Gladys L. Benerd School of Education
Basic Skills Assessment / Orientation Course Placement
For more information about Basic Skills tests and courses, please click here for a copy of the complete 
Basic Skills Assessment Handbook.
Entering students are required to demonstrate competency in the areas of reading, writing, and quantitative analysis (math).1, 2
To satisfy the University’s quantitative analysis (math) basic skills requirement, a student must score 540 or above on the Mathematics Level 1 SAT Subject Test, 520 or above on the Mathematics Level 2 SAT Subject Test, pass Pacific’s Intermediate Algebra test or successfully complete MATH 5 (Intermediate Algebra), Statistics with a C- or better (or an equivalent course from another college or university with a grade of C or better) during his/her first full year of study including summer sessions.
Sample Pacific math exams: Prealgebra Elementary Algebra Intermediate Algebra Precalculus Calculus
Answers to sample math exams: Prealgebra Elementary Algebra Intermediate Algebra Precalculus Calculus
View additional information about which math test you should take.
To satisfy the University’s writing basic skills requirement, a student must score 510 on the SAT Verbal, pass Pacific’s Writing Diagnostic Exam or successfully complete WRIT 21 (Writing for College) with a grade of C- or better (or an equivalent course from another college or university with a grade of C or better) during his/her first full year of study including summer sessions.
View a sample of the University of the Pacific's Writing Examination.
To satisfy the University’s reading basic skills requirement, a student must score 510 on the SAT Verbal, pass the Nelson-Denny Test (Form G) with a score of 98 or above, or successfully complete READ 31 (Reading for College) with a grade of C- or better during his/her first full year of study including summer sessions.
Entering students are placed into reading, writing and math courses based on information supplied at admission (such as SAT scores). Students may challenge reading placement by taking the reading examinations once, only, prior to the start of the academic year. The math placement may be challenged once at Orientation or at scheduled times during the academic year.
The following categories of students may seek a written extension of the deadline for demonstrating competence:
Students with documented disabilities which directly affect their mastery of these skills;
Students concurrently enrolled in an approved English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) Program of instruction in reading and/or writing.
