University Office of Examinations

The Office of Examinations serves as the central location on campus for the administration of placement and testing services. The Office of Examinations runs the Examinations Testing Lab, which is located in the Gwendolyn Brooks Library, room 144. At the Examinations Testing Lab, new and current students can take placement exams as part of getting started with registration for required English Composition and Math courses. Students can also take placement exams virtually if they have the internet and a computer or laptop with a working microphone and camera. For virtual testing, students can schedule an appointment or select the ‘test anytime’ option. 

Placement Examinations

First-Time/Freshmen Students
Once accepted for admission to Chicago State University, all first-time/freshmen students must take the university placement examinations in English and Mathematics to determine placement in general education English Composition and Mathematics courses.

Transfer students
Transfer students who have not completed an A.A. or A.S. degree and who have not completed their general education requirements for English Composition and Mathematics must take placement examinations in English and Mathematics. Transfer students who transfer in general education courses that meet their general education requirements in English Composition or Mathematics with a C or better do not have to take the corresponding placement examination. Transfer students should meet with their advisors to determine whether they have transferred in the relevant courses to meet their general education requirements in English Composition and Mathematics.

English Placement Examination

Students entering the university with no credit in English Composition must take the English Placement examination. The placement exam will determine whether students may enroll in ENG 1270 , Composition I or whether students are placed in ENG 1230 , Writer’s Workshop I, which has additional support. Upon successful completion of ENG 1230   or ENG 1270 , students will receive three credit hours in English Composition I, which will partially meet their English Composition general education requirement.

Students who transfer three credit hours of English Composition must take the English placement examination to determine placement for their required second semester of English composition. Students may either place in ENG 1280  , Composition II or in ENG 1240 , Writers’ Workshop II. Upon successful completion of ENG 1240  or ENG 1280 , students will receive three credit hours in English Composition II and will have met their second-semester English Composition general education requirement.

Mathematics Assessment

Students entering the university who transfer a college-level Mathematics course will have met the general education requirement in Mathematics and do not need to take the Mathematics Assessment. Students who need to take a General Education mathematics course will be assessed for their content knowledge in mathematics. Based on the assessment, some students who require college algebra will be required to take a college algebra course with a built-in interactive added support laboratory component. The Mathematics placement exam is not required for MATH 1040 , Mathematics for Data Science I. If a student enrolls in a program which only requires MATH 1040  then the placement exam is not required.

Examination Waivers

University placement examinations are waived for the following categories of students:

1. Students at large. However, if students at large who are already enrolled transfer into a degree program, placement examinations will be required, except for students who meet criteria below.
2. Students who transfer to the university with an A.A. or A.S. degree (as discussed above).
3. Students who transfer courses to the university that fulfill university general education requirements in English Composition and Mathematics, including students who have completed the Illinois General Education Core Curriculum.
4. Students seeking a second degree (baccalaureate or higher).
5. Graduate students, including post-baccalaureate students seeking initial teacher certification.
6. Students who have passed the Illinois Certification Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) in basic skills.

Retake Policy

Students who fail a placement examination on their first attempt may retake it. Students are assessed a $25 retake fee for each university placement examination (English or Mathematics), which must be paid at the cashier’s office (Cook Administration Building, Room 211).

Credit by Examination

The university recognizes that students may acquire knowledge through means other than formal college-level courses. Therefore, a program of credit by examination has been established to award college-level credit to students who demonstrate that they have satisfied college-level course requirements. A student may earn up to a maximum of 60 credit hours by examination. Methods currently available are: (1) the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), (2) the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, (3) credit for military training, and (4) university administered and/or constructed proficiency examinations.

College Level Examination Program

The College Board’s College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers both general and subject examinations that awards college credit for passing exams. All full-time or part-time undergraduate degree-seeking students currently enrolled at the university and all incoming freshmen and transfer degree-seeking students are eligible to use CLEP examinations to meet course or degree requirements. Graduate students accepted into one of the graduate programs of the university are also eligible to take the CLEP examinations to satisfy prerequisite undergraduate courses.

Incoming degree-seeking freshmen and transfer students who have taken CLEP exams before being admitted to Chicago State University should have an official statement of their CLEP scores sent to the Office of Admissions, Chicago State University. The scores will become a part of the admissions folder for entering students but will in no way affect the admissions decision.

Currently enrolled degree-seeking students who have taken CLEP exams since admission and registration at the university should have an official statement of their CLEP scores sent to the Office of Academic Evaluation and Advisement.

The university will award successful candidates college credit in accordance with university policy. Scores in all examinations must reach or exceed the 50th percentile in order for credit to be granted by the university. Students will be notified in writing by the Office of Academic Evaluation and Advisement about the number of credit hours earned at the university through the CLEP examinations. All credit earned will be posted on the student’s permanent academic record. No student may retake a CLEP examination within a six-month period.

Advanced Placement Program

The university participates in the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program. Students who have completed AP courses in high school may take the AP examinations offered by the College Board. These examinations are based on college-level studies. Upon application for admission to the university, students should send their test scores to the Office of Admissions. The appropriate university academic department determines the scores required credit. The Office of Evaluation and Advisement will notify students in writing about the credit hours earned through the program. Further information is available at the College Board’s AP website: https://ap.collegeboard.org/

Earning College Credit for Military Training

To receive credit for military training, including basic training, Chicago State University (CSU) will award credit to admitted students for military training based on the recommendations from the American Council on Education (ACE) (http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Guide-Online.aspx). To have Military Training evaluated for CSU credit, veteran students must have an official copy of their military transcripts sent to CSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions, ADM 101, 9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60628. For more information, call 773-995-2513.

College Credit for Military Training Accepted by CSU

CSU accepts the following military transcripts to transfer credits:

• Joint Services Transcript - JST (formerly AARTS or SMART or Coast Guard Institute Transcript)- Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve)
• An official copy of the Joint Services Transcript request form may be obtained online at SMART-Joint Services Transcript
• Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
• The Community College of the Air Force Transcript Request form is located at CCAF Transcript Request

University Proficiency Examinations

Many of Chicago State’s academic programs participate in the university’s program of credit by proficiency examination. The examinations cover material taught in university courses in particular subjects. The university grants credit for successful performance on these examinations. The decision about what constitutes adequate performance on these examinations or the validity of a test in a given area is made by the university department concerned. Applications for university administered and/or constructed proficiency examinations are available in the Office of the Registrar. Proficiency examinations may be taken for credit in accordance with the following regulations:

1. The applicant must be a degree seeking student at the university and in good academic standing.
2. The course for which the examination is requested may not duplicate any courses already taken for credit or accepted as transfer credit upon entrance to the university.
3. The applicant must obtain the approval of the chairperson of the appropriate academic department.
4. An examination for credit will not be permitted in a course where the applicant has already received credit for course work in advance of the course for which the examination is requested (to be determined by chairperson).
5. In order for the student to be granted credit, the examination must be comprehensive, and the grade must be C or better.

Credit earned by proficiency examinations may be counted toward meeting graduation requirements, but is subject to all the academic regulations that would apply if the same course had been taken in regular class attendance. The grade for proficiency examinations is Pass or Fail. No official record is made of failures in these examinations, and grades received on proficiency examinations are not considered in computing grade point averages. Students will be notified in writing by the Office of the Registrar about credit hours earned through proficiency examinations.

All credit earned will be posted on the student’s permanent academic record.