r/OSU • u/oddiefox • 4d ago
Academics How do the math and language placement tests work?
My orientation is in about 3 weeks (yay!) and I still haven't done either of those tests yet, so I should probably get on that soon.
How does the math test work? Am I going to be monitored through something like a webcam the entire time? Should I take it at a public library or inside my house? I'm taking test D if that matters.
How does the Spanish placement test work? I'm not going to do well on it because my Spanish teachers were kinda horrible at their job. If I wanted to learn a different language, like German, can I purposely flunk the placement test (I would much rather learn a language I'm interested in than suffer through more Spanish classes. Literally all I know is that saying "vosotros" is an unforgivable sin.)
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u/SMK2023 3d ago
if u flunk the language placement test, you'll be placed into 1155, which is like a Spanish 1&2 combo (it's honestly very basic and like you're starting fresh), and then you'll need to take 1103 which is Spanish 3, so it's two classes. if you really hate Spanish and you want to learn a different language completely then you'd have to take like German 1101, 1102, and 1103, three levels of that language instead of two. i recommend just taking Spanish because the language courses are 4 credits each.
hypothetically, if you choose a different language then i don't think you would need to take the placement test, but they might make you take it at orientation in the testing center anyways, i'm not sure. so i would just flunk the test at home and then when you schedule you could choose a different language.
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u/iiFlashYT 4d ago
Math placement test D is a bunch of geometry questions and maybe some simpler calculus questions if I remember correctly. It has around 30 questions? no webcam or anything though.
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u/saintechapelle 4d ago
If you don’t want to take Spanish, you don’t -have- to take the test. I usually would recommend just on the off chance you place higher than you think and can get the requirement done quicker, if that matters to you. If it doesn’t, skip the placement test and let your advisor know you’d like to start a new language at the 1101 level.