Placement Test Information

The following topics will be covered on the freshman placement exams held in April. Students do not need to prepare for the placement exams as they are designed for the department chairs to accurately place students in courses based on what they have learned so far.

Math

Algebra I - taken by 8th grade students currently enrolled in Algebra I

  • Expressions, Equations, and Functions
  • Properties of Real Numbers
  • Solving Linear Equations
  • Graphing Linear Equation
  • Linear Functions
  • Inequalities and Absolute Value
  • Systems of Equations and Inequalities
  • Exponents and Exponential Functions
  • Polynomials and Factoring
 

Geometry - taken by 8th grade students currently enrolled in Geometry

  • Essentials of Geometry
  • Reasoning and Proof  
  • Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
  • Congruent Triangles
  • Relationships within Triangles 
  • Similarity
  • Right Triangles and Trigonometry
  • Quadrilaterals 
  • Properties of Circles

Science

Biology

  • The Scientific Method
  • Using Formulas and Scientific Units
  • Interpreting Data and Analyzing Graphs
  • States of Matter
  • Physical and Chemical Changes in Matter
  • Elements of the Periodic Table
  • Atomic Structure
  • Energy and Motion
  • Body Systems
  • Structure and Function of the cell
  • Basic Genetics
  • Cell Division
  • Ecology  

World Languages

French 

Grammar
  • Nouns and articles
  • Numbers 0-60
  • The verb être
  • Regular –er verbs
  • Adjective agreement
  • Present tense of regular –er verbs
  • Forming questions and expressing negation
  • The present tense of avoir
  • Telling time
  • Descriptive adjectives
  • Possessive adjectives
  • Numbers 61-100
  • Prepositions of location and disjunctive (stress) pronouns
  • The verb aller
  • Interrogative words
  • The verbs prendre and boire; partitives
  • Regular –ir verbs
 Vocabulary
  • Greetings and good-byes
  • Introductions and expressions of courtesy
  • The French alphabet
  • People and things around the classroom
  • Silent letters
  • Academic life
  • Liaisons
  • Everyday activities
  • The letter r
  • Family, friends, and pets
  • L’accent aigu and l’accent grave
  • More descriptive adjectives
  • Professions and occupations
  • L’accent circonflexe, la cédille, and le tréma
  • Places and adjectives around town
  • Oral vowels
  • Going to a café
  • Nasal vowels

Mandarin

Grammar
  • Subject pronouns
  • Negative Sentence Pattern
  • Yes/no questions
  • Interrogative Pronouns
  • WH Questions
  • Singular/plural pronouns
  • Articles
  • Adjective positions
  • Ordinal numbers
  • Possession Pronoun
  • Possessive Particle
  • The positions of adverbials of time and
    adverbials of place in sentences.
  • Measure Words
  • Tag Questions
  • The imperative
 Vocabulary
  • Greet people and say goodbye
  • Introduce yourself and others
  • Ask and say how to write names
  • Phone numbers
  • Say what day of the week it is
  • Colors
  • Numbers 1-100
  • Respond to classroom instructions
  • Talk about activities
  • Say what you like and don’t like to do
  • Identify people and things
  • Talk about how you feel
  • Describe people and locations
  • Tell where you are from
  • Talk about daily schedules
  • Ask and tell time
  • Express possession
  • Say what you do and how often you do things
  • Describe classes and classroom objects
  • Say where things are located
  • Say where you are going
  • Talk about foods and beverages
  • Talk about family
  • Give dates
  • Say what you are going to do
  • Plan a party

 

Spanish 

Grammar
  • Telling time
  • Spanish “you” formal and informa
  • Subject pronouns
  • Ser
  • Definite and indefinite articles with nouns
  • Nouns
  • Adjectives to describe
  • Present tense verbs
  • Estar
  • Making introductions: te, le, les
  • Using contractions: al/del
  • Repaso rápido: question words
  • Asking questions
  • The verb ir
  • Ir a + infinitive
  • Possessive adjectives
  • Present tense of -ir verbs
  • Estar to describe conditions
  • Using gustar to state likes and dislikes
  • Using a to clarify or emphasize
  • Contrasting uses of ser and estar
  • The verb tener
  • ¡Qué +adjective/noun!
  • Direct objects and the personal a
  • Direct object pronouns
  • The verb venir, poner, decir, salir, traer
  • Using the present tense to indicate the future
  • Using the numbers 1-999,999
  • Asking for and giving the date
  • Expressing obligation with tener que and deber
  • Stem-changing verbs: e->ie
  • Demonstrative adjectives
  • Expressing wishes with querer or gustaría
  • Stem-changing verbS
 Student Performance Objectives
  • Greet people and say goodbye
  • Introduce self and others
  • Ask and spell names
  • Ask/say where you are from
  • Respond to basic classroom instructions
  • Locate Spanish-speaking countries in Spanish
  • Pronunciation: vowels, h, & ñ
  • Learn about quinceañera
  • Express courtesy
  • Ask for and state the time 
  • Ask for and give names 
  • Identify people and classroom objects
  • Ask for and give names
  • Ask and tell where someone is from 
  • Talk about daily schedule
  • Describe classroom objects and clothing 
  • Say some things people do
  • Talk about how someone feels
  • Talk about school
  • Talk about places in the city
  • Make introductions and express courtesy
  • Ask and answer questions
  • Discuss how to go somewhere
  • Say some things people do
  • Say where someone is going
  • Talk about the future
  • Order food and beverages
  • Talk about family and relationships
  • Express possession
  • Say some things people do
  • State likes and dislikes
  • Describe people and things
  • Talk about electronics
  • Describe everyday activities
  • Express strong feelings
  • Talk about days, dates, and holidays
  • Identify items in the kitchen and at the dinner table
  • Express obligations, wishes, and preferences
  • Discuss food and table items
  • Point out people and things
  • Describe a household
  • Tell what someone says
  • Say how someone is doing