Placement and Diagnostic Exams

Welcome Class of 2029! As you prepare to register for your first semester of classes here at Washington University in St. Louis, please find valuable information about placement and diagnostic exam requirements as well as other important details included in the page below.

Placement and diagnostic exams can and should be taken online during the summer before selecting courses for the fall semester, unless otherwise noted. Please also note that your WashU Key must be activated to register. Once you meet with an advisor to receive approval to register, the advisor will refer to your results to determine if the courses you would like to take are appropriate. Students who do not complete the placement and diagnostic exams before meeting with an advisor may be delayed in receiving approval to register.

Placements through AP/IB/British-A Level Examination

Most departments do not place students through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or British A-Level Examination results. To see if your scores are an exception and can be used for placement and/or credit, visit the AP, IB, and British A-Level policy pages. Note that if your scores can affect placement but are not available by July 9 when you register for fall semester courses, you are encouraged to take the placement or diagnostic exam to confirm appropriate placement.

Placement Testing Accommodations for Disabled Students

Students who need testing accommodations on placement exams due to a disability must submit their request to Disability Resources by completing a New Student Application, along with any necessary documentation. When accommodations are supported, Disability Resources will generate a verification letter students may provide the placement test coordinator.

WashU Key

You MUST have activated your WashU Key to register. An email was sent to you with instructions on how to activate your WashU Key. If you have not received this email, please contact WashU IT Support at ITHelp@wustl.edu or 314-933-3333.

Email WashU IT

Department Placement and Diagnostic Exams

Chemistry

All first-year students registering for Principles of General Chemistry I (Chemistry 1601) or General Chemistry I (Chemistry 1701) in the fall are expected to complete the Online Chemistry Diagnostic Exam.

For more information about this diagnostic exam, visit the department’s FAQ about General Chemistry Diagnostic Exam. Your WashU Key is required for access. Questions about Chemistry and/or questions regarding placement recommendations should be directed to either Dr. Jia Luo or Dr. Megan Daschbach.

College Writing

All Arts & Sciences students take College Writing in their first year, and the College Writing Program will assign students to take the course in the fall or the spring. Students must register accordingly. 

All students must complete a Writing Placement Essay in May-June before receiving their placement for College Writing. You will receive an e-mail in May with an invitation to complete your Writing Placement Essay and Self-Assessment Survey via Canvas.

The College Writing Program will notify you and your academic advisor of your placement via email one to two weeks after you complete the exam. It is important you complete this before you speak with your academic advisor about fall courses. Find information about College Writing Placement Exam or visit the College Writing Program website to learn more. 

Computer Science

Learn more about Computer Science Placement and access the Computer Science Placement Exam. Please direct any questions to Cody Copeland.

Dance

Thinking about taking dance classes at WashU? Our dance program is a welcoming, inclusive environment that has a place for everyone from beginning dancers to pre-professionals. Join us for an informational session and movement workshop where you can meet dance faculty and students and learn about our program, classes, and performance opportunities. All incoming students with an interest in dance at WashU are strongly encouraged to attend. Come in movement clothes so you can dance with us and meet your future best friends! Find more details about this year's Dance Welcome Meet and Move Event. 

Languages

If you have studied a language in high school or at another institution and you wish to continue at WashU, you must take a Language Placement Exam, a requirement for all languages of study. This exam should be taken prior to speaking to your academic advisor about course registration (with the exception of Russian, whose Placement Exam is taken during orientation). The results of this exam will determine your placement in an appropriate level of that language. Policies for credit vary by department.

Contacts vary by department; if you believe the results on the LPE do not reflect your ability, please consult the department of the language you wish to study for more information. Students studying Spanish, French, or Italian can find additional instructions, including next steps should you not agree with placement, on the Romance Languages & Literatures foreign language placement exam webpage.

You do not need to take the Language Placement Exam if you do not wish to study a language, or if you will be starting a new language.

Calculus

The Mathematics Department provides a placement exam for all students taking calculus. We ask that all students who are planning to take a calculus course during their time at WashU take this test online. If you plan to take calculus this fall, be sure to take the Placement Exam prior to talking to your advisor and registering for classes. Learn more about the Calculus Placement Exam. Questions about Mathematics should be emailed to mathadvising@wustl.edu. Please note: the Math Placement exam will be available the week of May 19, 2025.

Music

The Department of Music is happy to welcome all students, regardless of year or major, to continue to pursue their interest in music during their time at WashU. Auditions for music ensembles–such as the Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band, Choir, and Wind Ensemble–take place during the first week of the semester. Students can learn more about Ensemble Audition Requirements and sign up for a placement audition.

The Department also offers private instruction in a wide variety of instruments including voice. Students interested in private lessons should register for the appropriate pre-registration course in Workday Student, and sign up for a placement appointment to meet with a member of our faculty during the first week of the semester. For information on music lesson registration, visit the Music website. Questions about Music Auditions and Lesson Placements can be directed to Jamie Perkins.

 

 

 

 

Resources & Policies