Placement Exams

Students must complete all placement examinations, (Writing, Mathematics and Foreign Language) online by June 4, 2010 in order that they register for fall classes.

Mathematics Placement Exam

All students are required to take the Mathematics Placement Exam, which is available online here. The test is purely for advisory purposes and is used only to recommend placement into your first mathematics course.


Writing Placement Essay

Because Goucher courses require strong writing skills, we have a College Writing Proficiency requirement which students should meet by the end of freshman year, or as soon as possible in sophomore year.  Transfer students should deal with the requirement immediately.  Because we define "proficiency" in terms of demonstrated skills, not courses taken, we need to know what skills you are starting with in order to decide whether you need more training or not.  Neither AP credit, test scores, nor prior composition courses taken at another institution would tell us as much about your writing as this essay.  If you do not need to take another writing course to succeed at Goucher, this essay can demonstrate that fact.

Take the essay seriously and give it at least a full hour to develop.  Use more time if you need it.  You will not be penalized.  Click here to begin the Writing Placement Essay.

 

Foreign Language Placement Exams & Guidelines

Graduation requirements include proficiency in a foreign language at the intermediate level. The Language Placement Test is used to place you in the language course appropriate to your present knowledge and proficiency.

We encourage all entering students to take the test in the language studied in high school even if they are considering beginning a different language in college.

Note:

  • Entering students who have not studied a language in high school need to indicate the foreign language they will study at Goucher.  Click here to indicate your foreign language choice.
  • Entering students who plan to study a language elsewhere need to indicate the foreign language that they intend to study.  Click here to indicate what language you will study elsewhere.
  • Placement exam results have an expiration date of one year -- i.e. students need to retake their placement test after 2 or more semesters if they have not taken the language course in which they were placed, unless they have opted to satisfy their language requirement with the study of another language altogether.

No dictionaries or other sources may be used during the test. Native speakers of a foreign language should follow the recommendations listed in the document "Guidelines for native speakers of a foreign language or students taking a language not offered at Goucher" and complete the "Foreign Language Agreement".

Other related forms including:

  • Inter-institutional registration forms
  • Non-Goucher Programs form

are available on the forms page of the Records and Registration section of the Goucher website

Foreign Language Placement Exams:


Music Theory Placement Test

Students wishing to take Music Theory 1 (MUS 105) must take a placement test. This 15-minute, timed test will evaluate knowledge of music fundamentals, including major and minor scales and key signatures, identification and construction of intervals and triads, meter and harmonic function. This exam is not available online and can be taken on campus.

Students may take the Music Theory Placement Test at Summer Orientation 2010. Please check in between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. and go to Hoffberger Science Room 223 to take the exam between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Students wishing to take the Music Theory Placement Test during Fall Orientation will receive details in materials when you check in for fall.


Dance Placement Auditions

The Dance Placement Auditions will take place on June 15th during Summer Orientation 2010. Interested students will check in at 7:30 in the Dance Studio and the auditions will take place between 8:00 and 9:30. 

Equestrian Placements

The Equestrian Placments will take place on June 15th during Summer Orientation 2010.  Interested students will check-in at 7:30 at the Dance Studio, which is on the way to the Equestrian Center.

Questions about the Placement Exams

If you have any questions about the placement exams, please contact the Academic Dean's Office by e-mail (AcademicDean@goucher.edu) or by phone (410-337-6460).