Math and Writing Placement Test Information

Undergraduate students must have the appropriate placement test scores in order to enroll in mathematics and English composition (college writing) classes. Cyberbear does not permit you to register for these courses without the right scores in the system. Please review the information below to determine what type of scores and tests are required.

It is very important to do your best on placement tests; the more accurately the tests reflect your skills, the more accurately they will be able to place you into the appropriate level course to ensure your success!

Placement Test Requirements

Math Placement

Math placement at the University of Montana (UM) is based on a combination of these criteria:

  • ACT or SAT Math scores
  • Pre-requisite courses (e.g. dual enrollment, AP/IB/etc., transfer courses, other college-level equivalents)
  • High school GPA and senior year math courses 

Students who do not place into math courses by the above criteria will utilize EdReady Montana to determine placement level.  

Next steps for completing EdReady placement:

  • All admitted undergraduate students who need to complete the EdReady placement in order to register for math courses at UM will be contacted via email.
  • Watch for an email from EdReady Montana with detailed instructions on how to complete math placement requirements.
  • Please do not complete the Maplesoft math placement exams in Moodle unless you are instructed to do so.   

Once you complete the initial placement diagnostic, EdReady Montana generates a customized study plan to provide an opportunity for you to learn, fill in any gaps, and improve your placement level.

To learn more on the EdReady Montana website.

The diagram at the following link provides an overview of math placement and course sequencing at UM:  Math Placement Chart.

After you complete the EdReady placement:

Visit the following website for detailed information on next steps after you complete the initial EdReady placement diagnostic:  EdReady Score Breakdown

General Writing Placement Test Information

All students pursuing the Associate of Arts (AA) are required to complete WRIT 101 College Writing I with a grade of C- or better. (Students exempt from completing WRIT 101 at UM are those that bring in a transfer course equivalent, a specific AP test, or have successfully completed WRIT 101 through a high school dual-credit program.) There are multiple types of tests that may be used to place students into the appropriate English composition course. 

Types of Tests Used for Placement

Students who have taken specific SAT or ACT sections, or attended a Montana high school that participated in the Montana University System Writing Assessment program (MUSWA) may use those scores to place into writing. Students who scored a 3 or higher on the English/Language & Composition AP test are exempt from WRIT 101.

If a Missoula College student does not have any of those scores, s/he is required to take the WRIT Placement Test. Students may also opt, after visiting with their advisors, to take WRIT 095 Developmental Writing without taking any placement tests.

The UM Writing Placement test is free and online on Submittable. Students can take it anywhere there is access to the internet.  Instructions to take the test are provided on the English website.

Once tests have been evaluated, scores will be entered into Moodle for viewing by students and Banner for viewing by faculty and advisors.

Test grading will no longer be electronic. Scores will, therefore, not be available immediately. Graders will regularly evaluate tests, and upload scores upon completion of the evaluation.

Writing Placement Test Scores

Please refer to the table below to determine what different tests and specific scores may be used to place students into composition courses.

NOTE: Students who place at the top of the WRIT 095 placement threshold should visit with their advisor to discuss whether taking or retaking the WRIT placement test to try to place into WRIT 101 would be a good option for them.

Test scores and which course they will place you into
Test WRIT 095 WRIT 101
WRIT 121

WRIT 201
WRIT 101

ACT Combined English/Writing Below 18 18-31 32-36
ACT Writing Subject Score  Below 19 19-32 ≥33
ACT English Below 22 22-27 ≥28
Compass eWrite (scores valid
through Dec. 2018)
Below 7 7-12 [See advisor]
English Language Arts (ELA) Score Below 18 18-31 ≥32
MUS Writing Assessment Below 3.5 3.5-5 5.5-6
 SAT Writing Section Below 440 440-690 700-800
SAT or ACT Writing Subscore  Below 7 7-10 11-12
 UM's WRIT Placement Test 1 3 [See advisor]

Math Placement Requirements

Math Placement

Math placement at the University of Montana (UM) is based on a combination of these criteria:

  • ACT or SAT Math scores
  • Pre-requisite courses (e.g. dual enrollment, AP/IB/etc., transfer courses, other college-level equivalents)
  • High school GPA and senior year math courses 

Students who do not place into math courses by the above criteria will utilize EdReady Montana to determine placement level.  

Next steps for completing EdReady placement:

  • All admitted undergraduate students who need to complete the EdReady placement in order to register for math courses at UM will be contacted via email.
  • Watch for an email from EdReady Montana with detailed instructions on how to complete math placement requirements.
  • Please do not complete the Maplesoft math placement exams in Moodle unless you are instructed to do so.   

Once you complete the initial placement diagnostic, EdReady Montana generates a customized study plan to provide an opportunity for you to learn, fill in any gaps, and improve your placement level.

To learn more on the EdReady Montana website.

The diagram at the following link provides an overview of math placement and course sequencing at UM:  Math Placement Chart.

After you complete the EdReady placement:

Visit the following website for detailed information on next steps after you complete the initial EdReady placement diagnostic:  EdReady Score Breakdown

General Writing Placement Test Information

All students pursuing the Associate of Arts (AA) are required to complete WRIT 101 College Writing I with a grade of C- or better. (Students exempt from completing WRIT 101 at UM are those that bring in a transfer course equivalent, a specific AP test, or have successfully completed WRIT 101 through a high school dual-credit program.) There are multiple types of tests that may be used to place students into the appropriate English composition course. 

Types of Tests Used for Placement

Students who have taken specific SAT or ACT sections, or attended a Montana high school that participated in the Montana University System Writing Assessment program (MUSWA) may use those scores to place into writing. Students who scored a 3 or higher on the English/Language & Composition AP test are exempt from WRIT 101.

If a Missoula College student does not have any of those scores, s/he is required to take the WRIT Placement Test. Students may also opt, after visiting with their advisors, to take WRIT 095 Developmental Writing without taking any placement tests.

The UM Writing Placement test is free and online on Submittable. Students can take it anywhere there is access to the internet.  Instructions to take the test are provided on the English website.

Once tests have been evaluated, scores will be entered into Moodle for viewing by students and Banner for viewing by faculty and advisors.

Test grading will no longer be electronic. Scores will, therefore, not be available immediately. Graders will regularly evaluate tests, and upload scores upon completion of the evaluation.

Writing Placement Test Scores

Please refer to the table below to determine what different tests and specific scores may be used to place students into composition courses.

NOTE: Students who place at the top of the WRIT 095 placement threshold should visit with their advisor to discuss whether taking or retaking the WRIT placement test to try to place into WRIT 101 would be a good option for them.

Test scores and which course they will place you into
Test WRIT 095 WRIT 101
WRIT 121

WRIT 201
WRIT 101

ACT Combined English/Writing Below 18 18-31 32-36
ACT Writing Subject Score  Below 19 19-32 ≥33
ACT English Below 22 22-27 ≥28
Compass eWrite (scores valid
through Dec. 2018)
Below 7 7-12 [See advisor]
English Language Arts (ELA) Score Below 18 18-31 ≥32
MUS Writing Assessment Below 3.5 3.5-5 5.5-6
 SAT Writing Section Below 440 440-690 700-800
SAT or ACT Writing Subscore  Below 7 7-10 11-12
 UM's WRIT Placement Test 1 3 [See advisor]