PLACEMENT TESTING Foreign Language If you are pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences or the College of Science, you must prove intermediate proficiency in a foreign language. Some programs within the College of Visual and Performing Arts also have a language requirement. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing an intermediate-level language course at Mason or the equivalent at another college or university, earning a qualifying score on one of the tests listed at admissions.gmu.edu/exams, or taking the foreign language placement test offered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages (MCL). For more information on testing, visit mcl.gmu.edu/placement-testing or call 703-993-1220. MCL offers language placement tests in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Korean, Latin, Russian, and Spanish during Orientation. Students interested in Italian and Japanese testing need to contact the MCL department directly to make testing reservations. It is recommended that students with two or more years of experience with a foreign language take the corresponding placement test. Students with less than two years or no experience do not need to take the placement test. Students should take less than one hour to complete testing. All students should arrive with their photo identification and Mason G number.
English The English 101 Exam is a three-hour optional skills assessment essay exam. Any admitted student who has not transferred equivalent credit from another university is eligible to take the exam. If you receive a pass, you will not be awarded credits but you will meet your ENGH 101 requirement. If you receive a no-pass, you will be ineligible to retake the exam for one year, and a no-pass will not be reflected on your transcript. Summer exam (given between May 1 and August 22) results will not be available until the Friday before the start of the fall semester. There is no cost to take the exam and registration is required. Contact Stacey RemickSimkins (sremicks@gmu.edu or 703-993-1162) for more information, or visit composition.gmu.edu/waivers/engh-101 for the schedule.
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English 302 Exemption Portfolio and Exam Option The English 302 exemption involves a two-part process. Students must submit a portfolio to Stacey Remick-Simkins in Robinson Hall, Room A487. If your portfolio receives a pass, you are required to complete the exam. You must pass the exam to meet the ENGH 302 requirement. You will not be awarded credits, but you will meet the ENGH 302 requirement for graduation. Prerequisites for submitting a portfolio include a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA and completion of 45 credits (transferred and/or completed at Mason to include ENGH 101 and the literature requirements for your major). There is no cost. Contact Stacey Remick-Simkins (sremicks@gmu.edu or 703-993-1162) for more information. For portfolio requirements and information on the process, please visit composition.gmu.edu/waivers/waiver-of-english-302.
Math Most Mason students, regardless of major, will need to take at least one math course to graduate; however, the math course required varies from major to major. Each initial math course has a prerequisite and requires a particular score on the math placement test to enroll. Therefore, most students need to take the math placement test. If you are not taking a math course in the fall semester, you do not need to take the placement test during Orientation. The test is offered during Orientation as a courtesy, but it is given throughout the academic year, as well as during the summer. Math placement test scores are valid for one year and must be attained before registering for the desired math course. We encourage you to talk to your advisor about whether you need to take the math placement test, as well as when it would be best for you to take it. For more information, please visit math.gmu.edu or email Catherine Sausville at csausvil@gmu.edu. Please note that the Mason Bookstore carries The Guide to the Math Placement Test.