Some Penn State Continuing Education courses in English, mathematics, and chemistry have prerequisites. If you have not completed a prerequisite course at Penn State (or an equivalent course through another school), you must take the appropriate placement test.
Placement tests are administered online. Please visit Penn State's Online Placement Testing site for more information. To request access to a placement test, print out and complete the Request for Online Placement Exams form (Adobe PDF--60K) and mail or fax it to:
Continuing Education
The Pennsylvania State University
121 Outreach Building
University Park PA 16802
Fax: 814-863-2504
Important: If you are required to take a placement exam but do not have access to the Internet, call Continuing Education at 800-228-1627 to make other arrangements. This option is available only if you do not have access to the Internet.
Penn State does not charge for placement tests. You will be notified by e-mail of your results, in three business days.
English Placement Test information
Mathematics Placement Test information
Chemistry Placement Test information
This test is required of all new Penn State students (except advanced-standing students who already have credit for ENGL 015 or its equivalent) to determine their proper starting level. If your test score indicates a substantial weakness, you will be required to enroll in ENGL 004 (Basic Writing Skills), which must be successfully completed as a prerequisite for ENGL 015 (Rhetoric and Composition). If your score is satisfactory, you may enroll directly in ENGL 015.
This test will measure your competence in the following areas of English usage: spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, and diction.
English Test Topics
1. Spelling: You will be asked to identify misspellings in groups of words.
2. Vocabulary: You will be asked to identify synonyms and antonyms.
3. Punctuation: You will be asked to identify inaccurate punctuation, such as the omission of required punctuation, punctuation where none should be, and the use of the wrong punctuation mark.
4. Grammar and Diction: You will be asked to evaluate the correctness of the grammar and diction of parts of sentences.
This test measures knowledge of various algebra and trigonometry topics. The results of the test will determine at what level of mathematics you should begin your study. We realize that you may not have covered all these topics in high school or may not have used the concepts recently. If you are not currently taking algebra or trigonometry, we strongly suggest that you look over the topics listed below and identify those you need to review for the placement test. Don't be too concerned if you are not familiar with, or current in your knowledge of, all these topics. If you are interested in testing your knowledge of these topics using sample questions, click here.
The Department of Mathematics offers two versions of the mathematics test--one that requires the use of a calculator and one that does not. You may choose either version of the test. For the calculator version, you may use any four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator.
If you need or want to take MATH 004, 021, 022, 110, or 140, you will be required to either take the placement exam or demonstrate fulfillment of the respective course prerequisite before registering for these courses. Visit the course catalog to search for courses that interest you.
Mathematics Test Topics
- arithmetic of integers, rational numbers, and decimals
- ratio, proportion, and averaging
- areas, perimeters, and volumes
- operations with algebraic expressions
- linear equations and inequalities
- factoring and algebraic fractions
- exponents and radicals
- graphing
- fractional equations
- quadratic equations and inequalities
- logarithmic and exponential functions
- functions
- complex numbers
- absolute values
- systems of equations
- word problems
- equations of lines
- distance and area
- concept formation
- definition of trigonometric functions
- right triangles
- evaluation of special angles
- related angles
- radian measure
- graphing of trigonometric functions
- trigonometric identities
- laws of sines and cosines
- trigonometric equations
- inverse trigonometric functions
