Placement Testing
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College of Western Idaho (CWI) uses placement tests to check academic skill levels of students and place them in the correct course level. Course and Program Placement tests are available to students planning to take degree credit and certificate courses at the College.
Accepted Placement Exams
- ACT
- SAT
- Advanced Placement (AP) (Students must work with teachers/counselors at their High School to see which courses are offered through their school. Only Math and English are accepted for placement purposes.)
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
- CWI Write Class (English Placement)
- CWI Math Diagnostic (Math Placement)
- College Math or English courses taken at other Colleges or Universities
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Biology 227 (A&P) Placement
Biology 227 Placement
The Biology 227 Placement may be taken twice.
The Biology 227 Placement exam is for advance placement into Biology 227, (A&P) I. This placement is intended for students that do not already meet the prerequisite requirement of BIOL 111 and BIOL 111L (with a grade of C or higher), or MMBS 111 and MMBS 111L (with a grade of C or higher). It is highly recommended that students who haven’t met the prerequisite requirement take BIOL 227P along with BIOL 226, to receive credit for A&P I. This placement exam is intended for students in programs that do not include BIOL 227P/226 as an option.
The Biology 227 Placement exam consists of 50 questions and has a 50 minute time limit. This exam is available to all CWI students without instructor permission. Students may contact Testing Services for a 30 day access code to the study materials.The Biology 227 Placement is taken through Testing Services.
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CASAS Math & Reading
The CASAS test is used to assess basic and academic skills in real-world contexts. The system monitors progress in reading, math, English language, writing, and work-readiness skills. CASAS is the most widely used adult education competency-based testing system in the United States.
Used in conjunction with the Pearson Math Diagnostic test, CWI uses CASAS to gather information for further diagnostic placement testing to determine which math class is the best fit for incoming students.Please read carefully as there are several options for taking the CASAS depending on your individual needs.
CASAS Reading assessment, taken through Testing Services:
Schedule a CASAS Reading exam appointmentCASAS Math assessment, taken through the Math Solutions Center:
Schedule a CASAS Math exam appointmentCASAS assessments for non-students, taken through Adult Education:
Non-Student CASAS appointments -
Chemistry Placement
Chemistry Placement
The Chemistry Placement may only be taken one time.
The Chemistry Placement exam is for advance placement into CHEM 102 or CHEM 111, fulfilling the CHEM 101 prerequisite. CHEM 111 is designed for students majoring in chemistry, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, engineering, or science. Please be aware that this exam will not fulfill any mathematics prerequisites associated with Chemistry courses. The Chemistry Placement exam consists of 44 questions and has a 45 minute time limit. This exam is available to all CWI students without instructor permission. There is no study guide available for this exam and there are no retakes allowed.The Chemistry Placement is taken through Testing Services.
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College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
About the CLEP®:
- The CLEP® is designed to test knowledge in introductory courses for specific college subjects and can fulfill major requirements as well as CORE by earning qualifying scores.
- Approximately 2,900 colleges and universities will accept credit for successful scores on the 33 available CLEP® exams.
- Exams are 90 minutes
- 5 subject areas
- History & Social Sciences
- Composition & Literature
- Science & Mathematics
- Business
- World Languages
CWI offers College Level Examination Program (CLEP®) testing to the public. Please be aware that while CWI administers most CLEP® exams, CWI does not accept all CLEP® scores. Please check with the Registrar's office to see if your score will transfer.
CLEP exams are taken through Testing Services, but candidates must first register through College Board. -
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
DSST gives students the opportunity to earn college credit for learning acquired outside the traditional classroom. With more than 30 exam titles in college subject areas such as Social Sciences, Math, Applied Technology, Business, Physical Sciences, and Humanities, DSST exams shorten the pathway to graduation while reducing college costs. Prior learning assessment tools like DSST, offer students a cost-effective, time-saving way to use knowledge acquired outside of the classroom (from personal research, on-the-job training, independent study, work or military field experience) to accomplish their educational goals. DSST was originally only available to military personnel — but is now available to everyone!
