Writing Placement Exam

 First-year students at North Park University register for either the developmental writing course WRIT1000 “Fundamentals of Composition” or the credit-bearing writing course CORE1000 “Cornerstone First Year Seminar” in their first semester.

Please note that while students enrolled in WRIT1000 do earn course credit that counts toward financial aid, the 4 semester hours of credit for this WRIT1000 do not count toward graduation or General Education requirements. It may be to students’ advantage to place out of WRIT1000 and into the credit-earning CORE1000 course. 

Students can place out of WRIT1000 and into CORE1000 based on writing placement exam results or by presenting alternative documentation. Students who present documentation for one of the following will be registered for CORE1000 (and test out of WRIT1000):

• an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sub-score of 520 or above or ACT sub-score of 39 or above
• successful completion of a dual-credit or dual-enrollment course at the English 101 level with a final grade of C or above
• a score of 3 or above on the AP Language or Literature

Writing Placement Exam Cutoff

(Based on ACT English & Reading and SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing Subscores)

ACT	SAT	Course Placement
39–72	520–800	No additional course needed
1–38	200–510	WRIT 1000

Prior to taking the Writing Placement Exam

• Make sure you have set up your NPU account. You can set up your account using this link. Your NPU email is username@northpark.edu.

Follow the instructions below to complete the Writing Placement Exam:

Note: You can access Canvas through the MyNPU hub and go to “Access Courses on Canvas” under Academic Resources.

1. Log into Canvas with your North Park University email and password. You should see “Writing Placement Exam” as part of your Canvas dashboard.
2. Click on the module labeled “Writing Placement Exam: Assignment Prompt and Reading.” This will allow you to open and read the assignment prompt and reading selection you will need to respond to when completing your essay. You are welcome to download and/or print these materials.
3. When you are finished writing your essay, please upload it as an MS Word or PDF document to the Turnitin assignment labeled “Writing Placement Exam: Place to Upload Submission.”
4. The time limit for completing the essay is 2 hours. Human graders will evaluate your essay and email you results and feedback.

Consult our FAQ to learn more about the Writing Placement Exam.

Math Placement Assessment

North Park students are required to complete a math course to fulfill the Analytical Reasoning Core Curriculum requirement. Proper placement is critical to staying on track toward graduation. This is especially important if you are pursuing a major such as Engineering, Business (Finance), Chemistry, Nursing, or Psychology because they have core math requirements that are necessary for your progress. 

First-year students pursuing STEM majors who have not provided standardized “SAT Math Subscores” (SAT score of 550 or ACT of 23, or above) or who have yet to take the Math Placement Assessment are automatically registered for MATH 1010, a developmental course. Note that while students enrolled in Math 1010 earn course credit that counts toward financial aid, the 4 semester hours of credit for MATH 1010 do not count toward graduation or General Education requirements. If your math score falls below those levels, please start the Math Placement Assessment (ALEKS) process as soon as possible to confirm the correct math course. 

Students can place out of MATH 1010 and into a college-level course based on Math placement exam results or by presenting alternative documentation. 

Math Placement Matrix

Course	Majors Who Typically Take	How to place into this course
MATH 1030 (Concepts and Structures)	Humanities	ACT Math subscore of 23 or above SAT Math subscore of 550 or above Appropriate score on ALEKS Placement Exam
STAT 1490 (Introduction to Statistics)     HSC 1490 Stats for the Health Professions	Education, Biology, Psychology, Social Sciences, Business (some concentrations)   Nursing	ACT Math subscore of 23 or above SAT Math subscore of 550 or above Appropriate score on ALEKS Placement Exam
MATH 1150 (Pre-Calculus)	Business (some concentrations), Engineering, Chemistry (If not placed into Calculus)	ACT Math subscore of 23 or above SAT Math subscore of 550 or above Appropriate score on ALEKS Placement Exam
MATH 1510 (Calculus I)	Business (some concentrations), Engineering, Chemistry, Math	High school record of calculus (any calculus course) Appropriate score on ALEKS Placement Exam

Prior to taking the Math Placement Assessment

• Make sure you have set up your NPU account. You can set up your account using this link. Your NPU email is username@northpark.edu. 

Follow the instructions below to complete the Math Placement Assessment:

 1. Access the Math Placement Assessment (ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning) using your North Park email and password and selecting “Math Placement Assessment.”

2. Complete the survey to create a personalized learning path. 

3. Take the Tool Tutorial (introduction to ALEKS Tools). 

4. Click “GET STARTED.”

*Upon review of your assessment results, schedules may be updated if needed.

