Placement Testing at BSU

The Board of Higher Education of Massachusetts requires state universities, colleges, and community colleges to administer placement tests in English and mathematics to all new first-year students. Placement testing at Bridgewater State University is, therefore, mandatory. Placement test scores are used in connection with other factors to inform course selection for math and English courses. Students' skills are assessed in three broad areas: mathematics, reading, and writing.

Information for Students

If you were recently accepted to BSU and have decided to attend our university, first off, congratulations! We're excited that you're joining our university! By now, you may have gotten word that you'll need to sign up for placement testing and orientation before you begin studying here at BSU.  If you are an incoming first-year student, you'll need to complete placement testing. If you are an incoming transfer student, you may or may not need to complete placement testing, depending on your academic history at your previous institution(s). For more information, visit our placement testing FAQs page.

BSU uses the computer adaptive ACCUPLACER exam for mathematics placement testing and a handwritten essay created by our English faculty for writing placement testing. To learn more about a particular placement exam, click on one of the tabs below.