Placement Tests - What do I take?
- All Engineering Majors (including Undeclared) need to take the Math and Chemistry exams.
- Computer Science Majors need to take the Math, Chemistry and Foreign Language exams.
Chemistry Placement Exam
All engineering student who are required to take Chemistry 105a or MASC 110 must take the Chemistry Placement Exam as part of their Pre-Orientation Homework.
The placement test is a 30-minute, 25-question multiple-choice exam. Familiarity with basic terminology and concepts as presented in a high school course, as well as good problem–solving skills, is necessary before enrolling in Chemistry 105.
Math Placement Exam
All engineering students are required to take the Math Placement Exam as part of their Pre-Orientation Homework. AP exam scores do not waive you from this requirement. These exams are straight-forward and are designed to give us a quick diagnostic snapshot of you preparation in basic fundamentals.
Description:
The test is sixty minutes long and contains 40 questions. The topics covered {with Mastery Scores} are:
Rational Expressions {3}
Exponents and Radicals {4}
Linear Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values {4}
Polynomials and Polynomial Functions {4}
Functions {4}
Trigonometry {3}
Logarithmic and Exponential Functions, and {3}
Word Problems {3}
The policy on repetition is a first administration, followed by once during pre-registration, and finally after one semester.
Foreign Language Placement Exam
With the exception of Computer Science, there is no foreign language requirement for any engineering degree program. Computer Science majors are required to complete the equivalent of a third semester of foreign language. Viterbi students who wish to continue studying (minor or second major) a Foreign Languge studied in high school must take the Foreign Language Exam. The Foreign Language Placement Exam is available online as a part of your Pre-Orientation Homework and must be completed in advance of your Orientation session.
French, German, Russian and Spanish
The Pre-Orientation Homework offers online tests in French, German, Russian and Spanish. Students who wish to continue study in these languages must take the test online 72 hours in advance of their orientation session.
Japanese, Korean, Latin and Mandarin Chinese
The USC Testing Bureau offers in-person foreign language tests in Japanese, Korean, Latin and Mandarin Chinese. Students who wish to continue study of these languages must do one of the following:
♦ Attend a regular test administration by the Testing Bureau prior to their orientation session (dates available on the USC Testing Bureau website).
♦ Take the test during the regular administration by the Testing Bureau during USC Welcome Week
Italian
Students who wish to continue study of Italian should contact Geinel Johnson (undergraduate advisor in the Italian Department) at 213.740.2534.
Other Languages
Students who wish to study languages or satisfy the language requirement in a language not taught at USC should contact the Foreign Language Department upon arrival to USC for Welcome Week (fall) or Welcome Day (spring).
International Students
International Students whose native language is not English are exempt from the foreign language requirement.
Students who have not previously studied a particular foreign language must check the online
Schedule of Classes to determine how to enroll in semester one.
