University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
College Readiness Standards
University Policy
Foreign Language Placement
The study of a foreign language is encouraged
and required by some university majors.
Students may choose to begin with the first
semester in a new language or may chose to
determine placement in language studies.
To determine placement, students may complete
an online placement test in Spanish, French,
German or Russian available at all times.
Language exams can be taken on any computer
with an Internet connection. The Office of
Testing Services administers the placement tests
for Latin. First-time, first-year students must
take a language exam before May 15 each
academic year to register for a language course
section during Freshman Summer Orientation.
[To receive course credit for foreign language,
see the catalog section, "Awarding of Credit thru
Placement Tests."]
If a student has significant experience in a
language other than Spanish, French, German,
Russian or Latin, the student should contact the
Department of Classical and Modern Languages
for information on placement or exemption at
502.852.6686.
Kentucky Administrative Regulation
13 KAR 2:02
The Commonwealth of Kentucky has approved
legislation for college readiness standards in
writing, college reading and mathematics.
Admitted, degree-seeking students below 24
credit hours who do not achieve the college
readiness standards on the ACT sub scores in
writing, college reading and mathematics (SAT
equivalents) or on the COMPASS placement
exams (reading and mathematics) are required by
state-mandate to complete interventions during
their first college year. These interventions may
include an appointment at the University Writing
Center, the "Special Topics in Supplemented
College Reading" course linked to entry-level
content courses, Supplemented MATH 111, or
prerequisite JCTC developmental courses in
Mathematics.
College Writing Placement
The college readiness standard in writing is less
University Policies
Summer 2010 – Spring 2011
than 18 on the ACT writing sub score. Students
below college readiness will register for ENG
101 during their first college year. Students
experiencing difficulty during the first weeks of
class will be required to attend an appointment
with the University Writing Center for
supplemented support.
College Reading Placement
The state-wide, college readiness standard in
college reading is a 20 ACT Reading sub
score. In compliance with state law, the
university requires that all university first-
year, degree-seeking students with less than
24 credit hours who are admitted with
reading deficiencies participate in placement
testing and course registration as determined
by their placement test results.
Students with an ACT Reading sub score of
less than 20 (or an SAT Critical Reading
score of less than 470) MUST take the
Reading COMPASS exam. The exam serves
as a second predictor of college reading
readiness. Students whose scores on the
Reading COMPASS exam are less than 84
will be required to register for GEN 105,
“Special Topics in Supplemented College
Reading.” Advisors working with students
are obliged to assist them in developing an
individual schedule of classes that meets this
state mandate and university requirement.
 GEN 105 provides an intervention for
college reading. Students who enroll
in this course will receive 2 hours
each week of supplemented
instruction in college reading, critical
thinking, and study strategies.
Students receive 1 hour of college
credit (elective credit only) for GEN
105. Students will receive 3 hours of
college credit for successful
completion of the general education
course section linked to GEN 105.
 Students enrolled in GEN 105 will
attend the general education lecture
course for 3 hours each week and will
attend GEN 105 for 2 hours each
week. Students will attend a total
College Readiness Standards
University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
number of 5 hours of class each week
for these linked courses.
The Reading COMPASS exam is available to
take by appointment only at the UofL Testing
Services at any time before course
registration. It is highly recommended that
local students contact Testing Services and
schedule an appointment for this exam. The
Reading COMPASS exam may also be available
at a testing center close to your place of
residence that would be willing to transfer
your COMPASS score to UofL Testing Services.
For more information on this option, please
contact UofL’s Testing Services.
If you are unable to be on campus to take the
Reading COMPASS exam before Summer
Orientation, you will have time during
Orientation to complete the exam before class
registration. Your Orientation confirmation
will include your college reading information
and the assigned time to take the exam.
Mathematics Placement:
The college readiness standard in mathematics is
less than 19 on the ACT mathematics sub score.
The university determines placement in all entry-
level mathematics based on the highest ACT
mathematics sub-score. If a student scores above
19 on the ACT mathematics sub score,
placement will be in a credit-bearing course.
The following sub scores in mathematics
determine placement:
 Students with an ACT sub-score of 0 - 18
are required to complete the COMPASS
exam in mathematics. Placement will
result in MT 055, 065, 080 or an entry-level
college mathematics course.
 Students with an ACT sub-score of 19 - 24,
but less than the score required for a desired
entry-level mathematics course should
complete the UofL Math Challenge
Placement Exam (excluding engineering
majors).
 Engineering Students with an ACT sub-
score at least 24 do not take the UofL Math
Placement Exam.
 Students with an ACT sub-score of 25-26
who need MATH 205 have the following
options: complete the COMPASS exam ,
complete the Calculus Readiness Test, enroll
in the prerequisite MATH 190 or complete
the CLEP Precalculus exam.
University Policies
Summer 2010 – Spring 2011
 Students with a ACT sub-score of 21 - 22
who need MATH 111 are strongly
encouraged to enroll in a Supplemented
Section of MATH 111.
 Students with an ACT sub-score of 19 will
be initially placed in MT 080, Intermediate
Algebra, but may take the UofL Math
Placement exam for possible higher
placement.
Students seeking a BA in the Social Sciences,
Humanities, Arts, or Music and who have a 19-
20 sub score are encouraged to enroll in a
Supplemented Section of MATH 105, Intro to
Contemporary Math, to satisfy the General
Education Mathematics Requirement.
Placement and University Testing Services
All information regarding foreign language
placement testing and college readiness
placement testing can be obtained from the
Office of Testing Services in Davidson Hall,
502.852.6606.
Students are encouraged to direct questions and
concerns to this office. Local students are
encouraged to contact the Office of Testing
Services to schedule an appointment to take any
or all placement exams.
First-year students are provided opportunities
during Freshman Summer Orientation each year
to complete placement tests before registering
for classes. The Admissions Office notifies first-
year students if placement testing is required in
college reading and mathematics. Students
receive an Orientation confirmation which
includes testing information and assigned times.
College Readiness Standards