Testing and Advanced Placement

The College-Level Examination Program^® or CLEP provides students currently enrolled or dual-enrolled at Louisiana Tech with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in undergraduate college courses. The CLEP test is a computer-based test that is offered by the Department of Testing and Disability Services. You may call 318.257.4882 for an appointment at least one week prior to the expected test date.

To learn more about CLEP testing and its advantages for students, visit College-Level Examination Program online.

Louisiana Tech credit exams are administered in some subject areas for students who believe they have already attained the level of knowledge required in a course. You may only attempt a placement or credit exam once; if you do not pass the first time, you will not be allowed to repeat the exam.

How do I register for a credit exam?

If you would like to register for a credit exam, please keep the following things in mind:

• You can only register during regular registration periods. An exam cannot be administered without proper registration. Permission to take a credit exam is denied if you have previously attempted the course for credit, earned credit in a higher sequence course, or failed to receive approval from the department head responsible for the course.
• Every credit earned by exam has a “E01” section number and is entered on your student registration form or added during the add period. Regular University fees apply.
• Your registration record reflects the credit exam course(s) for which you registered. These courses are not added into the total semester hour load for determining full-time status.
• Exams are given according to the times listed in the schedule of classes (Racing Form) or times assigned by the department head. Exams are normally scheduled during the first three class days of a quarter.
• Successful completion of an exam is recorded on the permanent academic record as “credit by examination” with a grade of “S.” Grades of “S” are not used to compute the GPA.

Test Scores	Placement
English ACT less than or equal to 17, OR New SAT (ERW) less than or equal to 499, OR Old SAT (Critical Reading) score less than or equal to 440, OR Accuplacer NG less than or equal to 249	ENGL 099
English ACT greater than or equal to 18, OR New SAT (ERW)  greater than or equal to 500, OR Old SAT (Critical Reading) score greater than or equal to 450, OR Accuplacer NG greater than or equal to 250	ENGL 101
English ACT greater than or equal to 30, OR New SAT (ERW) greater than or equal to 670, OR Old SAT (Critical Reading) score greater than or equal to 680	ENGL 101 credit granted if English ACT/Writing & Language SAT score earned within the previous 5 years.

Mathematics and Statistics Placement Matrix (This placement chart applies only to all Louisiana Tech Students)

ALEKS PPL Score	Math ACT Score	Math SAT Score	Accuplacer Quan. Alg. Stat	Accuplacer Adv. Alg. Func.	Credit Granted for	Course Eligibility
81 or greater	–	–	N/A	N/A	MATH 10131	HNRS 2413 (honors students only)
76 or greater	–	–	N/A	N/A	MATH 10131	MATH 2413
61-75	26 or greater	610 or greater	N/A	N/A	MATH 10131	MATH 1123, MATH 1253, MATH 1303, MATH 2403, STAT 2003
46-60	22 – 25	540 – 600	276 or greater	263 or greater	–	MATH 10132, MATH 10233,5
35-45	19 – 21	510 – 530	263-275	250-262	–	MATH 1002/34, MATH 1032/3
below 35	below 19	below 510	200-262	–	–	MATH 1032/3

COES Students who enter Louisiana Tech without a Math ACT or Math SAT score will be required to take the ALEKS PPL.

¹ Students automatically receive credit for Math 101 with this Math ACT/new SAT score if Math ACT/new SAT test date is within the previous 5 years.
² Students will not be given credit for both MATH 1013 and MATH 1002/3.
³ Students will not be given credit for both MATH 1023 and MATH 1032/3.
⁴ Students who place into MATH 1002/3 must take MATH 1123 before moving on to MATH 2403 if MATH 2403 is in their degree pathway.
⁵ Students whose cumulative High School GPA is >= 3.0/4.0 are eligible to register for MATH 1023 (unless the student’s major is in COES).

ALEKS PPL Guidelines and Policies 2025-2026

What is the ALEKS Placement exam and how do I register?

We offer the ALEKS PPL math placement exam to ensure that students begin the study of mathematics at the level for which they are prepared. The ALEKS PPL is an adaptive placement exam supported and provided by McGraw Hill Education. It is a national standard test used to assess students’ knowledge of general mathematics topics and place students into a variety of math courses. Students who wish to take the ALEKS PPL math placement exam can register at ALEKS. To receive an official score, the placement must be proctored in person at Louisiana Tech University.

