Placement Tests

• Chemistry Placement
• Foreign Language Placement
• Math Placement
• Writing Placement

The university offers placement tests that evaluate the level of preparation of each student in mathematics, writing and foreign language. The score on the examinations are used to place the student in appropriate courses that best match his or her skills. The exams are used only for registration purposes, and carry no credit value. The preliminary score becomes invalid after two semesters. Each exam tests the student’s skills at the time the test is taken, and students are advised to study beforehand. Preliminary versions of the examinations are available, and all incoming students, including transfers, should take the preliminary placement examinations.

• Chemistry Placement (only needed if student is required to enroll in CHE 129, CHE 131 or CHE 152)
• Foreign Language Placement
• Math Placement
• Writing Placement

Chemistry Placement

Students at Stony Brook University are placed in one of three General Chemistry I offerings as their first chemistry class towards their major. The Department of Chemistry uses the Online Chemistry Placement and Preparation (OCPP) process to not only to place students in the most appropriate course, but also to prepare them for a good performance in the class.  

* Cannot be Math Placement Score above 3

** It is recommended that students also enroll in MAT 125  or equivalent when enrolled in CHE 131

1. To get an OCPP score = 3 the student must complete the OCPP objective CHE 129/131 with a grade 99 or higher.

2. To get an OCPP score = 3.5 the student must complete the three OCPP objectives CHE 129/131, CHE 152, and Objective CHE 152-Supplemental with a grade 99 or higher in each of them. Students that complete the three objectives but have AP Chemistry with score 4 or 5 will receive an OCPP score 4 (and must enroll in CHE 152).

3. To get an OCPP score 4 (i) the student must complete the two OCPP Objectives CHE 129/131 and CHE 152 with a grade 99 or higher in each of them, and (ii) the student must have AP Chemistry with a score 4 or 5.

Foreign Language Placement

Math Placement

*Scores on unproctored math placement exams are used only for registration purposes. Only proctored math placement exams with scores of 6 or higher will fulfill QPS and major/minor requirements.

Note: Higher level placements may take courses with lower level placements as long as the student does not already have credit for that course. For example, a student with placement level 6 could take MAT 131 and MAT 200, if desired.

Writing Placement

See chart below for additional information.

Every student must demonstrate a sufficient level of writing proficiency to graduate from Stony Brook University by completing a writing sequence culminating in the WRT 102 Intermediate Writing Workshop. Depending on individual student preparation, students will enroll initially in writing courses in the Program in Academic English (WAE 190, WAE 192, WAE 194) and/or in the Program in Writing and Rhetoric (WRT 101, WRT 102). Final placement is verified and adjusted as needed during the first week of classes. Details of the policy are below.

New freshmen and transfer students who have not transferred an equivalent course from another collegiate institution will be assigned to a writing course appropriate to their level of preparation based on the criteria discussed in detail below. If any one of the criteria below places you into WRT 102, then you are not required to complete the Online Writing Placement Exam.

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score

Students with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score of 580 or higher will be placed into WRT 102. Faculty from the Program in Writing and Rhetoric and Program in Academic English will review the online writing placement exam of students with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score (EBRW) below 580 to determine placement into the appropriate writing course.

ACT English Language Arts Score

Students with an English Language Arts (ELA)* score of 23 or higher will be placed into WRT 102. Faculty from the Program in Writing and Rhetoric and Program in Academic English will review the online writing placement exam of students with an English Language Arts (ELA)* score below 23 to determine placement into the appropriate writing course.

*Without a writing test score, no English Language Arts (ELA) score will be reported.

AP Scores

Students who have received AP scores in English Language/Composition or English Literature/Composition with a score of 3 or higher will be placed into WRT 102. See https://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/bulletin/current/policiesandregulations/admissions/apcredit.php for more information.

Transfer Course Equivalence

Students who have transfer college credit in English Composition from a regionally accredited institution with a grade of C or higher can determine transfer equivalency information by visiting Stony Brook’s transfer equivalency page here.

Online Writing Placement Exam

All matriculating students who have not satisfied the SBU writing requirement (WRT 102) or who have not been placed into WRT 102 through one of the established mechanisms listed above will take an online writing placement exam. Students will read excerpts from source texts and respond to a writing prompt. This 30-60 minute online writing exam will be made available to students as described below. Failure to complete the online writing exam could impact a student’s ability to register for a writing course and to make degree progress.

Freshmen Students

Freshmen students who need to complete the online writing placement exam will be contacted about this by the Program in Writing and Rhetoric via email in late May of students’ intended year of matriculation.

Transfer Students

Transfer students who are instructed to complete the online writing placement exam should email Jilleen.May@stonybrook.edu to request access to the exam. Please plan for a two (2) business day response time.

Final Placement

In the first week of WRT and WAE class, faculty may ask students to complete a writing sample to determine if the students’ current writing placement is appropriate. When necessary, faculty evaluation could require students to change their writing course. Advisors are available to assist students with schedule changes if needed.