DSST tests can help you:
- Earn 3 – 5 college credits for each passing test (varies by subject)
- Save tuition dollars
- Earn your degree on time (or early)
- Add flexibility to your degree program
Military eligible: DANTES pays the fee for an eligible candidate’s first attempt to pass an exam. To obtain DANTES funding, candidates should review the DSST funding guide, and obtain a voucher to use on the day of your exam. To schedule an appointment, use the link below, or visit Exam Registration. Please note, eligible candidates who do not pass an exam on their first attempt will be subject to a 30-day waiting period before retesting and are responsible for paying all retest and administration fees.
Re-tests and non-military: Pay a $25 proctor fee at the time of registration, and bring a credit/debit card to purchase their exam at the time of your exam appointment. The cost for most exams are $85.
Score Reports: You will be provided an unofficial print out of your score at the time of your test. In order for your official DSST scores to be sent to your school of choice, you must know the four-digit school code at the time of your exam. To look up a nationally recognized school code, please visit the DSST website. Any time post exam, you may login to Prometric to retrieve your unofficial score.
Please be advised CWI does not offer the Public Speaking DSST at this time.
Register for a DSST Exam -
English Placement
CWI Write Class - English Placement
The CWI Write Class Placement (WCP) uses multiple measures (such as GPA, Standardized Test scores, and self-assessment) to direct students into the appropriate English courses. Students must take the CWI Write Class Placement (WCP) unless they have previous English college credit or scored a 6 or higher on the SAT essay.
The WCP is taken online by the student, at their own pace. Students may be placed into ENGL 101 Plus (ENGL 101P with companion course ENGL 100), or ENGL 101. Students who have a high score will be invited to apply for placement in English 102. Students may choose to take ENGL 101 Plus even if they place into a higher course.
For students who speak English as a learned language, CWI uses the Write Class Placement to determine whether placement in English as a Second Language courses is in the student’s best interest. These courses that are specially designed to meet these students’ needs and help them be successful in an academic setting. An ESL specialist will contact the student with their ESL placement.
To take the Write Class Placement from home, visit CWI Write Class. Please be advised, this placement can only be taken one time, and is linked through your CWI student account. You'll need to use your student credentials to sign-in from home. If you are logged in on a campus computer, the Write Class is linked automatically through Single Sign-On. Your Write Class score will automatically transfer to your account within 24 hours, and you may then register for English courses.
If you would like to take the Write Class through Testing Services, please use the link below to schedule an appointment. -
Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement
National Testing Network (NTN) Entrance Exam
All Law Enforcement Program applicants must complete and pass the Law Enforcement – Frontline National online exam. NTN is an independent testing company and is NOT part of CWI.
The exam costs $49.00 paid directly to NTN by the applicant. NTN offers a practice test that applicants may purchase for $24.95, which provides two run-throughs of the exam. Practice tests are not required, but strongly encouraged. Practice exams can be purchased at: https://ergopracticetests.com/?FLB/
Applicants can complete the NTN exam at a CWI Testing Services location or online with NTN (Online exams are in PACIFIC TIME). Both options require an appointment and are monitored by a test proctor. If you choose to take the exam on-line, NTN requires Windows 10, headphones and a webcam.
NTN scores are good for one year. If the applicant fails the first attempt, they can re-test after three months.
To sign up for the NTN exam at a CWI Testing Services location:
To sign up for the NTN exam Online:
All NTN on-line tests are administered in PACIFIC TIMERequirements to take Online test: Windows 10, Webcam and Headphones -
Math Placement
Math Placement
You will have 16 weeks from the date you create your MyMathTest account to complete all of your math diagnostic testing.
An ACT and/or SAT exam score that is 3 years old or less, is used to determine the placement of an incoming student into the appropriate mathematics course. Student’s who do not have ACT or SAT scores or previous college Math courses will need to take the Math Diagnostic to determine placement. The table below indicates the course options for students using the Math score on the ACT or SAT. Students who wish to place higher than their ACT or SAT scores allow may also take the Math Diagnostic. Listed below is the Diagnostic results placement. The mathematics course which is required for graduation of degree-seeking students is determined by the students’ chosen major.
For Math Placement exam review, please visit: College Prep Math page
Each section of the Math Placement exam may be taken twice (initial attempt plus one retake). The waiting period between attempts on a single section is one day.