When can I take the math placement exam?

Students who register for the ALEKS PPL software can take an initial assessment un-proctored at their leisure to get an idea of where they may place when they come to campus. However, To receive an official placement score, the placement must be proctored in person at Louisiana Tech University. Proctored placement exams are offered during every Student Orientation session in the summer. They are also administered the day prior to the beginning of every quarter. The exam schedule will be listed on the Schedule of Classes (Racing Form) and in the Student Orientation brochure.

Can I prepare for the exam?

Students who register for the ALEKS PPL software can take an initial assessment un-proctored at their leisure to get an idea of where they may place when they come to campus.  Before assessing the second time, students will spend a minimum of eight hours in the prep and learning modules. Each student will be required to spend a minimum of five hours before placement attempts three and four each.  ALEKS is designed to help students learn and retain mathematics.  Therefore, reassessment should only take place after sufficient time is spent learning and practicing.  A student should not expect to see improvement without spending time in the prep and learning modules.

Cool Off Period: Each student will be required to wait a minimum of 48 hours between assessments.  This period allows students time to work through the Prep and Learning Modules to enhance the student’s understanding of the content being assessed.

Required Time Practicing: Each student will be required to spend a minimum of eight hours in the prep and learning module section before reassessing for the second placement and five hours before placement attempts three and four each.  ALEKS is designed to help students learn and retain mathematics.  Therefore, reassessment should only take place after sufficient time is spent learning and practicing.  A student should not expect to see improvement without spending time in the prep and learning modules.

Testing Procedures: Students typically finish the assessment in 65 minutes or less.  There will be a two-hour limit for taking each placement assessment.  You will be provided with scratch paper to work out any problems.  YOU WILL NEED TO BRING YOUR FULLY CHARGED LAPTOP WITH YOU.  IF YOU DO NOT BRING YOUR LAPTOP, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TEST.

Calculator Policy:  ALEKS PPL will provide students with a virtual calculator if a calculator is allowed for the problem given.  No physical calculators should be present when testing.

Fees:  Each student will need to pay a $25 fee (+ processing fees and tax) to access the ALEKS PPL software.  This fee covers year long access to ALEKS Prep and Learning Modules.  This fee does not go to Louisiana Tech University.

Number of Placements:  There will be the opportunity for new incoming students to take the assessment up to four times before beginning coursework in mathematics.  Each summer orientation session will provide a testing time as well as the day before classes start for each quarter.

*Students who have started or completed mathematics coursework at Louisiana Tech are not allowed to test unless approved by the mathematics and statistics program.

FRESHNESS OF SCORE: Scores are required to be fresh, which means a score must be from within 183 days (half of a year) of the first day of class for the quarter a particular MATH or STAT course is to be taken.  For the Upcoming Academic Year, please refer to the chart below.

Quarter Begin Date	ALEKS PPL Valid Assessment Range
Fall 2025: Thursday September 4, 2025	March 5, 2025 – September 3, 2025
Winter 2026: Wednesday December 3, 2025	June 3, 2025 – December 2, 2025
Spring 2026: Wednesday March 11, 2026	September 9, 2025 – March 10, 2026
Summer 2026: Thursday June 4, 2026	December 4, 2025 – June 3, 2026

If you have any questions, please contact mathugs@latech.edu.

Advanced Placement can be earned by taking AP courses in high school and completing the course exam to earn college credit. To get college credit, make sure your scores are sent to Louisiana Tech. Look at the table below to determine which classes you can receive college credit for.