Modern Language Placement Exam

In order to fulfill the modern language requirement at North Park, you will need to decide if you want to continue in a language previously studied or know, or begin a new language. You must be proficient through the 1020 level to meet the modern language Core Curriculum requirement.

Modern Language Placement Exams measure whether you have the language skills equivalent to students who have taken first-year university modern languages at the 1010 and/or 1020 levels. Learn more about the options for Language Placement Exams. Fill out the appropriate form below to register for your Modern Language Placement Exam:

• Registration form
• New students registration form

Music: Fundamental Music Theory and Aural Skills Placement

All incoming freshman who intend to major, minor, or take a concentration in music, or non-majors who are interested in taking music theory, are required to take the Fundamental Music Theory and Aural Skills Placement. This placement tool assesses rudimentary music theory and aural skills concepts such as reading pitches in treble and bass clefs, basic rhythmic patterns, understanding rhythm and meter, the major scales, and major key signatures.

Any student with a score under the requirement for MUS 1080 (Introduction to Musicianship) placement will be required to take MUS 1060 and/or MUS 1065 (Fundamentals of Music Theory), which are a prerequisite to MUS 1080. Students who score exceptionally well may be asked to take our Advanced Music Theory and Aural Skills Placement.

The placement takes approximately 30 minutes and is offered twice in the early spring, in conjunction with our entrance auditions, during Threshold Week, and by appointment. To schedule a time to take this placement, please contact Dr. Rebecca Ryan at (773) 244-5623.

Music: Advanced Music Theory and Aural Skills Placement

All transfer students who intend to major, minor, or take a concentration in music are required to take this placement for theory and aural skills. Additionally, first year students who score exceptionally well on the Fundamental Music Theory and Aural Skills Placement may be asked to take the Advanced Music Theory and Aural Skills Placement for the opportunity to place higher in our music theory and aural skills course sequence. The placement is comprised of three sections:

• Written Aural Skills Placement (1.5 hours): Content covered will include material from MUS 1080 through Aural Skills IV (intervals, rhythmic dictation, melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, triad and 7th qualities, 4-part dictation, etc.)
• Individual Aural Skills Placement (20–30 min. individual time slots): Content covered will include material from MUS 1080 through Aural Skills IV (matching pitch, interval singing, sight singing melodies, reading rhythms, scale singing, scale degree identification, harmonic progressions, etc.)
• Written Theory Placement (2 hours): Content covered will include theory material from MUS 1080 through Theory IV (scales, key signatures, intervals, triads, sevenths, V7 and viio7 resolutions, chord qualities, inversions, figured bass, lead chart symbols, non-chord tones, roman numeral analysis, cadences, modes, transposition, four part harmonic analysis, secondary functions, chorale analysis, etc.)

This placement and a music transcript evaluation are required before you can register for theory and/or aural skills classes however, for registration purposes, students may be temporarily registered for placeholders until evaluation and a placement has been completed.

This placement is offered twice a year, during fall and spring Threshold. Those who need this placement must take it when it is scheduled; no individual appointments for this placement are available. To sign up for this placement, please contact Dr. Rebecca Ryan at (773) 244-5623.

Music: Keyboard Skills Placement

All first-year and transfer students who intend to major, minor, or take a concentration in music are required to take a Keyboard Placement Exam. Placements are offered in the spring, in conjunction with our entrance auditions, during Threshold, and by appointment.

The Keyboard Placement Exam will consist of a short (5 to 10 minute) consultation to evaluate correct placement in Keyboard Skills courses. Students will be asked to play scales, chords, and perform sight-reading—levels of which will be based on conversations with the evaluator.

For registration purposes, students may be temporarily placed in Keyboard Skills level I or II until a music transcript evaluation and a placement exam has been completed.

To schedule a time to complete your keyboard placement, please contact Dr. Terree Shofner-Emrich at (773) 244-5632. Non-majors interested in piano lessons and keyboard skills courses should also contact Dr. Shofner-Emrich.

Music: Applied Voice Placement

All students registered for voice lessons, or interested in taking lessons, are required to meet with Dr. You-Seong Kim for teacher placement. Placements are offered during Threshold and can be scheduled by contacting Dr. Kim at (773) 244-5626. Placements must be completed before the end of the first week of class.

Music: Ensemble Auditions

Any student interested in auditioning for a choral or instrumental ensemble should sign up for an audition during Threshold in Hanson Hall. Auditions will be held during the first week of class. Learn more.