Placement
In order to accurately assess and prepare new students for the rigors of their first semester, the University of Baltimore requires placement testing to determine accurate writing and math courses for its new students. Newly admitted first-year students with valid SAT/ACT scores should consult their admission counselor to determine if placement is required.
Placement test scores are valid for two years, in accordance with state guidelines.
Transfer students requiring placement should register for placement tests no later than their second semester at UB. Failure to do so may impact a student’s intended graduation schedule and course registration.
If placement testing accommodations are required, please send current documentation of a disability (at least two weeks in advance) to the Office of Disability and Access Services .
If you have specific questions, please contact Carey Miller, Placement Coordinator at placement@ubalt.edu.
Placement Test Schedules and RSVP
Freshman Placement Schedule
All First-Year students should contact their admission counselor to verify their placement requirements. All students are required to complete the Haven and Plagiarism tutorials and placement activities prior to meeting with their First-Year Advisor.
Spring and Summer 2019 Freshman Placement Dates and Times
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Upper-Division Writing Placement Schedule
(Click the blue button to review the placement dates)
RSVP is required through UB's Web calendar. To RSVP, choose the date below that you wish to sit for the placement test and click the corresponding RSVP link to reserve your seat. PLEASE RSVP WITH YOUR UB EMAIL!!
Spring 2019 Dates and Times
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Transfer and Upper-Division Math Placement Schedule
(Click the blue button to review the placement dates)
The math placement dates below are for transfer and upper-division students who either did not take the first-year math placement test (as a first-year student) or did not transfer in a math course. To RSVP, choose the date below that you wish to sit for the placement test and click the corresponding RSVP link to reserve your seat.
Summer 2019 Dates and Times
Writing Placement
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First-Year Writing Placement
Students with fewer than 24 credits must complete Directed Self Placement (DSP) if they did not transfer the equivalent of WRIT 101 College Composition.
DSP provides students with information to place themselves into appropriate writing courses. Students complete an online assessment and compose two writing samples in response to a specific prompt. The writing samples are reviewed by a writing administrator who provides a placement recommendation to help students make a decision. With guidance from an adviser, the student decides which writing course provides the pathway to becoming a successful writer at the college level.Students will:
- Complete an online writing self-inventory
- Consult with adviser and select the appropriate writing course.
Current University of Baltimore students should refer to the FAQs section, or email Carey Miller at placement@ubalt.edu if they are unsure if they are required to sit for DSP.
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Upper-Division Writing Placement (for WRIT 300)
WRIT 300 Composition and Research is an upper-division general education writing course required for all majors. Transfer and upper-division students wishing to take WRIT 300 must have:
- WRIT 101 or equivalent credit either through transferring credit or completing the course with a grade of C- or higher
- Received a placement of 300 on the upper-division writing placement test.
- 45 or more accumulated credits
The 90-minute placement consists of writing an essay response to a prompt. Each essay is read and evaluated by two Writing Program faculty members. Each reader scores the essay on a scale of 1 to 6, and the two scores are combined. 12 is the highest score. A score of 8 or above constitutes a WRIT 300 placement. A score of 7 or below constitutes a WRIT 200 placement.
Current University of Baltimore students should email Carey Miller at placement@ubalt.edu if they are unsure if they are required to sit for upper-division writing placement test.
*Please note: Transfer students requiring placement should do so no later than their second semester at UB. Failure to do so may impact intended graduation schedule and course registration.
**If placement accommodations are required, please send current documentation of a disability (at least two weeks in advance) to the Office of Disability and Access Services.
Placement test scores are valid for two years in accordance with state guidelines.
Math Placement
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Math Placement
Transfer and Freshman Math Placement Exemption Policy
Students who are required to sit for the math placement will take the ALEKS Placement. Students will complete an unproctored placement 48 hours prior to their arrival for their official Math Placement assessment. Once a student completes their on campus, math placement, they will have the opportunity to review their placement content with a tutor through the RLB Library Math Review Session. These sessions are offered every other Tuesday and Thursday (beginning June 4) through the summer. Once a student has completed at least 5 hours of preparation within the ALEKS placement platform, they will have a chance to re-take the placement.
Placement scores determine initial enrollment in MATH115: Introductory Statistics, MATH111: College Algebra, MATH113: Math for Liberal Arts, or MATH 83/84 Foundational Mathematics.
It is not uncommon for students to place into developmental (foundational) courses that lead, in one or two terms, to credit classes in those subjects.
Students will be advised to register for appropriate courses based on placement scores.A score of 46 or higher will place a student into general education math i.e. MATH111: College Algebra, MATH113: Math for Liberal Arts, or MATH115: Statistics.The placement results are posted to a students' UBPortal, under Placement Test Results.
