Dec 10, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate catalog [Archived Catalog]

Testing Requirements


Click on any of the following links for information:

Office of Academic Evaluation and Assessment
Office of Academic Affairs
Slagle 102
(605) 677-6497
usdtest@usd.edu
 
 

Placement

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Placement into courses to meet the system-wide regental general education requirements for English composition and for mathematics is based on ACT sub-scores. Students who do not have ACT scores or whose scores are more than five years old will complete computerized tests for placement into English and mathematics.  Students with an ACT math sub-score of 25 or higher are also required to take the math placement portion in order to determine placement above the college algebra level.  Students who wish to challenge a placement that is based on their ACT scores may ask to take the computerized tests. There is a $18.00 fee for challenge tests.

Regental Proficiency Examination

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Students seeking undergraduate degrees must achieve satisfactory performance on the South Dakota Board of Regents Proficiency Examination, the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP), or have shown previous proficiency through one of the following ways: ACT composite score of 24 or higher; SAT Verbal/Math score of 1090 or higher; ACT subscore equivalencies (English: 18, Math: 22, Reading: 22, Science: 23); or have already earned a Bachelor’s degree or Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from an accredited institution within the United States. The CAAP Exam consists of four test components: writing skills, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. The purpose of the examination is to ensure the standards and quality of the education that students receive and to provide the University with information for improving the general educational curriculum. The examination also provides students with information that allows them to compare their performance to that of other students across the United States.

The examination is scheduled once each semester, during the first two weeks in November and the last two weeks of March. Bachelor degree-seeking students are required to take the exam as soon as they have passed 48 credit hours at or above the 100-level. Associate degree-seeking students must take the examination as soon as they have passed 32 credit hours.

Prior to sitting for the exam, students should have completed at least three credit hours in each of the following areas: Composition, Speech, Mathematics (at or above the level of college algebra), Natural Sciences (six credit hours recommended), Social Sciences, and Humanities/Fine Arts. Students who do not take the examination when notified will not be allowed to register at any of the SD regental universities for two academic terms.

Students who fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance on any component of the exam will be required to retest within a year. During this time, students may continue to enroll in courses. Students will retake only the component(s) on which a satisfactory score was not achieved. Each component may be retaken up to twice within the year. In preparation for retesting, students must work with a designated academic advisor to develop a plan to improve performance. Students will have two retest opportunities. Students who fail to achieve an acceptable score upon retesting will be suspended from the SD regental university system and will not be permitted to register for courses. While suspended, students may continue to retest during any of the regularly scheduled administrations of the examination. Once satisfactory scores are achieved, they may then reapply for admission.