Placement Testing

When will the placement tests be available?

• Placement testing is now available for incoming students for Spring 2025 (January 2025). 

When do I need to complete the tests?

• Complete all tests at least two weeks before your academic advising appointment.

What if I cannot take my placement tests before my orientation session or academic advising appointment? 

•  All students must complete their placement testing prior to enrolling in classes. If you believe you can’t complete your placement tests prior to your academic advising appointment, please contact us at nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081 to discuss your situation.

How do I know which tests to take? 

• UW-Platteville requires all students to take the placement tests for English and Math. Your To-Do List in your PASS account will indicate which tests you must still complete or if you have qualifying credit or scores to fulfill the testing requirement.
• Students who have studied Spanish or German, or are heritage speakers of one of these languages, should consider taking the World Languages exam for that language. See more below.
• Students should take the “on demand” tests in English and Math (Math-A). When you receive confirmation of the testing materials from candidatesupport@meazurelearning.com, choose the testing options for “on demand” testing.
• Do not choose “Live Remote Proctoring”, as this has an added cost to students and is not required by UW-Platteville.

Should I take the World Languages exam?

• Students who have studied Spanish or German or are heritage speakers of one of these language are encouraged to take the World Language placement test for that language. You will access the World Language placement tests the same way you access the English and Math-A placement tests.
• If you studied multiple languages in high school and choose to take the placement test for more than one language, email nse@uwplatt.edu to notify us so we can add your scores to your PASS account.
• Students should not take a placement test for a world language they have not studied previously.
• Students can earn retroactive credits in the language they have studied by taking the placement test in that language, enrolling in the course they place in, and earning a B- or better in that class.
• Please visit the Department of Humanities website for more specific information about retroactive credit for World Languages.

I took AP classes (and the tests for them) in high school. How do I make sure UW-Platteville receives them?

• If you took AP tests in May 2024 (or earlier) which are not recorded in your PASS account, you may need to contact College Board to have those scores sent (preferably in electronic form) to UW-Platteville. If the AP course does not provide the prerequisite for a course that your degree program requires, then you may still need to take placement tests.
• Students who are currently taking AP courses as part of their high school curriculum and plan to take exams for them in the fall of 2024 are not exempt from placement testing. When AP scores are received, students can work with their academic advisor to make any necessary schedule adjustments. Please note that the Mathematics Department will adjust students’ schedules when scores are received.

I took dual credit, youth options, ECCP, International Baccalaureate, CLEP, CAPP, or other college-level courses at my high school or local college-level campus. How do I know if I should still take the placement tests?

• Any student who has taken college-level credit from an accredited college or university should contact that institution and request an official transcript be sent to UW-Platteville (preferably in electronic form). Only college-level credit can be reviewed for completion of UW-Platteville degree requirements. When these credits are received, they will be reviewed to determine if placement tests are still needed. In some situations, students may still need to take placement tests to determine which courses they should start in.
• The Mathematics Department strongly encourages all incoming freshman students to take the Math placement test, regardless of other credits received as the placement test can assist in the advisement of the proper course for students to enroll in.
• Note: Courses on a High School transcript that are not marked as a college-level course most likely will not count for college-level credit at UW-Platteville.

Will my SAT or ACT scores exempt me from placement testing?

• No, UW-Platteville does not accept SAT or ACT scores to exempt students from placement testing.

How do I register for the tests?

• Register for the tests through the Universities of Wisconsin Center for Placement Testing.
• The placement tests are facilitated by the University of Wisconsin Center for Placement Testing and their partner Meazure Learning. Within two business days of registering, students will receive a username and password and further instructions from Meazure Learning to access the on-demand testing.
• Students will be able to take the tests online at their convenience after receiving this username and password.

What if I didn’t receive the email with my username and password after registering?

• Remember that it can take up to two business days for the email to be sent. If two business days have passed, search the inbox and junk/spam folders of the email account you used to register for the placement tests and search for “candidatesupport@meazurelearning.com”.
• If you do not see this email, contact the University of Wisconsin Center for Placement Testing at frontdesk@exams.wisc.edu to ensure your account is set up correctly. You may also contact Meazure Learning at candidatesupport@meazurelearning.com to have the email resent.

What should I do if I lose my log-in information for the placement tests?

• If you can’t remember your log-in information, you will need to contact the University of Wisconsin Center for Placement Testing at 608.262.5863 or frontdesk@exams.wisc.edu.

How long will the placement tests take?

• You will have 90 minutes each for the math and English tests and 60 minutes for a world languages test (optional).
• The placement tests are available on demand, and you do not need to complete all of your tests on the same day.  However, each test is designed to be completed in one sitting. Please set aside enough time to complete your test and submit your answers at the end of your testing session.  You must submit your answers within the stated time limit. Upon submission you will not be able to re-access the placement test.
• After completing each test, you must submit your answers to Meazure Learning. Failure to submit your answers could result in a delay of transmission of these scores to UW-Platteville and prevent you from registering for classes.

What technology do I need to have to take the placement tests?

• Student should arrange to test on a desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet, rather than on a phone. Your web browser must be able to accept cookies, JavaScript, and pop-up windows. It is also recommended that you use the most up-to-date version of your web browser.
• If you are concerned about meeting these technology needs, please contact us at nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081 and a member of our team will contact you to discuss your technology needs.

How do I access practice materials for the placement tests?

• Practice materials for the placement tests can be found at https://testing.wisc.edu/centerpages/contentsofplacementtests.html

Why is it important to take the placement tests seriously?

• The Universities of Wisconsin Placement Tests have been shown to be very good at determining what math and English courses a student should take. Please be sure to use the knowledge that you currently have to answer the questions. Using outside resources could result in you placing into classes for which you are not prepared.

What if I have technical difficulties during the test?

• Meazure Learning will provide telephone and email support to students during testing. Staff will be available Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding holidays. Voicemail will accept student inquiries outside of these business hours.
• Take any necessary steps to ensure you have a distraction free environment and a stable internet connection when taking your exams.

How long does it take UW-Platteville to receive my placement test scores?

• Because the placement tests are administered by the University of Wisconsin Center for Placement Testing, it can take up to two weeks for UW-Platteville to receive your scores and for your to-do item to be removed from your PASS account.

When will I find out what my scores are and what they mean?

• Your scores will be shared with you when you are registering for your classes. Your advisor will help you understand what your scores mean for your recommended courses and degree progress.

Why do I still have a placement test to-do item on my PASS account after I completed my tests?

• Students can log back into their Meazure Learning account to verify that their placement test answers were submitted. There will be a date/time stamp indicating when they were submitted. If they were not submitted, complete that step.
• If they were submitted within the last two weeks, wait until two weeks have passed from when you submitted your tests and check your to-do list again.
• If two weeks have passed and you verified that your answers were submitted, contact nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081 and we will assist.