Incoming First-Year Students

When will I be notified about taking the placement assessments?

Upon acceptance and receipt of your deposit, you will be notified about taking the placement assessments.

Do I  need to register for the placement assessments?

First-year students do not need to register for the placement assessment. As long as you you have been accepted, deposited and claimed your UCID, you will be sent information about how to access the assessments.  If you need more information contact: placementtesting@njit.edu or call (973) 596-8389. 

Do I need to come to campus to take the placement assessment(s)?

The placement assessment is taken virtually so, you do not have to come to campus. You can complete it from your home.

How long is the math placement assessment?

The math placement assessment (Mobius) is approximately 2 hours and is divided into three sections: Basic Algebra (25 problems), Advanced Algebra (25 problems) and Trigonometry (30 problems). (Calculator usage is not allowed.)

Is it necessary to prepare for the math placement assessment?

Since the math placement assessment is used to determine your first-semester math course, we strongly recommend that you prepare for the math placement test by reviewing the subject areas on the test. Please review practice questions and answers as well as take a sample test and review possible math course placement by using the placement calculator. (No calculators usage permitted during the test.)

Do I need to take the math placement assessment?

Yes, if you have not submitted:  Advance Placement (AP) electronic score report or International Baccalaureate (IB) certificate, or an official transcript from a college/university for math pre-calculus or calculus 1 with a grade of C or better, you are required to take the math placement assessment. (A score report or exam grade should be available at the time of acceptance)

Do I need to take the English placement assessment?

Yes, if you have not submitted:  Advance Placement (AP) electronic score report or International Baccalaureate (IB) certificate, official transcript from college/university for English Composition 1 with a grade of C or better, you are required to take the English placement assessment. (Score report or exam grade should be available at the time of acceptance) 

How long is the English placement assessment?

There are two parts of the English placement test : The English Placement Survey and English Placement Essay. The English Placement Survey test is approximately  20 minute and English Placement Essay  is approximately 50 minutes (on selected topics ). 

If I receive extra time on exams at my current/previous school, how do I receive the same accommodations on the placement assessment?

You need to contact the Office of Accessibility Resources & Services (OARS) at oars@njit.edu or call (973) 596-5417 to make arrangements for accommodation during the placement assessment. Once approved, OARS will communicate with the Placement Testing Office the appropriate accommodations prior to your access to the assessment(s).

When will I receive my  results?

Within 10 business days via your NJIT e-mail. 

What if I fail my math placement assessment?

The math placement assessment is not  pass/fail. Your results determine the math course in which you will be placed during your first semester at NJIT. If you believe that your initial placement assessment scores are not representative of your mathematical capabilities and level, you may request a one-time retake of the math placement assessment that you can schedule at least 2 weeks after your first placement test date. (The deadline for students to retake the math placement assessment for the Fall 2023: July 14. No calculators permitted.)

Do I need permission to take a Pre-Calculus math course at another college/university?  

As an incoming first-year, prior to matriculation, no special permission is needed to take a pre-Calculus math course at another college/university. However, we highly recommend consulting with your academic advisor prior to registering to make sure the course in which you register is equivalent to your NJIT math placement. Continuing NJIT students MUST obtain prior approval from the Department of Mathematical Sciences before taking any math course at another school. Click here for details.

If I decide to take a Pre-Calculus course at another college/university, what grade do I need in the course to move to the next level?

You need a grade of C or better in order to move to the next level math course. An official transcript from the college/university at which the course was taken must be submitted to NJIT in order for you to receive transfer credit. 

Are my first semester classes merely general education requirements or are they specific to my major?

Your first semester courses consist of general education requirements as well as specific major courses depending upon course placements, departmental standards, and major curriculum. Please review major requirements in this catalog: http://catalog.njit.edu/undergraduate/.

If I am taking advanced placement courses, can I be exempt from the taking the placement assessment?

You must have taken an Advanced Placement Exam through College Board and/or have completed a college-level course affiliated with a college/university and can provide an official score report and/or a transcript from the college/university and/ or have obtained a certificate of completion of International Baccalaureate courses on order to be eligible for exemption from the placement assessment. Please contact the Placement Testing Office at (973) 596-8389 for further details. (Please note: You should have taken the exams or completed the college/university course prior to your acceptance.)

Can I take the placement assessment more than once?

If you believe that your initial placement assessment results are not representative of your mathematical capabilities and level, you may request to retake the math placement assessment a second time. We allow only one retake of the math placement assessment which you can schedule at least 2 weeks after your first math placement assessment date. (The deadline for students to retake the math placement assessment for the fall 2024: July 1. No calculators permitted.)

Retaking the English placement assessment is not permitted unless authorized by the Humanities and Social Science Department. If you have problems or concerns with your English course placement, you need to contact the Humanities and Social Science Department: (973) 596-3269 or humanities@njit.edu.

If I have earned Advanced Placement course credits, where do I send my results?

As long as you requested that your results be sent to NJIT electronically through the College Board, your scores will be sent directly to the Admissions Office. If you have not done so, then please request that your AP report be sent electronically to: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Admissions Office , University Heights, Newark New Jersey 07102.  If you have taken a course in high school that was affiliated with a college/university, you need to have an official transcript sent from that college/university to Admission at the previously listed address. (Please Note:  If you took a college level course affiliated with NJIT, please notify the Placement Testing Office prior to accessing the placement assessment.)

What does my course placement mean?

Course placements in math and English are determined by the results of your placement assessments as well as advance course credit. Students will be registered for the courses in which they were placed according to criteria established by the various academic departments base on major/curriculum. For more details, please click math or English.

New incoming first-year who place in Math 107, Math 108 or Math 110 are encouraged to retake the placement test and/or register for a Pre-Calculus course during the summer. (Except for students whose first-semester math course is Math 107- Architecture & Interior Design majors) Consult with your academic advisor or cohort leader before registration.