Placement Tests

New undergraduate students may be required to complete placement testing in specific subject areas. It is important that you review the placement testing information and complete all relevant tests to ensure you are registered for the appropriate courses.

Please select the appropriate college name below to determine which placement tests are required for your major. The deadline for placement testing is January 15.

Placement tests by college

Foreign Language Placement

All students in the College of Arts and Sciences (except Music Education majors) must complete a foreign language requirement. Students who are native speakers or have previously studied a foreign language offered at Rider (Spanish, French, Chinese, Italian or German) are required to take the foreign language placement test. Students interested in starting a new language may indicate this on the form and do not take the placement test. Please complete the online foreign language placement test.

Math Placement

The math placement test is required only for science, technology, or mathematics majors* who were admitted test-optional. Alternatively, if you have previously taken the SAT or ACT, please request that your official scores be sent via College Board (SAT I- Code 2758 and ACT- Code 2590) to the Office of Admission. Students that self-upload their scores will not be accepted. Social science, humanities, communication, media, or performing arts majors don't need to take the math placement test.

*Science, technology and mathematics majors include actuarial science, behavioral neuroscience, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, cybersecurity, earth sciences, environmental sciences, environmental studies, exercise science, general science, health sciences, and mathematics.

Science, technology and mathematics students admitted with test scores are not required to take the math placement test. Placement will be determined as follows:

Students with an SAT math score of 560 (ACT math score of 23) or below will be placed into “Intermediate Algebra” (MTH 100).
Students with an SAT math score between 570 and 640 (ACT math score between 24 and 27) will be placed into “Algebra & Trigonometry” (MTH 105). Students majoring in actuarial science, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics will be placed into “Pre-Calculus” (MTH 106).
Students with an SAT math score of 650 (ACT math score of 28) and above will be placed into “Calculus I” (MTH 210).

Students may challenge these placements by taking the placement test.

Accessing the math placement test

If you are required to take the math placement test, please follow the instructions below:

Schedule a time when you have 60 uninterrupted minutes to complete the exam.
Visit canvas.rider.edu.
Login with your Rider Key username and password.
Accept the invitation to the CAS Math Placement Test.
Follow the on screen instructions to complete the exam.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Westminster Choir College

All WCC students must complete piano placement testing. Piano placement testing will take place prior to the start of the semester. Individual times will be shared with you via your Rider email.
All WCC students must complete a Choral Hearing which will take place prior to the start of the semester. (Non-WCC students interested in singing in a choir should also complete a Choral Hearing). Instructions for signing up for a choral hearing will be distributed via your Rider email.
All WCC students must complete music theory placement testing prior to the start of the semester (except for students who scored a 4 or 5 on the Music Theory AP test -- these students will be automatically placed in TH 142 once their scores are received by the university). Students wishing to place in Musicianship II or higher may take additional placements in-person prior to the start of the semester.
Transfer students who wish to earn credit by exam for MH247 (Western Art Music to 1750) and/or MH248 (Western Art Music 1750-1900) are required to take placement tests. In order to take the placement tests, you must have taken similar university-level courses elsewhere and earned a B or better in the course. Contact the chair of the Department of Music Studies to provide documentation (course syllabus and transcript) and schedule an examination time.

If you have any questions about placement testing, contact [email protected]

School of Communication, Media and Performing Arts

All Musical Theatre and Music Production majors must complete music theory placement testing. This will take place prior to the start of the semester.
Dance placement testing for Dance, Dance Science, and Musical Theatre majors will take place prior to the start of the semester.

If you have any questions please contact [email protected].

General information

Course schedules

All first-year student course schedules are done by the academic coordinator in the Registrar's Office. Students will be able to view their finalized schedules in January.

Transfer and AP credits

If you received college credit in high school through AP exams or IB courses, or if you have taken college level courses at a community or four year college, please arrange to have your transcript sent to the Office of Admission to ensure your schedule accurately reflects those credits. Rider’s College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examination code is 2758.

For more information please visit the AP Credits web page.

Testing accommodations

If you need testing accommodations, the Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) office must receive your Confidential Self Disclosure Form and required documentation prior to taking the test. The office will review and approve your request in advance, if appropriate. Information regarding required documentation can be found on the SASS web page.