Students who are currently eligible for academic accommodations should contact SLU's
Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources at accessibility_disability@slu.edu regarding placement testing accommodations. It is important to arrange accommodations
before the first time you take a placement test. Once you pay your enrollment deposit, you will have access to the Canvas tile in MySLU. Once you are in Canvas, select the Course Placement tile for the academic year in
which you are admitted. Students admitted in the summer are included in the corresponding
fall term. For example, Fall 2024-Spring 2025 includes students admitted in summer
2024, fall 2024 and spring 2025.
All incoming students must meet English Writing placement criteria through a SLU placement
test or appropriate college credit.
Read below or take this short survey to determine if your college credit can be used for placement: SLU 1818 Credit: Students who have completed ENGL1500 or ENGL1900 through SLU’s 1818
Program do not need to take the English writing placement test, provided the course
is completed by Jan. 1 with a passing grade and that grade is posted in Banner. Senior-year
spring-semester courses cannot be included since grades will not be available before
registration begins in late May. Initial placement and registration may be adjusted
once grades are recorded. 2000-level literature courses cannot be used for placement. Non-SLU and AP/IB credit cannot substitute for the placement test. Placement test
results are necessary for advising and registration, which often occur before these
scores/transcripts are available. Once transcripts are received and evaluated, credit
will be posted per University policy, and initial placement and registration may be adjusted.
Students who have already completed a course equivalent to ENGL 1500 or ENGL 1900
at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States (Determine Course Equivalencies) do not need to take the placement test. The course must be complete with a grade
of "C" or better and posted on an official transcript that has already been sent
to SLU — it cannot be a current, in-progress course.
All incoming students must meet math placement criteria through completion of the
placement test or appropriate college credit:
SLU 1818 credit: Students who have completed a math course through SLU’s 1818 Program
do not need to take the placement test, provided the course is completed by Jan. 1.
with a grade of C- or higher and posted in Banner. Senior-year spring-semester courses
cannot be included since grades will not be available before registration begins in
late May. Initial placement may be adjusted once grades are recorded. Non-SLU and AP/IB credit cannot substitute for the placement test. Placement test
results are necessary for advising and registration, which often occur before these
scores/transcripts are available. Once transcripts are received and evaluated, credit
will be posted per University policy, and initial placement may be adjusted.
Transfer students who are pursuing a program that does not require a math course do
not need to take the placement test if they will have transfer credit for a course
that meets the Ways of Thinking: Quantitative Reasoning requirement in the University
Undergraduate Core. Determine Course Equivalencies Students who are pursuing a program that requires a math course must meet math pre-requisites
through testing or credit. Students who have already completed a math course at the
college algebra level or higher at a regionally accredited college or university do not need to take the placement test. The transfer course must be less than a year
old, completed with a grade of "C" or better and posted on an official transcript
that has already been sent to SLU — it cannot be a current, in-progress course. If you are not sure whether your program requires a math course and you do not have
transfer credit for a math course, you should take the placement test to ensure that
you will be able to register for the courses that you need.
Any student who must take CHEM 1110 General Chemistry is required to take the chemistry
placement test.
SLU 1818 credit: Students who have completed CHEM 1110 & 1115 through SLU’s 1818
Program may use this coursework instead of the placement test, provided the course
is completed by Jan. 1 with a passing grade and that grade is posted in Banner. Senior-year
spring-semester courses cannot be used for placement since grades will not be available
before registration begins in late May. Initial placement and registration may be
adjusted once grades are recorded.
Students who have already completed a course equivalent to CHEM 1050 or CHEM 1110
at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States (Determine Course Equivalencies) do not need to take the placement
test. The course must be complete with a grade of "C" or better and posted on an official
transcript that has already been sent to SLU — it cannot be a current, in-progress
course.
Foreign language testing is encouraged for any student who has learned or studied
another language, especially if students are interested in any of the programs below.
Take this short survey to determine whether language testing is required. Students beginning a new language
do not need a placement test and should register for the entry-level (1010) course.
All incoming first-time freshmen must complete this survey as soon as possible. The University will create your first-semester schedule based
on your major, your placement test scores and information from this survey. We finalize
this process about 10 days before your scheduled SLU 101 program. If you do not complete
the survey, the University will select courses for your schedule.
Students attending the St. Louis campus must register for SLU 101 before their schedule is generated. Please contact your admission counselor if you have questions about signing up for SLU 101.
Students attending the Madrid campus will receive an email once their schedule is
complete.
You will connect with an academic advisor during your scheduled SLU 101 orientation
program to confirm your schedule. Most students are satisfied with their initial schedule. However, questions or concerns
(such as changes to your major or significant time conflicts) can be addressed during
SLU 101. If you complete the survey or any placement tests within two weeks of your
SLU 101 session, you may need to update your schedule during SLU 101.
Non-SLU and AP/IB credit cannot substitute for the placement test. Placement test
results are necessary for advising and registration, which often occur before these
scores/transcripts are available. Once transcripts are received and evaluated, credit
will be posted per University policy, and initial placement and registration may be adjusted.
No. Your placement test results are only used to determine which class you should
take at SLU. There is no credit awarded.
ACT/SAT scores are not used to place students into courses.
No, there are no practice tests.
Plan to spend about an hour of uninterrupted time on each test. Visit each section
above for details.
Email SLU Center for Accessibility and Disability Resources at accessibility_disability@slu.edu;
they can assist you with the application for accommodations.
Math, chemistry and foreign language results will be available immediately. English tests must be graded manually and scores will be available within a few
weeks.
The English test can only be taken once. The math test can be taken up to five times.
The chemistry test can be taken twice. Students must complete work in the learning
modules before re-taking the math or chemistry tests. Each student is allowed to take
the language skills assessments two times per language but no more than once in one
day.
There is no fee associated with course placement. However, you must have submitted
your enrollment deposit to access the placement items.
To complete placement assessments, you will need access to a computer with an internet
connection for an extended period of time. Students who do not have personal computers
can consider visiting a public library, high school computer lab or other location
with reliable internet access. If none of these options are available, arrangements
can be made upon your arrival to SLU 101.
Course Placement
Course Placement
SLU's placement process ensures new students are in appropriate courses for their
first semester at SLU.
See individual sections below for details about each category.
If you have any questions, contact placement@slu.edu.
Academic Accommodations
How to Access
English Writing Placement
Math Placement
View Program RequirementsChemistry Placement
Foreign Language Placement
In addition, many study abroad programs require a certain level of language proficiency.
Course Selection (fall semester only) Survey
Frequently Asked Questions