Faculty Handbook 2022-2023

F.1.b. Student Testing and Placement

Soon after their arrival on campus in August, Hendrix first-year students receive placement recommendations and take placement exams in some academic area. Placement recommendations are made by the English and mathematics Faculty based on high school records, application information, and ACT/SAT scores. Placement exams are given by the language and music Faculty during New Student Orientation. All placement results appear in a student's CampusWeb account.

English Course Placement for International Students

All entering, degree-seeking international students are given an English placement test by Hendrix College. The purpose of the test is to evaluate international students’ English language skills in reading, listening, speaking, and writing. It is designed and administered by the English Evaluation and Placement Committee. An international standardized test such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) does not substitute.

Based on its review of appropriate materials, the English Evaluation and Placement Committee will:  

  1. Recommend the student for ENGL 110 Introduction to Academic Writing, or
  2. Recommend the student for a 200-level English Literature course.

English Placement and the College's Graduation Requirement in Writing

Upon recommendation for ENGL 110 or a 200 level English literature course, students must complete and pass a W1 coded course with a grade of C or better. The one exception to this rule concerns international students who transfer from an accredited U.S. university with a course credit in English composition. These students can use an approved English composition course as a transfer course to satisfy W1 credit. Note that only courses with a letter grade of C of higher may be transferred in.