After you have determined which required and/or optional placement exams apply to you, completion of online exams may begin on May 1, 2008.

Complete and submit all online exams according to the following deadlines:

• Sunday, May 11th for all May PittStart Sessions
• Sunday, June 1st for all June PittStart Sessions
• Sunday, July 20th for all July PittStart Sessions
• Sunday, July 27 for the August 5th, 6th and 8th PittStart Sessions
• Friday, August 15th for the August 19th PittStart Session

You may complete your tests anytime before the deadlines.

Failure to submit your exams by the appropriate deadline could have an adverse effect on your course selection. Additionally, if you do not complete/submit the online tests before coming to your PittStart session, you must take them at the Alumni Hall basement computer lab on campus before meeting with an advisor for advising and registration. For more information, please see On-Campus Testing below.

Directions for Algebra, English Writing and Trigonometry Online Exams:

The online algebra, English and trigonometry exams will be administered from within the University’s course management system, CourseWeb. To access these exams via CourseWeb, please follow these steps:

1. Go to the University’s portal page at http://my.pitt.edu/.
2. Login using your University account name and password. If you are unsure of your Pitt username or password, please call the Technology Help Desk at (412) 624-HELP.
3. Click on the “Student Services” tab.
4. Click on the “CourseWeb” link. (Alternatively, you can go directly to http://courseweb.pitt.edu/ and login using your username/password combination.)
5. View and select links to applicable online exams under the “My Courses” tab in the right-hand column.
6. Carefully read all instructions, including the posted time limits for each exam. Also, for those students taking the algebra placement exam, be sure to take the “Check Your Understanding” quiz under “Getting Started” before beginning the test.

Upon completion of each online exam, you will receive a confirmation if it has been submitted successfully. You do not need to print any of the online exam screens. Your scores will be automatically forwarded to your academic advising center, and your advisor will discuss your results with you during your individual registration appointment at the PittStart session.

If (1) you experience any technical difficulties while you are completing an exam (e.g. you are “kicked out”) or (2) you have concerns over the submission of your exam, please contact the 24-hour Technology Help Desk at (412) 624-HELP.

If you have questions about placement test requirements, please contact your academic center between 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.:

School of Arts and Sciences: 412-624-6444
College of Business Administration: 412-383-8811
School of Nursing: 412-624-2406
School of Engineering: 412-624-9825

Directions for French, German and Spanish Online Exams:

The online French, German and Spanish exams will be administered through the WebCAPE system. Scores will be sent to your academic center before you arrive for your PittStart session. For these three exams, your advisor requests that you please print your score and be sure to bring it to your advising/registration session during PittStart.

The French, German and Spanish exams may be accessed by following these steps:

1. Click on the URL: http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org?acct=pitt
2. Enter the Password: panthers1 (all lower case)
3. Click "Login" button
4. Click the drop-down menu to select a language (Spanish is the default)
5. After the language is selected, click the "Begin" button
6. Upon completion of the required identification fields and the survey, click the "Continue" button to proceed with the test.

On-Campus Testing

Online Exams: Again, it is in the student’s best interest to complete online exams prior to arrival on campus for the PittStart session. However, if you failed to complete the online placement exams before the appropriate deadlines, you must do so before meeting with an advisor for advising and registration. These exams will be administered on Day One of each PittStart session from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Alumni Hall basement computer lab on campus. No-pre registration is required. Be sure to bring a calculator if applicable to the exam(s) you will be completing. Please contact your academic center for more information.

Optional Written Exams: You will be able to take any exams not available online (e.g. Music Theory, Portuguese, Russian, Latin or Italian) when you arrive on campus. These exams will be administered for all students at the Arts and Sciences Advising Center on the second floor of Thackeray Hall. No-pre registration is required. Testing will occur on Day One of each PittStart session from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Please contact your academic center for more information.

Academic Integrity

Correct placement in classes can drastically affect your academic achievement. Placement exams are not a tool for competition or judgment, but rather an opportunity for students to assess themselves in a truthful manner. An incoming freshman who begins his or her University of Pittsburgh career in appropriate courses has a far greater chance of success than someone who enrolls in classes that he/she is not truly academically prepared for.

It is essential that students approach online placement exams in a mature and honest manner. A professional code of ethics is in place, requiring students to submit responses that are their own and that are the results of independent work. It is essential that students follow all placement exam instructions and guidelines with regard to the use of texts, notes and calculators during the testing process. Failure to complete online testing with regard to academic integrity will jeopardize a student’s academic career and ultimate goal of success.