About Testing Services

We're proud to offer comprehensive testing services to the NIU community. In addition to offering a range of tests for students, we support faculty and staff by managing NIU course and instructor evaluations, as well as assisting with exam processing.

Please contact us if you have any questions about our services.

Student Testing

We provide the following exams:

• Placement exams for new students.
• Credit by examination for new and current students.
• Foundational Studies competency exams for new and current students.
• Additional exams for certain majors and students.

Placement Exams

Students new to NIU may need to take placement exams. They’re required for certain majors and help students enroll in the appropriate NIU courses. We provide the following placement exams:

• ALEKS Math
• Chemistry
• Foreign language
• Writing composition

Credit by Examination

We offer several ways for students to get college credit by taking exams and/or test out of taking certain courses. Referred to as credit by examination, these programs help students finish their degrees faster and save money on tuition:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• Proficiency exams
• STAMP exam (language exam for bilingual undergraduate students)
• College-level Examination Program (CLEP)
• DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
• International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

Additional Exams

• Undergraduate students can meet certain general education requirements by taking Foundational Studies competency exams instead of taking courses. 
• English majors/minors can take the Grammar Exemption Exam instead of taking ENGL 207.
• Graduate business students can take business exemption exams.
• Graduate students can take the Graduate Foreign Language Reading Translation Exam, if required for their program.
• Graduate school student candidates may need to take the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). This test is available at NIU.