Testing and Course Placement
Contact information:
Location: CAS 212
Testing Lab: CAS 207
Testing Hotline: 908-737-0340
Website: http://www.kean.edu/placement-testing
The School of General Studies (SGS) conducts the placement testing of incoming freshmen and freshmen-level transfer students prior to registering for classes. Incoming freshmen are required to take the Next-Generation ACCUPLACER® Computerized Placement Test in reading, writing and mathematics unless they are notified that they have been exempted from all or part of the placement test due to their SAT/ACT scores. Freshmen-level transfer students are also required to take the placement test, unless their prior college course-work or SAT/ACT scores justify exempting them from all or part of testing. The criteria used for SAT/ACT exemption is as follows:
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READING: Students with SAT-Critical Reading (Verbal) scores of 520 or higher (on the former SAT) or scores of 510 or higher on the Evidence-based Reading & Writing section of the Redesigned SAT are exempt from the reading portion of the test (i.e., the Next-Generation Reading section).
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WRITING: Students with SAT-Writing scores of 520 or higher (on the former SAT) or scores of 510 or higher on the Evidence-based Reading & Writing section of the Redesigned SAT are exempt from the writing portion of the test (i.e., the Next-Generation Writing section).
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MATH: Students with SAT-Math scores of 530 or higher (on the former SAT) or scores of 510 or higher on the Math section of the Redesigned SAT are exempt from the math portion of the test (i.e., the Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics (QAS) section and the Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) section.
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Students with SAT-Critical Reading (Verbal) scores of at least 520, and SAT-Writing scores of at least 520 (on the former SAT) or scores of at least 510 on the Evidence-based Reading & Writing section of the Redesigned SAT and SAT-Math scores of at least 530 (on the former SAT) or scores of 510 or higher on the Math section of the Redesigned SAT are exempt from all of the parts of the test indicated above. Students with a Composite ACT score of 23 or above are also exempt from placement testing.
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Students exempt from the Math sections (QAS/AAF) who are planning to major in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Economics, Information Technology, Mathematics, Mathematical Sciences, Medical Technology, Sustainability Science or Speech-Language-Hearing, are required to test for Math. Students not majoring in these areas are encouraged (but not required) to take the Math test. The QAS/AAF sections are used to determine preparedness for higher-level math courses such as Pre-Calculus and Calculus. Students earning a SAT-M score of 560 or above will automatically be eligible for Pre-Calculus.
The purpose of placement testing is to determine incoming students’ levels of proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics. The initial course placements of incoming freshmen are individualized in order to maximize each student’s potential for academic success.
Although Kean University does not have a Foreign Language requirement, students who have previously studied FRENCH, GERMAN, or SPANISH in high school and plan to continue studying that language, are required to take the Web-CAPE Foreign Language Placement Exam to determine appropriate placement.