Placement Testing

When Can I Expect A Response

Please allow 1-2 business days for a reply to all inquiries/emails.

The Academic Preparation and Achievement (APA) program provides placement testing for incoming students who have not yet met statewide minimum test scores or high school GPA requirements for college readiness.

Who needs to take a placement test?

Any incoming student can take a reading, writing, or mathematics placement test at no cost. Students with an APP status and placement test directive on their account may need to complete a proctored placement test prior to their Big Blue Nation Orientation.

Students admitted with an APP status received a letter accompanying their admissions letter with steps to take to resolve this status via placement testing. Students can also view their myUK advising profile to determine what placement test(s) they need to complete.

There are three placement tests:

ALEKS Math Placement Test
Accuplacer Next Gen Reading Placement Test
Accuplacer Next Gen Writing Placement Test

In order to know which exam(s) you may need to complete you will need to review your ACT/SAT scores, which can be found in your profile in myUK.

Once logged in, click Student Services > myInfo > myProfile. Once in your myProfile, refer to the bottom left-hand box to view your needed placement test areas for reading, writing and/or math.

If you meet any of the following criteria, you are encouraged to complete a placement test:

Math Placement Test (ALEKS)

Unweighted High School GPA below 3.0
Math ACT score below 19
Math SAT score below 510
KYOTE test score below 21

To get started with ALEKS, click here!

Writing Placement Test (Accuplacer Next Gen)

Unweighted High School GPA below 2.9
English ACT score below 18
SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing score below 490

Reading Placement Test (Accuplacer Next Gen)

Unweighted High School GPA below 2.9
Reading ACT score below 20
SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing score below 490

For questions about which test you need to take please contact drctesting1@uky.edu or call 859-257-2754.

Online and in-person testing options

All placement tests must be proctored by a trained University of Kentucky proctor in order to be considered complete.

Students have the option to complete their placement test remotely through Zoom proctoring or on-campus with in-person proctors (when available). Below are some considerations when determining the best testing option for you.

Online (Zoom) testing requirements:

Access to a quiet space for up to three hours
Zoom Workplace downloaded and installed on your computer (please sign in with your linkblue account).
Laptop (not an iPad or Chromebook)
High-speed internet
Quality web camera
Quality audio
Screen sharing with the proctor
Visibility of your space by the proctor
Set up and ready to test at your appointment time
A valid physical government photo issued ID or Student ID

On-campus testing requirements:

Arrive on time at your designated testing day
A valid physical government photo issued ID or Student ID
Testing will be held at the DRC Accomodated Testing Center on the 4th Floor of the Multi-Disciplinary Science Building (725 Rose Street; Lexington, KY 40536-0082)

Directions via Google Maps

Schedule a Placement Test

Access Instructions to Schedule a Placement Test

Schedule

For more information on college readiness indicators, please visit the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education 2023 indicators.

Placement Testing FAQs

Every student’s course and graduation plan is different and may depend on your intended major and academic goals. Please contact your assigned academic advisor to determine which placement exam(s), if any, you need to complete. Your academic advisor’s information can be found in your myUK portal.

Please visit the placement testing scheduling site and log in using your Linkblue username and password. Select “Schedule a Placement Testing Session” and choose an available date and time that works for you.

Please note that all confirmation emails list your appointment time in Eastern Time (ET).

If you have completed a proctored placement exam, your score should be uploaded to the University of Kentucky’s system within 24 hours. If your score is not available after 24 hours, please contact us at drctesting1@uky.edu.

It is recommended that you complete your placement exams by the day of your orientation, but this is not required. You may still complete placement exams after your orientation date. If you have questions about placement exams or course placement, please consult with your academic advisor.

The University of Kentucky does not accept placement exam scores from other institutions. You will need to complete the required placement exam(s) through UK.

Please send official scores and transcripts from high school and other institutions to documents@uky.edu.

Please discuss your placement exam score with your assigned academic advisor to understand how it may affect your course placement. For questions about math placement, you may also contact the Math Department for guidance on which course(s) you should take. You may contact the math department at (859) 257-8354 or universityadvising@uky.edu.

Phone	(859) 257-2754
Fax	(859) 257-1980
Email	drc@uky.edu
Address	Suite 443 Multidisciplinary Science Bldg

Placement Testing

When Can I Expect A Response

Who needs to take a placement test?

If you meet any of the following criteria, you are encouraged to complete a placement test:

Math Placement Test (ALEKS)

Writing Placement Test (Accuplacer Next Gen)

Reading Placement Test (Accuplacer Next Gen)

Online and in-person testing options

Online (Zoom) testing requirements:

On-campus testing requirements:

Schedule a Placement Test

Placement Testing FAQs

Do I need to take the placement exams for Math, Reading, or Writing?

How do I schedule a placement exam with a proctor?

I just completed my placement test, but my score has not yet been posted in myUK. What should I do?

Do I need to complete my placement exam(s) before my orientation date?

I am a transfer student, and I took a placement exam at my previous institution. Can I transfer my placement exam score to UK?

I completed dual credit or college courses at another institution, but they are not listed in myUK. How do I send this information to the University of Kentucky?

What does my placement exam score mean for my academic journey?