AP Subject	Score	Louisiana Tech Equivalent	Hours Earned
History of Art	3 or 4 5	Art 266 Art 266, 267	3 6
General Biology	3 or 4 5	Bio Science 101 Bio Science 101, 102	3 6
General Chemistry	3 or 4 5	Chemistry 100, 103 Chemistry 100, 103, 101, 104	3 6
Economics	3 or 4 5	Economics 201 Economics 201, 202	3 6
English (Language & Comp.)	3 or 4 5	English 101 English 101, 102	3 6
English (Literature & Comp.)	3 or 4 5	English 210 English 210, either 211 or 212	3 6
Environmental Science	4 or 5	Biology 211	3
French Language	3 4 5	French 101 French 101, 102 French 101, 102, 201	3 6 9
French Literature	3 or 4 5	French 304 French 304, 305	3 6
German Language	3 4 5	German 101 German 101, 102 German 101, 102, 201	3 6 9
German Literature	3 or 4 5	German 301 German 301, 302	3 6
Government and Politics (United States)	3, 4, 5	Political Science 201	3
History (World)	3 4 or 5	History 101 History 101, 102	3 6
History (European)	3 4 or 5	History 101 History 101, 102	3 6
History (American)	3 4 or 5	History 201 History 201, 202	3 6
Human Geography 3	3 4 or 5	GEOG 205	3
Math (Calculus AB)	3 4 or 5	Math 101, 112/240* Math 240, 241	6 6
Math (Calculus BC)	3 4 or 5	Math 240, 241 Math 240, 241, 242	6 9
Music Theory	4 or 5	Music Theory 101	3
Physics C – Mechanics	3, 4, 5	Physics 201	3
Physics C – Electricity & Magnetism	3, 4, 5	Physics 202	3
Physics (1)	3, 4, 5	Physics 209	3
Physics (2)	3, 4, 5	Physics 210	3
Psychology	4 or 5	Psychology 102	3
Spanish Language	3 or 4 5	Spanish 101, 102 Spanish 101, 102, 201, 202	6 12
Spanish Literature	3 or 4 5	Spanish 380 Spanish 380, 381	3 6
Statistics	4 or 5	Statistics 200	3
Studio Art – 2D Design	3,4,5	LBAR 189C “2-D Design” (Course will serve as an Arts GER)	3
Studio Art – Drawing	3,4,5	LBAR 189C “Drawing” (Course will serve as an Arts GER)	3

* Either Math 112 or 240, depending on the major. 240 credit is for Engineering and Science majors.

Louisiana Tech University recognizes the academic rigor inherent in the International Baccalaureate Program and is pleased to award advanced standing credit to students with IB transcripts as follows:

IB Course	Equivalent Louisiana Tech Course	IB Level	Minimum Score	Semester Hours Credit
Biology	Biological Sciences 101	HL	4	3
Chemistry	Chemistry 100, 101, 102, 103, 104	HL	4	8
Economics	Economics 215	HL	4	3
English A1, A2, B	English 101	HL	5	3
Geography	Geography 205 or 210 (or other General Education Requirement geography course)	HL	4	3
History (world history plus any one of the regional options under History)	History 102	HL	4	3
Mathematics Higher Level	Math 240, 241	HL	4	6
Music	Music General 290	SL	4	3*
Philosophy	Philosophy 201	HL	4	3
Physics	Physics 209, 210	HL	4	6
Social and Cultural Anthropology	Sociology 205	HL	4	3
Theatre Arts	Speech Theatre 290	SL	4	3*
Visual Arts	Requires departmental review. Possibilities include Art 115, 116, 118, 125, 266, and 267	SL	4	To be determined

* A student may only be awarded credit for either Music General 290 or Speech Theatre 290, not both.

Louisiana Tech University requires that official IB transcripts be submitted directly to: Admissions, Louisiana Tech University, P.O. Box 3178, Ruston, LA 71272. Students can request transcripts through their high school International Baccalaureate coordinator for the first year after high school graduation. Transcripts can also be requested from the International Baccalaureate Program, North America, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10115, USA, 212.696.4464. Website: www.ibo.org. You will need your seven digit IB candidate code. (In case you are asked, Louisiana Tech’s institution number is 01758.)

Credit will be recorded on Louisiana Tech’s official transcript with a grade of “S” (Satisfactory). Grades of “S” are not used to compute the grade point average. Students may earn up to 30 semester credit hours through the IB program. Credit by all types of examinations collectively may not exceed 60 semester hours (i.e. Advanced Placement, CLEP, Louisiana Tech Credit Examinations, Credit by Military Experience, DANTES, etc.)