Placement Tests
Many placement tests can be taken online prior to coming to campus. Please take them before you register for classes.
Please read the following carefully to determine which exams you need to take.
Required of the following majors: Biology, Business (all majors), Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Environmental Science, Math, and Physics. All other majors do not need to take the Math Placement Test.
This test is used to place you into the appropriate math course at USF. Previous college-level coursework will also be used when determining the appropriate course. This is a 40-minute algebra and trigonometry test, with 32 multiple-choice questions. No calculators are permitted. You may only take this test once, all subsequent scores will be not be accepted. Here is a link to practice tests: http://math.usfca.edu/~
You do not have to take this test if you have submitted a SAT or ACT score to USF.
Undeclared students: If there is even a remote chance that you may choose a Math, Science, Business, Kinesiology, Architecture, or Economics major, and you have not taken the SAT or ACT, then you should take the math test.
Required of the following majors: Chemistry, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Math, and Physics.
Recommended for Economics and Environmental Science majors.
This test is used to place you into the appropriate calculus course at USF. This is a 30-minute test, with 24 multiple-choice questions. No calculators are permitted. You may only take this test once, all subsequent scores will be not be accepted. Here is a link to practice tests: http://math.usfca.edu/~
You do not have to take this test if you have completed and passed Calculus I at another college, or if you have submitted an AP Calculus score of 4 or 5.
Note: If you are interested in going to medical, dental, pharmacy or veterinary school after attending USF, one semester of Calculus is strongly recommended by many schools.
Foreign language test scores are used to place you into USF language courses. You only need to take this test if you plan on studying a foreign language at USF that you have previously studied.
A foreign language is required of all Arts and Sciences majors as well as International Business majors.
You do not have to take this test if you are beginning a new foreign language.
Online Tests
The following are available to take online:
- Chinese
- Filipino
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Spanish
- Spanish Heritage
- Russian
For Chinese, Filipino, Japanese: Take the Online Foreign Language Placement Test
For French, German, Italian, Spanish, Spanish Heritage, Russian: Take the Online Foreign Language Placement Test
Please make sure to Log In with your organization credential (usfca).
Please take these tests prior to registering for your classes. Plan ahead! The results from the French, German, Italian, Spanish and Spanish Heritage placement take 2 weeks to record on your account.
On-Campus Tests
The following must be taken on-campus. The format of these tests vary.
Students who have studied Arabic, ASL, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese and Russian before attending USF must schedule individual interviews with faculty in these languages, prior to registration for accurate placement. Contact the Foreign Language department at llc@usfca.edu or (415) 422-2802 to make arrangements.
- American Sign Language
- Arabic
- Greek
- Hebrew
- Latin
- Portuguese
Required of the following majors: Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science
If you are majoring in Computer Science and using General Chemistry I to fulfill your Lab Science requirement, then you should also take the Chemistry Diagnostic Test.
Once you have taken the diagnostic test, the results will appear along with advice on how to best prepare for college level chemistry. If your score on the diagnostic test is 23 or less (023 in Banner), you are strongly advised to take the OWL Quick Prep and then retake the Chemistry Diagnostic Test. Please note that you are only allowed to take the Chemistry Diagnostic Test 2 times.
Owl Quick Prep - please create an account using the link below.
Course Title: USF Owl QuickPrep Course (self-paced, accessible from Jan 1 - December 31, 2023)
Student Registration URL: https://www.cengage.com/
Student Registration Instructions: How to Register for OWLv2
This does not have a course key or code, you are required to pay a $20 fee to access the course. Make sure you use the same email address for all of your Cengage accounts. If you have any issues, please contact Cengage Learning customer support at Cengage.com/support, or 800-354-9706
The USF Chemistry Diagnostic Test is a 45-minute test with 42 multiple-choice questions on material from a typical year-long high school chemistry course. You will need a pencil, scratch paper, calculator and periodic table. Relevant equations are provided. We suggest you print out a periodic table. You may not use a chemistry textbook or online sources of help (you will run out of time).
Notes: A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Chemistry exam normally gives you credit for Chem 111 and possibly Chem 113 (you may want to take the test anyway to see where you stand. Please speak with a chemistry advisor). Even if you completed a college pre-general chemistry course at USF or another institution you must take the diagnostic test to gauge your readiness.
If you did not place into General Chemistry I after taking the Chemistry Diagnostic Test, you should take the Owl Quick Prep course offered by Cengage to prepare you for college chemistry. Quick Prep has been proven to improve student performance in first semester chemistry.
After you complete the Owl Quick Prep course, you may retake the Chemistry Diagnostic Test.
Please note: If you are a Biology major, it is essential for you to begin General Chemistry I in the Fall semester to stay on track to graduate.
Owl Quick Prep - please create an account using the link below.
Course Title: USF Owl QuickPrep Course (self-paced, accessible from Jan 1 - December 31, 2023)
Student Registration URL: https://www.cengage.com/
Student Registration Instructions: How to Register for OWLv2
This does not have a course key or code, you are required to pay a $20 fee to access the course. Make sure you use the same email address for all of your Cengage accounts. If you have any issues, please contact Cengage Learning customer support at Cengage.com/support, or 800-354-9706
To determine which rhetoric and composition course or courses you will be taking, you will need to complete the Directed Self Placement (DSP). This self-assessment should take between 1–2 hours to complete. First, make sure you have created a myUSF account. Then:
- Log in to myUSF
- On your main dashboard, click the square button that says "Canvas" OR the "Canvas Link" as shown below.
OR
- Click on "Dashboard" in Canvas, and you should see the Directed Self Placement. If you do not see the DSP, please email rhetoricandlanguage@usfca.edu with your 8 digit student ID number.
- Follow the directions within the Directed Self Placement
When you complete the DSP, you'll be instructed to choose which Rhetoric course to register for.
If you choose RHET 195, your core A2 requirement will be completed upon successful completion of this course. Please know that spaces in RHET 195 are limited. If you choose this course and cannot obtain a spot, please write to rhetoricandlanguage@usfca.
If you choose RHET 110 or 110N, you must also complete RHET 120 (or other selected course options carrying A2 credit). RHET 120 fulfills your Core A2 requirement. Rhetoric 110N has a writing lab component that provides you with additional academic support, and you will earn six credits instead of four.
If you choose RHET 106, you must also complete RHET 110 or RHET 110N and RHET 120 (or other selected course options carrying A2 credit). RHET 120 fulfills your Core A2 requirement. Rhetoric 110N has a writing lab component that provides you with additional academic support, and you will earn six credits instead of four.
Transfer students: Many transfer students will take core A2 classes such as RHET 250 or 295, or a specialized writing course designed for certain majors. Some transfer students choose to start with RHET 110 or 110N. Your writing requirement is fulfilled upon successful completion of any Core A2 class.
Note: If you are a student with a disability who will need accommodations for the placement tests, please contact Student Disability Services at (415) 422-2613 one week before the scheduled test date.
More Questions? For foreign language placement test questions, please call Modern & Classical Languages at (415) 422-2802. For math placement test and chemistry diagnostic test questions, call CASA at (415) 422-5050 or email Tonya Miller at miller@usfca.edu. For Directed Self-Placement, call (415) 422-6243 or email rhetoricandlanguage@usfca.edu.