Bridgewater State College
Placement Testing
Freshman Testing and Placement Program
The freshmen testing program at Bridgewater State College is designed to assess your skill levels in writing, mathematics, reading and foreign language to help academic advisors identify the appropriate match between the course level and your skills. The testing program utilizes a series of examinations in the basic skills areas. The results of these tests, together with a thorough evaluation of your high school academic record, will enable us to determine your placement in courses. Proper placement will help ensure success in completing the requirements of the Core Curriculum of the college, which in turn will provide a sound foundation in communication skills, mathematics, and critical thinking. This will prepare you with the skills necessary to take full advantage of your studies in your academic major.
All incoming first year students are required to take certain placement tests at Orientation prior to selecting courses for Spring Semester. The tests are used to ensure that you begin your studies of certain subjects at the level appropriate to your experience and ability. Students who test well may waive certain requirements, thus allowing a wider choice of elective courses. It is to your benefit to try your best when taking placement tests. The offered placement tests and how results are used are described in greater detail below.
Writing Placement Test
All students must complete one year of a writing course regardless of their major. The purpose of the writing placement test is to evaluate your ability to produce standard written English, as you will be expected to do when writing college papers. The results will help determine the placement level for your first writing course.
Mathematics Placement Test
As part of the Core Curriculum, all students must successfully complete a course in mathematical reasoning (3 credits) and a course in quantitative reasoning (3 credits). Some majors require completion of additional mathematics courses. The results of the placement test of elementary algebra skills will place you in either the precollege-level course or a college credit course that will count toward the Core requirement.
Reading Placement Test
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all beginning students to take an assessment of reading skills. The results of this computerized assessment will allow your advisor to work with you to identify courses with reading requirements for which you are most suited. Placement test results will also help your advisor identify and inform you about campus support services that will assist you with challenging reading requirements.
Foreign Language Placement Test
All students are strongly encouraged to gain fluency in one or more foreign language. If you have studied foreign language in high school and plan to continue study of that same language, you must take the foreign language placement test. The test determines the appropriate course at which your college language study will begin.