About Placement Exams
To make sure you choose courses that are appropriate for your skill level, you will take placement exams before you register for classes. The Math and Foreign Language Placement Exams, and the Writing Exam, are offered through OWL (Online Web-Based Learning) and must be taken before your advising appointment. For students starting in Fall 2026, you must take your assessments before the deadline.
- First-Year Students: Register for Ready for the U, complete Guide to the U, and complete placement assessments by June 4, 2026.
- Global Launch students should complete placement exams by May 8.
- Career Launch students should complete placement exams by May 8.
- MassTransfer Students: Register for Ready for the U, complete Guide to the U, and complete placement assessments by June 4, 2026.
- Transfer Students: Register for Ready for the U, complete Guide to the U, and complete placement assessments by June 4, 2026.
You will be automatically enrolled for placement exams the next business day after your enrollment deposit has been processed by the university.
- After that, you will be able to log in using your UMass NetID and password.
- Enrollment is updated every night except for weekends; and students will be able to take the exam the following business day. You can check your SPIRE Admissions Center page to confirm that your enrollment deposit has been processed. The page will say "Received - Thank you".
- You can begin the exams as soon as you are ready, however, you can only log in to each exam once. Please make sure you review all of the information about the exams before you begin.
Transfer students please consult your email for a message which is sent after your enrollment deposit is received and indicates if a placement exam is required.
Placement exams can only be taken once, so make sure you take these assessments seriously and give them your best effort. Students should take the placement exams at least two weeks prior to your New Student Advising and Course Registration appointment.
If you are ready to take your placement exams, please read the directions before you start.
You must take the online Math Placement Exam before your advising appointment. All first-year students and many transfer students take this exam because math courses are required for a large majority of majors at the university. Math is particularly important for students entering the sciences, computer science, engineering, business, and mathematics. Even if your major has no relation to math, some General Education courses have a prerequisite based on this exam, and all students need to fulfill the Basic Math Skills (R1) and the Analytical Reasoning (R2) requirements.
The Math Placement Exam covers the basics of algebra, coordinate geometry, and trigonometry. There are 40 questions broken into two tests, 30 for test Part A and 10 for test Part B. OWL will allow you 60 minutes for each part, but the test usually takes much less time than this (normally one hour or less). You may use a calculator. The exam will ensure that you are placed in the right courses for your skills, which is essential for your success. Please take the placement exam seriously as it will determine placement into your first math class as well as many science classes. You can only take the math placement test once, so give it your best effort.
Students wishing to brush up on their skills before the exam may review subject material at the Khan Academy website, particularly the sections on basic geometry, geometry, algebra basics, algebra, algebra 2, and trigonometry.
Students who have studied French, German, Latin, or Spanish for two or more years and will continue with the same language at UMass Amherst, must take the Foreign Language Placement Exam online prior to advising. If you are seeking a BA in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, or seeking a BA in the College of Natural Sciences you will have a foreign language requirement and you should take the Foreign Language Placement Exam. Students in a BA program in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences are encouraged to take the exam as foreign language coursework may apply to requirements within your major. Exploratory Track students are also urged to take the test if they have studied French, German, Latin, or Spanish.
The available foreign languages are listed once you log into OWL. Each test has a different number of questions. You will be allowed 60 minutes to complete the test. These tests are for placement only. No credits or exemptions will be awarded.
Additional information on Foreign Language requirements and placement exams for other languages will be reviewed during your advising appointment.
Placement Exams General Instructions
The exams you are about to take use an online system called OWL (Online Web-Based Learning). You will receive one point for each question you answer correctly, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers. No books or other outside assistance are allowed — the work should be entirely your own.
There are no practice tests. Placement exams may only be taken ONCE. Please make sure you read the directions carefully and set aside enough time for each exam before you begin.
- Confirm that your enrollment deposit has been processed. You will have access to the placement exams the next business day after your enrollment deposit is processed.
- To open the OWL login window, click here.
- Enter your NetID and Password. Then click Log in.
- Carefully read the information on the Welcome to OWL page, and press Continue.
- On the next page, verify that your name is correct; you do not need to enter any other information. If correct, press Save.
- On the Course Home page, read the Announcements and then click Assignment List on the left.
- On the next page, click the exam you want to take. This will take you to the exam itself.
Note: The Assignment List in OWL is the same for all new students. Math and Writing will be listed as required for all students. Foreign Language will be listed as optional for all students. This is because the placement assignment list is not customized for individuals. If you are a transfer student that is exempt from an exam based on an email from New Student and Family Programs or your previous course/exam credit, you do not need to take the exam.
- To navigate between questions, use the Next Item and Previous Item buttons located in the OWL navigation bar on the left. Also, as you work on the exam you will see a list of questions at the top of the page. You can click on the icon for a particular question to jump directly to that question.
- Once you have completed an exam, click Assignment List in the navigation bar on the left. This will take you back to the exam list page where you may enter or reenter an exam as long as you have time remaining.
- Extended time is available for students with disabilities for the 60 minute exams. If you have a qualifying disability, you may request extra time by clicking "Send Message" in OWL's left navigation bar, explaining that you qualify for extended time, and requesting that your time be extended for the exam. Students with documented disabilities are encouraged to register with Disability Services. For more information see www.umass.edu/disability.
Notes About Math Placement:
- The two parts of the exam are listed as separate items on the Assignment List page.
- You should start with Part A first and then advance to Part B. Note that as long as the time has not expired for a particular part you can switch back and forth between parts. Remember, you have one hour to complete each part from the time you begin that part.
- Remember, the test results will determine your placement in math and some sciences. Do your best!
Instructions for Starting an Exam and Answering Questions:
- Click on the link for the test you want to take on the Assignment List page.
- Read the TIMED assignment warning and click OK. Once you click OK there is NOTHING that you can do to stop the clock.
- Click on Info Page 1 (first item in the Content/Question column of the table) and read the directions.
- Click Next Item in the left OWL navigation bar to advance to the first question.
- Read the question and enter your answer by either checking the correct answer or filling in the blank.
- Press Submit Answer. A pencil icon will appear next to the question number at the top of the page to show that the question has been answered.
- If you need to change the answer to a question that you've already submitted, just return to the question, enter your new answer, and then press Resubmit Answer. Only your last submission counts.
Remember: Use the Next Item or Previous Item links on the left to navigate between questions or click on the icon next to the question number in the list at the top of the page. You can switch back and forth between exams by returning to the Assignment List page.
If you work on the exam until time expires, your grade on the Math, Writing, or Foreign Language exam will appear automatically on the Assignment List page. If the time has not expired, but you are sure that you are done working, you can view your grade by:
- Navigate to Assignment List page, click on the exam whose grade you want. Or from a question page within an exam whose grade you want, click on the "I've finished the exam." link at the bottom of the page.
- On the Unit Menu page, press the View Score button.
- Under the heading, Final Submission for Assignment read the notes to make sure this is what you want to do.
- Press the Submit Assignment and View Score button.
- Read the warning box and press OK if you are sure that you want to forfeit any remaining time, or press Cancel if you wish to return to the exam.
- Your Score is shown in the top left of the Unit Menu page and on the Assignment List page.
- Repeat for other exams if desired.
- Write down your score for each exam.