Placement Exams

<p>Are there placement exams at the beginning of the school year for freshmen? When are they and how do we sign up? Also, what subjects do they have for placement exams?</p>

<p>They have languages for everyone and math for those who didn’t do well on the math SATs. I think there may also be a physics one. They’re during orientation.</p>

<p>ok thanks, do we just sign up during orientation? or is there a place to sign up online?</p>

<p>@hebrewhammer
for language I’m pretty sure my AP score is solid enough for me to be exempt from the basic language requirement and to be placed into a slightly higher level class – In this case, as is the case for many others i’m sure, would taking the placement test still be a requirement?
Thanks!</p>

<p>I think the placement test is only a requirement for math (if you do poorly on the SATs) and for physics (I think if you did mediocre on the AP and want to still place out). I’m pretty sure that for languages it’s only to help you get a better idea of what you should take.</p>

<p>What’s “poorly”?</p>

<p>I wanna say 500.</p>

<p>According to Tufts Bulletin: </p>

<p>Math SAT score must be above 560 or ACT above 23 to place out of Quantitative Reasoning Requirement-a Tufts “Foundation” requirement. If you do not have those scores, you must take Math 4 in Fall of Freshman year. If scores are exactly 560 or 23, you must take the placement exam. Completion of Math 4 will fill one of the TWO Math distribution credits needed.</p>

<p>For language:</p>

<p>My D had a 740 Spanish SAT II and a 5 on the AP Spanish exam and still had to take the Spanish placement test at Tufts last year. She placed into Spanish 22, completed the 1 semester course and thus fulfilled her language requirement. So for those who moan and groan about Tufts extensive language requirement, it can be completed rather easily if you did well in high school language classes.</p>

<p>Do they admit students with math SAT scores less than 560? Not to be facetious…</p>

<p>Under very rare circumstances, yes. Low scoring students can often get accepted if they have wealthy donation-making parents or keen athletic prowess. We don’t give athletic scholarships, but being a terrific athlete can help you get into the school in the first place.</p>

<p>True.</p>

<p>10char</p>

<p>is there any way to prepare for the language placement tests? and when/where do we sign up for them?</p>

<p>Not really - they’re not graded exams or anything, they’re just meant to see which language level you’d be most comfortable learning.
You sign up during orientation.</p>

<p>if i know how to speak my native language fluently, but don’t know how to read or write it, would i have to start at the beginning level, or is there a special class for native speakers?</p>

<p>I don’t know but I think you might have to start over.</p>

<p>do most people take the same language as they did in HS instead of starting a new one? (do grad schools care if you start a new one?) and also, do any students take 2 languages to fill the language requirement (2 yrs of one and 2 yrs of the other)?</p>

<p>No idea/no/yes, and it’s actually only a year and a half of one, and a year and a half of the other.</p>

<p>I never took the placement tests, but Tufts accepts most APs with a score of 5, and most IB HLs with a score of IIRC 6 or above. I’d guess the placement tests are of comparable difficulty.</p>