile then Testing.
Once you’ve determined what scores you earned on the UC Merced placement exams, you can use the website below to learn course placement. Course placement refers to the course you are eligible to enroll in.
- For instance, if you earned a 3 on the Writing Readiness Review exam, you would register for WRI 001 in your first semester.
- If you earned a 23 or higher on the UC Merced Calculus Placement Exam, you would enroll in MATH 011 or MATH 021, depending on your major.
The website also provides helpful information about course placement based on AP, IB, ACT, and SAT tests, if those exams were taken.
- For instance, if you took AP English: Language/Composition and scored a 3, you would enroll in WRI 010 your first semester.
- If you took AP Psychology and scored a 2, you would enroll in PSY 001 if required for your major or based on your interests.
If you have any questions regarding your course placement, you can reach out to your advisor.
Just a reminder, the deadline to take the Chemistry, Math, Writing Readiness Review, and Computer Science & Engineering Placement Exams online is 11:59pm May 15.
TAKE THE ONLINE MATH PLACEMENT EXAM
The math placement exam is required for all first year students in every major.
- Use test code XANT. Enter your name and student ID.
- See more information and the FAQ.
- Click here for information about how to access the exams. Please read all of the information provided, and follow the directions carefully.
TAKE THE ONLINE CHEMISTRY PLACEMENT EXAM
The Chemistry exam is required for all School of Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, and pre-health (pre-med, pre-nursing, etc.) first years as well as students planning to later change to engineering, science, or pre-health.
- Sign in using your UC Merced email and password.
- See more information and the FAQ.
- Click here for information about how to access the exams. Please read all of the information provided, and follow the directions carefully.
TAKE THE ONLINE CHEMISTRY PLACEMENT EXAM
The Chemistry exam is required for all School of Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, and pre-health (pre-med, pre-nursing, etc.) first years as well as students planning to later change to engineering, science, or pre-health.
- Sign in using your UC Merced email and password.
- See more information and the FAQ.
- Click here for information about how to access the exams. Please read all of the information provided, and follow the directions carefully.
TAKE THE ONLINE COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING PLACEMENT EXAM
The Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Placement Exam is required for all CSE and Applied Math-Computer Science emphasis (MATH-CSE) majors or students planning to later declare CSE or MATH-CSE. Management and Business Economics (MBE) majors are encouraged to take the CSE exam since passing it may fulfill a requirement in the MBE major.
- Sign in using your UC Merced email and password.
- See more information and the FAQ.
TAKE THE ONLINE WRITING READINESS REVIEW PLACEMENT EXAM
The writing readiness review (WRR) exam is required for all first years who have not satisfied the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). To find out more, including other ways to meet the ELWR, visit this page.
- You will receive an invitation to take the WRR exam on your UC Merced email account.
- Get more information about how to access the exam here.
TAKE THE ONLINE WRITING READINESS REVIEW PLACEMENT EXAM
The writing readiness review (WRR) exam is required for all first years who have not satisfied the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). To find out more, including other ways to meet the ELWR, visit this page.
- You will receive an invitation to take the WRR exam on your UC Merced email account.
- Get more information about how to access the exam here.
