Admissions Placement Testing
We're pleased you've chosen UW-Green Bay as you embark on your college journey. The following explains the Wisconsin Regional Placement Testing Program. These tests are required as part of your college enrollment and registration process. If you are a new incoming student for Fall 2025, you will not take your Placement Tests until March 15, 2025 or later, after the registration period opens.
Placement Exams
UW-Green Bay uses the Wisconsin Math and World Languages placement exams to decide which class-level to place you in. It's important to perform your best on these tests to avoid placement in remedial courses. If you're feeling rusty, it might be a good idea to review some of the concepts you learned prior to make sure they're fresh in your mind. Cheating won't benefit you.
Math Placement Test (Required)
The Math Placement test is required for all new first-year students prior to registering at UW-Green Bay, or within their first semester.
- Length: 90 min.
- Format: Multiple choice
- Purpose: Math course placement
World Language Test (Optional)
If you studied French, Spanish or German in middle or high school, and you plan to continue at the college-level, you're strongly encouraged to take the World Language Placement Test.
- Length: 60 min.
- Format: Multiple choice
- Purpose: World Language course placement
Note: Don't take the English Placement Test. UW-Green Bay uses your ACT English or SAT Reading scores for English course placement.
ACT & SAT Testing
You don’t need to submit ACT or SAT scores to apply to UW-Green Bay, but we still recommend sending them. Your scores help decide which English class is right for you. In some cases, your ACT or SAT score might even allow you to skip certain course requirements, which can save you time and money.
ACT Scores
To view and send your ACT scores, log in to MyACT or call 319-337-1270 and provide UW-Green Bay's ACT code: 4688
SAT Scores
To request your SAT scores go to collegeboard.com and provide UW-Green Bay's ACT code: 1859
By Transcript
If your ACT or SAT score is listed on your high school transcript, that score can be used to make placement decisions.
Placement Testing FAQs
It's natural to have questions. Check out these common questions about admissions placement testing!
To request accommodations due to a disability on the University of Wisconsin placement tests, please follow these instructions:
Don't register for the placement tests online until you have emailed the information below and received a response from the Center for Placement Testing in Madison. Email the following information to Tim O’Connor at tnoconno@wisc.edu:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Campus you're planning to attend
- Accommodations being requested
- Email address you'll use for placement testing registration. This process is completed electronically, so it is very important to list an accurate email address and one that you will check regularly.
- Documentation verifying the disability and need for the accommodations. This should be either a letter on high school letterhead from your counselor or someone else at the school familiar with your accommodations stating what those accommodations have been for tests such as the ACT or a current 504 plan or IEP (Individualized Education Plan). The 504 plan or IEP must be from within the last three years.
Q: Can I use a calculator?
You may use a non-graphing calculator, or scientific calculator, on the Wisconsin Math Placement Test. Graphing calculators aren't allowed.
Q: When will I receive my test results?
You will receive your results during your advising session at GB Orientation.
Q: How do you know I won't cheat?
There's no incentive to cheat—it doesn't benefit you. The placement tests are designed to assess your current knowledge and skills, so you can be placed in the appropriate courses. These tests may feel challenging because they are intended to discover the limits of your knowledge—don’t worry if you find some questions difficult. It's important to remember:
- The goal is to place you in the right course: Performing well will help you avoid being placed in a remedial or lower-level course that might slow down your progress. However, if you artificially inflate your results by cheating, you may end up in a course that’s too advanced, where you’ll struggle to keep up.
- Doing your best saves you time and money: Accurate placement ensures you are set up for success. Misleading results could mean needing to retake a course later, which could add extra semesters and costs to your college career.
- Cheating isn’t worth it: Attempting to cheat won’t be to your advantage. Since these tests are specifically designed to assess your academic readiness, an inflated score won’t help you in the long run. Doing your best on these tests allows us to place you where you'll thrive.
- It's a violation of academic integrity: Cheating on an exam counts as academic misconduct.
Take your time, do your best, and know that the tests are challenging for a reason—to make sure you're placed where you belong!
Q: How hard are the exams?
The exams are designed to assess your skill level, so questions range from beginner proficiency to advanced. You may find some questions to be too easy and others to be too difficult. This is normal. Don't worry, you're not supposed to know all the answers. To get more information about the exams and see sample questions, visit the University of Wisconsin Center for Placement Testing placement exam information pages below:
Q: What if I do poorly on the test?
If you do poorly on the math test, you may find out from your advisor that you need to take remedial math class(es) to get caught up, so you're ready for the more advanced math requirements for your chosen academic program. This will help ensure you have a strong foundation to move onto more complicated concepts. If you don't think your score accurately reflects your math skills, you are offered one opportunity to re-take the math placement exam.
If you do poorly on a foreign language test, you will be placed in a lower-level language class. There's no retest option available for foreign language placement tests.
Have Questions?
For questions about Regional Placement Testing, contact Pam Gilson at testing@uwgb.edu or 920-465-2221.