Placement Examinations: Top FAQs

While not a common occurrence, students may experience difficulty with taking their examinations.  We have provided a list of the most popular questions and answers.

Students who have additional questions can send inquiries to placeex@drexel.edu.
A response is typically issued within 24 business hours.

Can I get an accommodation for the placement exam? (top)

Yes. Students with disabilities are eligible for accommodations for their placement exams. The Office of Disability Resources (ODR) must receive your documentation, speak with you, and approve the accommodations prior to the placement exam. For more information on documentation requirements or registration, go to http://www.drexel.edu/odr.

If I took AP/CLEP examinations, do I still have to take the placement exam? (top)

Yes. All new first time freshmen are required to take the placement exams relevant for their major for scheduling purposes. Once AP/CLEP scores are provided to the University by ETS, adjustments may be made to the student’s schedule by their academic advisor.

Can I take a lower or higher course than what I am registered for? (top)

Please contact your academic advisor to discuss. A listing of advising offices is located at http://www.drexel.edu/provost/advising/offices.html.

What happens if I do not take my required placement examination(s)? (top)

All new first time freshmen are required to take the placement exam(s) relevant for their major for scheduling purposes. Students who do not complete their placement examination(s) will not be placed into the respective course(s).

If I plan to take preparatory courses, do I still need to take the placement examination(s)? (top)

Yes. All new first time freshmen are required to take the placement exam(s) relevant for their major. The exams assist in the creation of Fall term schedules and provide useful diagnostic information to instructors regarding areas of development.

What if I missed my deadline to complete the placement examination(s)? (top)

Please take your placement exams as soon as possible. Delaying the completion of your exams will affect your course placement and delay the building of your accurate class schedule for the Fall term. Students who do not complete their placement examination(s) will not be placed into the respective course(s).

How do I submit my exam electronically? (top)

Once you have accessed your exam in the Bb Learn system, it is important to save and submit the answers you have chosen during your examination.  Students have the option of saving their answers on the page prior to test submission.  It is important to consistently save your answers so that students will not encounter difficulty during the submission process.

After all questions have been answered and saved, please scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “submit” button in the lower right hand corner.  Clicking the “submit” button will ensure that all answers will be saved and uploaded to the Faculty for review.

Can I make a change after I’ve saved my answers but prior to submitting my test? (top)

Yes.  Students may click on the desired answer option and click the “save” button to change the initial selection.  However, once a student clicks the “submit” button, changes to the exam are not permitted.

What if I can’t see any images/graphics on my exam? (top)

Close the examination window and then click once more on the exam icon.  If for some reason this fails again, please exit the examination entirely and re-open it from the Bb Learn homepage.

Can I take my exam(s) more than once? (top)

No.  Placement examinations provide an assessment of the student’s academic preparedness and determine his or her schedule for the incoming Fall term.  The academic assessment and placement ensures that a student is studying at an appropriate level and thus these examinations may not be taken more than once.

Are results available for my exam(s)? (top)

No.  Placement examinations provide an assessment of a student’s academic background, which enables student schedules to be built.  Because a placement examination is not thought of as a traditional “test,” there are no grades/results available.  However, if a student feels as though he or she has been registered for a course that does not match his or her ability, the student may contact the academic advisor for assistance.

To find an advisor, please reference the Academic Advising Office Listing here.

Do I need to take the English placement exam? (top)

If you did not take either the SAT, ACT and/or TOEFL exam, you must take the English Examination, which is available online. If you have taken the SAT, ACT and/or TOEFL exam, your placement will be based on this score.

What if I want to take a foreign language course? (top)

Please contact the Modern Languages Department at wmv23@drexel.edu or (215)895-6147

Why does Bb Learn state that my browser is non-validated or unsupported when checking for compatibility? (top)

If you already have Java 1.7.0, please ignore this alert. The message will eventually go away when Blackboard certifies your browser for use with Bb Learn and should not affect your ability to take your exam(s). If you do not have Java 1.7.0, please download it from www.java.com

 

 

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