Placement Exam Information

All students must complete the Math Placement Exam to demonstrate competency in mathematics. All students who do not place out must complete MATH 101, regardless of major.

• Incoming First Years: you will be receive communications regarding the math placement exam via your Simmons email. Please monitor your Simmons email for this information.
• Current Students: please direct any inquiries about math placement to The Office of Undergraduate Advising.

Visit the Math Placement Assessment page for details and instructions for taking the math placement exam.

For incoming students as of Fall 2024 and thereafter:

Incoming undergraduate students are not required to take a language course. The language placement exam is optional and available only to students who are interested in taking Spanish at the undergraduate level.

For students whose first semester was prior to Fall 2024:

All on-the-ground undergraduate students must satisfy the PLAN Language Requirement that was in place at the time of their enrollment. Language exams are still available to students in that category who have not yet taken one and require a placement.

The language requirement is met by one of the following:

• The successful completion of the 102 level* in Spanish or French at Simmons University or in any modern language taken through the COF or at another institution with preapproval from the Associate Provost for Curriculum, Assessment, and Accreditation.
  OR
• The successful completion of one GH KCA course AND one DEIJ KSA course taken specifically to fulfill the language requirement.

*Completion of the 101 level [or its equivalent] is a prerequisite of the 102 level.

Students whose first semester was prior to Fall 2024 have already met the Language requirement if:

• They have completed the 102 level in any modern language at Simmons University or another accredited academic institution with preapproval.
  OR
• They have received a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement modern language exam and transferred that credit to Simmons.
  OR
• They have placed above the 102 level on their placement exam administered by the Office of Undergraduate Advising.

If students who entered before Fall 2024 have taken or wish to take other equivalent exams, they should consult with Undergraduate Advising ([email protected]).

The following students (who entered before Fall 2024) are exempt from the PLAN Language Requirement:

• F-1 Visa international students from non-English-speaking countries
• Dix Scholars
• Students with specific accommodations through the Office of Accessibility Services

Please note the following policies, which apply only to students who entered before Fall 2024:

• Students who have taken a language at the 101 level must also take the 102 level in the same language to complete the requirement unless they can demonstrate proficiency at the 102 level in another language through one of the methods listed above. Once students have enrolled in a 101 or 102 level course, they cannot opt to test out of that language.
• Students are allowed to take only one placement exam. Students may not retake an exam they have previously taken. If a student takes more than one exam they will be charged for multiple attempts ($15-$30).
• The Office of Accessibility Services will continue to work with students with documented disabilities ([email protected]).
• Use of translation devices and additional materials is a violation of the Academic Honor Policy. If any major discrepancies are identified between a student’s previous experience in the language and their placement, the student will need to meet with the Program Director of Applied Spanish, who is trained to identify what students are capable of expressing at any given level.
• The Program Director of Applied Spanish reserves the right to make final decisions about placement and whether or not a student has fulfilled the requirement.