Interpreting Placement Scores

Placement exams are required and due by June 15th. If you have yet to complete them, you must do so as soon as possible.

Results of placement exams do not automatically upload to our database when you complete the exam. They must be manually inputted by our office. For exams completed by June 15, results are input in July prior to registration.

The Test Summary page will include the results of any test scores you included in your admissions packet, any AP or IB credits the College has received, and the results of your placement tests. The placement test score is the course you have placed into. AP and IB scores need to be sent to the College directly from College Board. It is the student’s responsibility to send these scores.

Interpreting Language Placement Scores

Language placement scores tell you in which course you should register.

For example, if you have a Spanish placement score of 102, that means your next language course should be SPAN-102.

A 5-digit placement score indicates a borderline placement*; for example, a Spanish placement score of 10102 means that you placed somewhere on the borderline between SPAN-101 and SPAN-102. Similarly, a placement score of 10201 means a borderline 102/201 placement, a score of 20203 means a borderline 202/203 placement, and a score of 20301 means a borderline 203/301 placement.

If your placement was 10102, we make the following recommendations:

  • If you have been placed into 101/102 and have three or more years of language in high school, you should register for the 102 course*.
  • If you have been placed into 101/102 and have fewer than three years of language in high school, you should register for the 101 course*.
  • If you are not sure which course to take, register into the course that you think is more likely to be a good fit during the July registration period(*) and plan to make an appointment with one of our language faculty to help you further evaluate the best placement for your ability during orientation.

*If you have a borderline placement, the registration system will automatically allow you to register for the lower course; if you want to register in the higher course, just email the Registrar’s Office (regist@kzoo.edu) and we will adjust the system to allow you register in the higher course.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR LATIN: If your placement was 400, it means you can register for any 400-level Latin course that has a pre-requisite of LATN-201.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR ARABIC: If your placement was 999, it means you have placed out of all of the levels of Arabic offered at Kalamazoo College.

Keep in mind that the course you placed into might not be offered in Fall quarter.

Interpreting Math and Chemistry Placement Scores


Your placement scores help determine which courses you should register for.

Chemistry Placement

  • Score of 110
    • Register for CHEM 110
  • 4-digit score of 1101
    • You do not need to take the CHEM-110 lecture but you DO need to take the CHEM-110 lab (CHEM-110l)

Note: All students who take chemistry courses are required to take CHEM-110L.

Math Placement

  • Score of 110
    • Register for MATH 110
  • Score of 112
    • Register for MATH 112
  • Score of 113
    • Register for MATH 113
  • 5-Digit Score
    • EX: 11213 means you placed between MATH 112 and MATH 113
      • What to do:
        • Choose the course you feel best fits your ability,
        • Get advice from a Math faculty member:
          • 📧 Eric Barth: Eric.Barth@kzoo.edu
          • 📞 Math Department: 269-337-7100
          • 💬 Talk to faculty during Orientation
  • Score of 214
    • You’ve placed out of MATH-113 (Calculus II)
    • Your next course could be:
      • MATH 214 (Calculus III)
      • MATH 240 (Linear Algebra)
      • Any course that requires MATH 113

If you have a borderline placement, the registration system will automatically allow you to register for the lower course; if you want to register in the higher course, just call or email the Registrar’s Office (269-337-7204, regist@kzoo.edu) and we will adjust the system to allow you register in the higher course.

AP Scores (If you didn’t take the placement exam)

If you did not take the placement exam in Math or Chemistry, but received a 4 or 5 on the associated Advanced Placement test, your next course should be:

  • Calc AB 4 or 5: Your next course should be MATH 113.
  • Calc BC 4 or 5: You have placed out of MATH 113, so your next course could be MATH 214, 240, or any math course that has 113 as the pre-requisite.
  • CHEM 4 or 5: You do not need to take the CHEM-110 lecture class, but you DO need to take CHEM-110L laboratory class.

Keep in mind that the course you placed into might not be offered in the Fall quarter. If you place into MATH-110 – be aware that it is only offered in the Fall and Winter terms each year.