Placement Exams

''' Why are there placement exams? '''

The placement exams determine your eligibility for certain classes at UC Merced. If you choose to not take or miss any of the placement exams (of which you're required to take), you'll automatically be placed into a preparatory class for the respective subject(s). You can only take each placement exam once. They are in place to help find the most appropriate classes for you and therefore cheating will do more harm to you if you're placed into a class where you're not prepared.

If you feel you had extenuating circumstances that prevented you from completing the math, chemistry, or CSE exam by the deadline, you may request to take the exams by exception by sending an email to nsstudentservices@ucmerced.edu for the math & chemistry exam, and engrplacement@ucmerced.edu for the CSE exam. (These exceptions are approved on a case-by-case basis only and submitting a request does not guarantee that you will be permitted to take the exams after the deadline. In your request, include the reason(s) you were unable to complete the exams by the deadline, your student ID number, and your UCM email address).

 Placement Exams: 


 * University of California Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE)


 * UC Merced math placement exam


 * UC Merced chemistry placement exam


 * UC Merced computer science & engineering placement exam

University of California Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE):
The AWPE is an optional exam to fulfill the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). All UC schools require first years in every major to complete the ELWR by the end of their second semester at their UC school. To take the AWPE, you have to register and pay for it on your own ($110 as of AY21-22, the cost of the AWPE can be waived if you also received a waiver of the UC admission application fee). If you pass the AWPE, you can take WRI010 - College Reading & Composition (4 units). If you fail the AWPE or do not meet any of the requirements to waive it, you must complete WRI001 - Academic Writing (4 units) by the end of your freshmen year.

How to waive:


 * 30 or better on the ACT, English Language Arts


 * 63 or better on the ACT, English Plus Reading


 * 680 or better on the SAT, Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing


 * 3 or above on the AP English Language and Composition exam


 * 3 or above on the AP English Literature and Composition exam


 * Score 5 or higher on an International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination


 * 6 or higher on the Standard Level Examination in English (Language A only)


 * Grade of C or higher in a UC-transferable English composition course offered by a college or university (You can use ASSIST.org to check if a class is transferable)

You can find a link that has more in-depth information about the AWPE such as it's contents and how its scored here.

UC Merced Math Placement Exam:
It is a multiple choice test that consists of 45 questions to be completed in 90 minutes or less (as of AY 21-22) and is required to be taken by all incoming freshmen regardless of major, unless requirements to waive are met. If you do not meet requirements to waive and you do poorly on the math placement exam or do not take it by the deadline (June 1st, 2021), you will automatically be placed in MATH 005 - Preparatory Calculus (4 units).

Exam Content:


 * Geometry
 * Trigonometry
 * Intermediate algebra


 * Pre-Calculus

How to waive:


 * 3 or above on the AP Calculus AB or BC exam by April 1, 2021 (If you are taking an AP exam in May 2021, you are still required to take the MATH Placement Exam by the deadline)
 * Score 5 or higher on an International Baccalaureate Higher Level Mathematics Examination
 * Grade of C or higher in a UC-transferable pre-calculus (or higher level calculus) course offered by a college or university (You can use ASSIST.org to check if a class is transferable)

UC Merced Chemistry Placement Exam:
It is a multiple choice test that consists of 31 questions to be completed in 60 minutes or less (as of AY 21-22). If you do not meet requirements to waive and do poorly on the chemistry placement exam or do not take it by the deadline (June 1st, 2021), you will automatically be placed in CHEM 001 - Preparatory Chemistry (3 units).

Required by:


 * School of Engineering (except CSE)
 * School of Natural Sciences
 * Pre-health (pre-med, pre-nursing, pre-dentistry, etc.)
 * Anyone who may later change into the previously stated groups
 * Anyone who plans to take a chemistry course in college

How to waive:


 * 3 or above on the AP Chemistry exam by April 1, 2021 (If you are taking an AP exam in May 2021, you are still required to take the CHEM Placement Exam by the deadline)
 * Grade of C or higher in a UC-transferable chemistry (or higher level chemistry) course offered by a college or university (You can use ASSIST.org to check if a class is transferable)

UC Merced Computer Science & Engineering Placement Exam:
It is a multiple choice test that consists of 40 questions to be completed in 60 minutes or less (as of AY 21-22). If you do poorly on the CSE placement exam or do not take it by the deadline (June 1st, 2021), you will automatically be placed in CSE 005 - Intro Computer Applications (4 units) unless you have AP credit or transferable college credit.

Required by:


 * Computer Science & Engineering Major
 * Applied Math--CSE emphasis major
 * Anyone who may later change into the previously stated groups

Exam Content:


 * Hardware components of a computer
 * Installing the Operating System
 * Application Software
 * Internet Technologies

How to waive:


 * The CSE placement exam cannot be waived through any means unlike the other placement exams regardless of AP, IB, or previous college courses.