UMass Boston

Assessment Testing

New undergraduate students are required to complete assessment testing prior to registering for their first semester classes.  Assessment testing includes the ALEKS Math Placement Exam and a self-guided writing placement. 

Below is an overview of the testing requirements for new first-year and transfer students.  All students should review this information carefully.  Questions about assessment testing can be sent via email to Testing Services.

First-Year Assessment Testing

ALEKS Math Placement

Placement into mathematics courses is based on an analysis of your academic record and the ALEKS math placement exam.  Students without SAT or ACT scores on file with the University, and those who want to place into a higher level course or gain access to the ALEKS Learning Modules, may take the ALEKS math placement exam. 

To access the ALEKS math placement exam, log into WISER→My Academics→Placement Testing→ALEKS Math Place, Prep, Learn.

Your ALEKS placement results will be available immediately upon completion of the test and will be available in WISER within 24-48 hours.  Together with your advisor, you can identify which math courses (if any) are needed for your selected academic program.  If your major requires precalculus or higher, please work closely with your advisor to select a starting course that will provide optimal foundational knowledge.

The following resources will be helpful to learn more about the University’s quantitative reasoning requirement.

If you have any further questions about the math assessment, please visit the advising toolbox or email assessment.testing@umb.edu.

Self-Guided Writing Placement

All new students will participate in a guided writing assessment, which will result in recommended placements for both composition and first-year seminar courses.

Please expect an invitation in your UMass Boston email account, with the subject line: “Guided Writing Placement – Complete Before Orientation.” This process will help you determine which writing courses you should take in your first year at UMass Boston and should be completed before attending orientation.

If you have any further questions about the guided writing assessment, please visit the advising toolbox or email assessment.testing@umb.edu.

Transfer Assessment Testing

ALEKS Math Placement

The ALEKS math placement exam is required of ALL incoming undergraduate transfer students EXCEPT:

  • Liberal arts students receiving math transfer credit who do not intend to take more math courses.
  • Science & Math students receiving transfer credit for college algebra or pre-calculus with a grade of B or better, and students transferring in calculus or higher mathematics courses.
  • Management students receiving transfer credit for statistics, precalculus, or calculus.  Click here for appropriate QR courses for the College of Management
  • Liberal arts and nursing students receiving transfer credit for statistics.

To access the ALEKS math placement exam, log into WISER→My Academics→Placement Testing→ALEKS Math Place, Prep, Learn.

Your ALEKS placement results will be available immediately upon completion of the test and will be available in WISER within 24-48 hours.  Together with your advisor, you can identify which math courses (if any) are needed for your selected academic program.  If your major requires precalculus or higher, please work closely with your advisor to select a starting course that will provide optimal foundational knowledge.

The following resources will be helpful to learn more about the University’s quantitative reasoning requirement.

If you have any further questions about the math assessment, please visit the advising toolbox or email assessment.testing@umb.edu.

Self-Guided Writing Placement

All new transfer students should complete the self-guided writing assessment. They will answer questions about approximately how many credits they are transferring, and if they estimate fewer than 30, they will complete the rest of the survey questions for a first-year seminar placement. They will be asked about transfer credit for composition and reminded that official transcripts must be submitted to Admissions. For students with 30 credits or more, they will go right to the end of the survey with a message to register for ENGL 101/102 unless they have earned transfer credit. 

Please expect an invitation in your UMass Boston email account, with the subject line: “Guided Writing Placement – Complete Before Orientation” or you can take it by clicking here. This process will help you determine which writing courses you should take in your first year at UMass Boston and should be completed before attending orientation.

If you have any further questions about the guided writing assessment, please visit the advising toolbox or email assessment.testing@umb.edu.