How important are the placement tests?

The placement tests are a critical component in determining your course placements, therefore prior to testing you may want to review the topics included on the exams.  Only students who take the placement exams will be able to register for a Connections Miniversity orientation session and complete their upcoming class registration.

What placement tests do I need to take?

All students must take the mathematics computer based tests.  The Humanities/English department will utilize the writing and the essay sections of the SAT Reasoning Test ^TM to determine your English course placement.  For more information about these texts, see the College Board website. Otherwise, students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores will be required to take the computer based writing evaluation - Criterion® to determine English course placement. Additionally, students with majors that require either chemistry or computer science will also take the chemistry or computer sciences placement test.

Can I register for Connections Miniversity (CMV) if I have not taken the placement tests?

Only students who have taken the placement tests will be invited to Connections Miniversity. 

When are my placement tests held?

Placement tests will be held during March, April and May 2010.  Incoming students will receive a letter indicating their specific placement date, time and campus location.

Where do I schedule my tests?

Every student is pre-assigned a placement test date.  Each student must register to confirm this date online. After completing the necessary online registration, an email confirming your date for the placement test and NJIT Parking Pass will be sent to you from the Center for First Year Students.

What if I have advanced placement credits?

The Educational Testing Service notifies NJIT in July of Advanced Placement test results, and scores are reviewed as they are received. Please indicate NJIT as the institute to which to mail the results.  If you have taken an Advanced Placement test prior to your year of admission (i.e., your Junior year of high school), you will need to submit your scores directly to the Center for First Year Students.

If your AP score meets the NJIT requirements, you will be awarded the appropriate credit. Qualifying students will discuss the AP credit with the Associate Director of Placement & Testing, Ms. Margo Gilchrist.

What do I need to bring on test day?

Black or blue pen, two No. 2 sharpened pencils and your NJIT Student ID number. You will not be allowed to use calculators.  Please do not bring any other items to the testing site.

What is the Chemistry Placement Test?

NJIT administers the Toledo Chemistry Placement Test: The topics include: general Mathematics, general chemical knowledge and specific chemical knowledge. The Chemistry Placement Test is required for all those majoring in Engineering (except Engineering Technology), Bioinformatics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Applied Physics.

What is the Mathematics Placement Test?

In order to succeed in calculus you need a high level of proficiency in Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry. The Mathematics Placement Tests are designed to measure your abilities in these fundamental areas of mathematics and are required for all students. The mathematical abilities to be demonstrated on these tests are taught in standard high school courses on Algebra, Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry. Students can review all of these mathematical topics in the following reference book.

The Algebra and Trigonometry Problem Solver:  A Complete Solution Guide to Any Textbook, Research and Education Association, Piscataway, New Jersey, 2000, ISBN 0-87891-508-7

The topics to be tested are covered in depth in chapters 1-13, 15-21, 26-30, 32, 38-40, 42, 44, which include step by step solutions to many problems.

The Mathematics Placement consists of four separate tests, totaling two hours and fifteen minutes.

The first test is on Basic Algebra and measures your ability to perform basic algebraic operations and to solve problems that involve elementary, algebraic concepts. The second test covers topics in Intermediate and Advanced Algebra and the topics include: operations with rational expression and their evaluations, solving inequalities, logarithms, and solving word problems. The third test is on Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry and the topics include: graphing trigonometric functions and solving trigonometric equations, working with trigonometric identities, and solving word problems. The fourth test is called Calculus Ready. It covers a selection of important algebraic and trigonometric topics used in Calculus such as inverse functions and relations, inequalities, graphing, quadratic equations, conics, the compositions of functions, logarithms and exponentials.

Note: Copies of The Algebra and Trigonometry Problem Solver are on reserve for your use at the NJIT Van Houten Library. Please call the library at 973-596-3206 for hours of operation.

What is the English placement Test?

Placements in first semester English courses are made on the basis of writing and essay sections from SAT Reasoning Test. ^TM  For more information about these texts, see the College Board website. Otherwise, students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores will be required to take the computer based writing evaluation - Criterion® to determine English course placement.

Criterion® is a web-based application that evaluates a student's writing skills. Students draft and submit two essays based on prompts determined by the Humanities Department.

For an online tour of Criterion®, click here. (http://www.ets.org/Media/Products/Criterion/tour2/critloader.html)

What is the Computer Science Test?

This test measures your knowledge of basic computer science concepts.  All problems are in a programming language similar to Java or C++.  It consists of 19 questions to be answered over 45 minutes. The Computer Science Placement Test is required for all those majoring in Computer Science, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Applied Physics, and Surveying Engineering Technology.

What if I fail my placement test?

The placement test is not a pass/fail test. Your scores help to determine the course in which you will be placed for your first semester at NJIT. Lower scores could result in being placed in a lower course, possibly resulting in additional courses over all.

What if I disagree with my academic placement?

You will be given an opportunity to contact and discuss your placements with the Associate Director of Placement & Testing, Ms. Margo Gilchrist, 973-596-2981.

Can I retake the placement test?

Students have the opportunity to take the Mathematics, Chemistry and Computer Science Placement Tests a second time.

Retests will be offered on: Wednesday July 14, Wednesday July 21 and Wednesday August 4, 2010. The higher score will be used for the final placement. Students cannot retest more than once.  Contact the Placement Testing office at 973-596-8389 to schedule a re-test.