New Transfer Students
Placement testing is open November 1, 2025 to February 2, 2026
It's quite possible that you will not need to take any placement tests. This depends entirely on which College you are going into, what your academic background is, and how much (if any) earned credit has been transferred to your Illinois academic record from your previous institution. If you do need to take a placement exam, please do so at least two weeks prior to your Registration/Advising date.
- Math placement testing - Log in with your NetID and password.
- Science placement testing - Log in with your NetID and password.
- "Language other than English" placement testing - Log in with your NetID and password.
- Composition placement testing - If you completed a composition class at your previous institution or submitted ACT/SAT scores, you do not have to fill out the Rhetoric Placement Questionnaire. For more information, click on your College (below). International students who are required to take the EPT must take the EPT for placement into their 'Composition I' class.
Not sure which placement tests you have to take? Click on the College that you have been admitted to.
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences 2025-2026
Select your handbook for more details
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to enroll in a Calculus I or a lower-level math class. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Check your program catalog |
| IMR Biology | Only if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The College of ACES requires that its students successfully complete the third level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |
College of Applied Health Sciences 2025-2026
Select your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) should talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to enroll in a Calculus I or a lower-level math class. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | No. |
| IMR Biology | Only if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The College of AHS requires that its students successfully complete the third level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |
Gies College of Business 2025-2026
Check your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to enroll in a Calculus I or a lower-level math class. Completing ‘Preparation for Calculus’, ‘Calculus’, 'Calculus I', ‘Calculus II’, 'Business Calculus', or ‘Statistics’ is required for graduation. This requirement may be fulfilled by taking it at Illinois or having taken it at your previous institution. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you plan to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | No. However, it is strongly recommended if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The Gies College of Business requires that its students successfully complete the third level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |
College of Education 2025-2026
Check your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to enroll in a Calculus I or a lower-level math class. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you plan to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | No. However, it is strongly recommended if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The College of Education requires that its students successfully complete the third level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |
Grainger College of Engineering 2025-2026
Check your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to enroll in a Calculus I or a lower-level math class. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you plan to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | No. However, it is required if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is required for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The Grainger College of Engineering requires that its students successfully complete the third level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |
Division of Exploratory Studies 2025-2026
Select your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to enroll in a Calculus I or a lower-level math class. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you are required to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | Only if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. DGS students need to adhere to the LOTE requirements for the major/college they intend to declare. If you're not sure, then take the placement exam now and discuss your plans with your academic advisor. |
College of Fine & Applied Arts 2025-2026
Check your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to enroll in a Calculus I or a lower-level math class. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you plan to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | No. However, it is strongly recommended if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The Gen Ed language requirement for most programs of study is satisfied by completion of the third level of one LOTE in high school or through the third level (3 semesters) of one LOTE in college. Students completing programs of study in Art History, Music History, and Music/Vocal Performance have higher language requirements for graduation. Please consult with your department's academic advisor or the FAA college office for the specific language requirements for your program of study. |
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 2025-2026
Check your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Yes, as changing Math courses can be very difficult at the start of the semester, transfer students in majors which require Calculus should complete the ALEKS exam a week before their NSR appointment. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you are required to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | Only if you are planning to take a biology course and do not have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | Only if you are moving through the MCB curriculum. It is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. Incoming international transfer students with partial Composition I credit are entitled to the RHET 233 Composition I validation option but should take the EPT as a back-up precautionary measure especially if they have concerns about their writing and language skills. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. Most programs in the College of LAS require that students successfully complete the fourth level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |
College of Media 2025-2026
Check your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to enroll in a Calculus I or a lower-level math class. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you plan to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | No. However, it is strongly recommended if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The College of Media requires that its students successfully complete the third level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |
School of Information Sciences 2025-2026
Select your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to complete the Calculus sequence at UIUC or a minor/Pre-health coursework that requires Calculus. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you plan to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | No. However, it is strongly recommended if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | No. However, it is strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The School of Information Sciences requires that its students successfully complete the third level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |
School of Social Work 2025-2026
Select your handbook for more details.
| PLACEMENT TEST | “Do I Have To Take This Test?” |
|---|---|
| Rhetoric | If you haven't taken any college-level composition course, we will use your best ACT English or best SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score to place you into a Rhetoric course. International students who were told to take the English Placement Test (the EPT) must take the EPT for placement into a 'Composition I' course. Transfer students with partial 'Composition I' transfer credit (articulated as UCI 1 - - or UCII 1 - - credit) have the option of taking RHET 233 to satisfy both the Composition I requirement and the Advanced Composition requirement. Talk with your academic advisor to decide which 'Comp I' course is best for you. |
| Math (ALEKS PPL) | Only if you plan to complete the Calculus sequence at Illinois or a minor/Pre-Health coursework that requires Calculus. |
| Chemistry | Only if you studied chemistry in high school, you have not earned college credit in chemistry, and you plan to take chemistry at Illinois. |
| Physics | Only if you plan to take PHYS 211. |
| IMR Biology | No. However, it is strongly recommended if you are planning to take a biology course in your first year and you do not already have credit for IB 150. |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) | Only if you studied biology in high school, you have not earned college credit for biology, and you plan to take a biology course at Illinois. This includes students pursuing Pre-Health programs. The test is also strongly recommended for any student with AP Biology or IB Biology credit who is considering using that credit to pass out of MCB 150 and register for MCB 250. |
| English as a Second Language | Only if you received the email stating that you are required to take it. Students who have TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not exempt them from the EPT and who have partial 'Composition I' transfer credit should take the EPT and follow the placement recommendation. |
| Language Other Than English (LOTE) | Only if you studied a LOTE in high school, you have not earned college credit in the LOTE, and you plan to take courses in that same LOTE at Illinois. The School of Social Work requires that its students successfully complete the third level of a LOTE to fulfill the General Education language requirement. |