The University of the Virgin Islands will offer English and math placement tests for incoming freshman students who plan to enroll in the university’s fall semester, which starts on Aug. 20. All students with SAT college admissions scores below 490 on the math test or below 500 on the English tests (both reading and writing), or those with ACT test scores below 20 in math or below 21 in English, are encouraged to take these tests in order to avoid being required to take no- or reduced-credit developmental courses.
Students who successfully pass the placement tests in July will enjoy the benefit of being registered early. They may also find a greater choice of course offerings and class schedules that better fit their personal needs. Students who wait to take placement tests in August, just prior to registration, risk the chance that some classes they wish to take may already be filled.
Tests are scheduled as follow:
Albert A. Sheen St. Croix Campus – St. Croix
English and Math tests: Monday, July 23 and Thursday, July 26 – 1-6 p.m.
St. Thomas Campus
Math tests: Tuesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 26 – 2:30-4:30 p.m.
English tests: Tuesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 26 –
5-7 p.m.
On St. Thomas the English and math tests will be offered in Computer Labs 101 A and B and 103 of the Classroom Administration Building (CAB). On St. Croix, the English and math tests will be administered in Rooms 131 and 133 of the North West Wing. Those students who intend to take this opportunity should indicate their intention by calling the following numbers: 693-1583 (St. Thomas) or 692-4140 (St. Croix).
The tests are computer-based and are administered simultaneously. A picture ID is required. Calculators will not be permitted during the math placement test.
There are two English Placement tests. English 101 – Reading in the Content Area (RCA 021) – measures vocabulary, comprehension and reading rate. It consists of analogies and paragraph readings with comprehension questions. English 100 – Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC 011) – is an essay test which involves creating an outline and writing a basic five paragraph essay on a given topic.
Free reading and writing, sample tests can be found at www.accuplacer.org.
A preparation guide for the math test is available at this link: http://www.uvi.edu/sites/uvi/Publications/Show_them_you_know_some_math.pdf.
For more information on the English tests, contact Linda Wymer at UVI’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Studies at 693-1346 or send e-mail to [email protected]. For details on the math placement test, contact Paulette Stevens at UVI’s College of Science and Math at 693-1230 or [email protected].