In keeping with our accreditation standards set by the Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and our Board of Trustees, all new online students are required to complete Math and English Placement Exams. There are NO exceptions.
English and Math placement exams are a part of the mandatory SLU 101 Strategies for Success course in which all new COL students are enrolled during their first term. Placement exams are available to all students during pre-week and week 1 of the SLU 101 Strategies for Success course. Students must complete placement exams no later than Sunday, at 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) of week 1. Students are encouraged to complete placement exams as soon as possible in order to secure their enrollment for the next term and to avoid late registration fees.
Placement Exam Results
Students are notified immediately of their results. Students who pass the ENG placement exam will be placed in ENG121. MAT placement exam results will dictate course placement in MAT128, MAT141 or MAT201. MAT students may enroll in any MAT course below the level of placement. Note: Maximum of 2 courses allowed during any session student is enrolled in a prep course (including the MAT 003 or ENG 002 course).
- Foundational courses are non-credit courses. (Foundational courses DO count as 3 term hours each for financial aid purposes.) Students must enroll in at least one foundational course for the semester following SLU 101 Strategies for Success Course.
- Students who need both MAT003 and ENG002, but do not want to enroll in both at the same time, may enroll in one foundational course at a time, beginning in the semester immediately following SLU 101 Strategies for Success Course and finishing in the subsequent semester. Foundational courses do not count toward the 4-class limit prior to matriculation.
- Students who have or claim transfer credit for ENG 121 and MAT 128 are still required to take placement exams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have to take placement exams?
All students taking courses at the University are required to take placement exams. In order to determine the Math and English skill levels of each student, all COL students are required to have their skills evaluated through placement exams. Traditional campus students are required to take placement exams and submit ACT or SAT scores.
What if I have transfer credits?
Students must take the placement exams as required by University assessment standards whether they are temporary students, special student status or a fully matriculated student.
Students who claim transfer credit for ENG 121 and MAT 128 will have until week seven of the following term, if necessary, to provide proof of official transfer credit as determined by the Saint Leo University Registrar's Office. These students will need to email their Program Outline reflecting the transfer of ENG121 and/or MAT128 to their Saint Leo University Academic Advisor.
What if I do not want to take placement exams?
All first-time enrollees must take placement exams.
How long do placement exams take?
The ENG placement exam consists of writing an original essay that must be completed within 45 minutes.
The MAT placement exam consists of 30 questions that must be completed within one hour. Additional exams may follow for qualified students.