Placement FAQs
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What is placement?
Placement helps evaluate a students' current knowledge or skills.
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Why do I need to take placement?
At UB, we use placement tests to help determine what courses you need to ensure that you are successful and achieve your academic goals. Placement tests only measure your current skill level; they do not measure your intelligence or your ability.
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What are the grading criteria for the Upper-Division Writing Placement?
A student’s essay will be evaluated as a piece of formal writing using the following criteria:
- Purpose: Shows an indentifiable purpose.
- Topic: Has engaged the primary issue raised by the reading passage.
- Critical Thinking and Logic: Deonstrates an understanding of the reading's topic and a grasp of its use of evidence.
- Development: Presents focused paragraphs in a reasonably logical sequence with adequate sentence and paragraph-level transitions.
- Style/Usage/Grammar: Employs adequate use of sentence structure and vocabulary; exhibits control of written English, and while the essay may contain some grammatical flaws, they do not detract from the overall effect or clarity of the writing.
- Reflection: Inconsistently analyzes and reflects on their reading, writing, and thinking processes; purposes at least one important revision.
- Review the Upper-Division Writing Placement rubric.
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What happens if my AP credits do not transfer in as WRIT 101?
If a student’s AP credits do not transfer as our WRIT 101 College Composition, the student will be required to register for this course within his or her first two semesters at UB.
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Can I transfer my course credit to replace the WRIT 300 course?
Generally, no. It is unusual for a transfer student to have credit for an equivalent course. Exceptions are reviewed individually by the writing program director.
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Can I retake the math and writing placement tests?
Students will be allowed to request one math placement retake. After taking the math placement test for the first time, it is recommended that students wait 48 hours or two business days while logging five hours in the ALEKS platform prior to retaking the placement.
Upper-division students are not permitted to retake the writing placement test. Exceptions are determined by the writing program director.
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Do you offer any sample prompts or workshops for the Upper-Division Writing Placement Test?
Sample Essay Prompt
This essay prompt is only a sample. It reflects the type of question or statement to which you will be expected to respond in a placement exam.You can also view the test instructions and the rubric.
Get tips and strategies to prepare for this test by attending the Achievement and Learning Center’s free Upper-Division Writing Placement Test Preparation Workshop.
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What is WRIT 200, and why do I need to take it?
WRIT 200 Practicum in Writing is a 3-credit course which helps students prepare for WRIT 300 with an additional semester of writing instruction.
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How do I take a placement test if I'm a Shady Grove student?
If you are a Shady Grove student needing to sit for the Upper-Division Writing Placement Test, please contact placement@ubalt.edu.
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Are there prep workshops for writing?
The Achievement and Learning Center offers a free Upper-Division Writing Placement Test Preparation Workshop which provides tips and strategies for success on the writing placement test. The writing placement test is required of all UB students registering for WRIT 200 Practicum in Writing or WRIT 300 Advanced Expository Writing.
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When should I take the Upper-Division Writing Placement?
All students must take the writing placement test before their second registration at UB or once they have accumulated 45 credits or more. Students are also encouraged to take this placement test early in order to register for the appropriate writing course. Failure to do so may affect their ability to get into a desired class section.
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How do I RSVP for a placement date?
RSVP is required through UB's Web calendar . Bring a pen or pencil and photo ID to the designated test room before the start time. Late arrivals will not be admitted. The test is 90 minutes. If you are a Web Bachelors student (online only student), click here to request off-site testing.
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How do I obtain my results after taking the Upper-Division Writing Placement?
Students' placement results are available through the MyUB Portal. Log in to MyUB and follow this path: My Self Service> Placement Test Scores
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What do my math placement results mean (transfer and upper-division students)?
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If the score is between 0-45 a student will be required to register for MATH 83 or MATH 84
- If the score is 46 or higher a student can select MATH 111, MATH 113 or MATH 115 to fulfill the General Education math requirement.
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If the score is between 0-45 a student will be required to register for MATH 83 or MATH 84
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How do I prepare for the Math Placement ?
In order to prepare for the Math Placement, you can review the Get Ready for the Math Placement Test study guide. This guide provides questions and concepts you may see on the placement. It also includes an answer key that allows you to check your work.
You can also attend one of the Math Review sessions held in the Robert L. Bogomolny Library during their Math Tutoring Drop-In hours, where a math tutor can walk you through solving the problems.
Students should also plan to review math material prior to taking the placement test. Wyzant.com and Math.com offers helpful practice tests in both pre-algebra and algebra.