ACT Math Score SAT Math Score CWI Math Diagnostic Score CWI Course Options* ≤ 17 ≤ 420 N/A Take Math Diagnostic ≥ 18 ≥ 430 Unit 0 Math 118/Math 123P1/Math 153P2 ≥ 20 ≥ 480 Unit 2 Math 097/ Math 099/Math 123/Fina 109 ≥ 25 ≥ 520 Unit 8 Math 098/Math 153/Math 143P3/Math 157 ≥ 26 ≥ 570 Unit 12 Math 130/Math 143/Math 147 ≥ 27 ≥ 640 Unit 14 (Algebra Exam) Math 144/Math 160 ≥ 29 ≥ 670 Unit 16 (Trigonometry Exam) Math 170 - The CWI Math Diagnostic is not required for students who have ACT/SAT scores at this placement level for Math in Modern Society Plus (Math 122/Math 123P). However, the student may take the Math Diagnostic to potentially place directly into Math 123 Math in Modern Society.
- The CWI Math Diagnostic is not required for students who have ACT/SAT scores at this placement level for Statistical Reasoning Plus (Math 152/Math 153P). However, the student may take the Math Diagnostic to potentially place directly into Math 153 Statistical Reasoning.
- The CWI Math Diagnostic is not required for students who have ACT/SAT scores at this placement level for College Algebra Plus (Math 142/Math 143P). However, the student may take the Math Diagnostic to potentially place directly into Math 143 Statistical College Algebra.
Upon completion of this assessment process, the scores and course placement can be evaluated with each student to develop an appropriate first-semester schedule and initial education plan. This process will be completed by the student and their advisor prior to the student's first registration.
* Score placement indicates the highest class eligible for enrollment. You may choose to enroll in any class below this level.
Items to bring for your Placement Testing
- Please bring a valid Photo ID (expired ID is not valid).
- Accepted forms of ID are Driver's License, State ID Card, Military ID Card, Passport, Permanent Resident Card, CWI Student ID Card, or current-year High School ID card for current High School students. We cannot accept photos of IDs.
- Accepted forms of ID are Driver's License, State ID Card, Military ID Card, Passport, Permanent Resident Card, CWI Student ID Card, or current-year High School ID card for current High School students. We cannot accept photos of IDs.
- Personal scientific calculators are permitted for the Math Placement. Calculators are also available from the MSC for your use. Graphing calculators are not allowed on the Math Placement. You will also be provided with an approved formula sheet, pencils, and scratch paper.
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NEW! The Math Placement exam is taken through the Math Solutions Center (MSC).
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Nursing Entrance Exam (Kaplan)
Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam
Effective January 1, 2022: You will be allowed 2 attempts on the exam between January 1 and November 30.
Step 1: Before scheduling your exam, candidates must create an account using our CWI Kaplan page. If an account isn't created before the scheduled exam time, there will be an additional wait time. We will not be able to test outside our hours of operation
Step 2: The Kaplan Nursing exam is taken through Testing Services.
- For CWI Students:
- Select your testing location
- Choose a group: Placement Exams
- Choose a group: Course Placement
- Choose exam: Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam for CWI Students
- If this is your 2nd attempt, choose the Kaplan Repeat Admissions option
- Continue to enter other fields as required
- For non-CWI Students: ($25 proctoring fee required)
- Select your testing location
- Choose a group: Certification Exams
- Choose a group: Health Professions
- Choose exam: Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam for non-CWI Students
- If this is your 2nd attempt, choose the Exam Repeat Admissions option
- Continue to enter other fields as required
- Scores will remain active for entrance into the CWI Nursing Program for 5 years.
- For a breakdown of the sections, please see the Kaplan Admissions Test Outline.
- For more information, please see the Nursing FAQ page.
- For CWI Students:
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Spanish Placement
Spanish Placement
The Spanish Placement exam is a free placement for CWI students to try to place out of taking courses in the Spanish Language Curriculum for prior knowledge and experience. Students can place into SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 201, or SPAN 202. After completing the highest course they can place into, students can purchase the credits for classes waived at a discounted rate. The Spanish Language Placement exam consists of 90 questions (written in Spanish) and has a 1 hour time limit. This exam is available to all CWI students without instructor permission.
The Spanish Placement is taken through Testing Services.
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Workforce Development
Workforce Development
Please register and pay for your exam through Workforce Development before scheduling an appointment with Testing Services. This will ensure your exam is activated for your testing day. Otherwise, your exam may be delayed or need to be rescheduled.