Academics

Achieving eXcellence in Liberal Education

About AXLE | Distribution Categories | Placement
Writing Requirements | First-Year Writing Seminars

 

Placement Test Guidelines
for Incoming Students Under AXLE

1. FOREIGN LANGUAGES: see AXLE description, below.

All students have to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language at a basic level. Basic level = 1 year of study at the university level. One year at university level = completion of or proficiency in second semester of foreign language instruction by some means: AP credit; SAT II; VU departmental test; or appropriate Vanderbilt course.

AXLE test scores for demonstrating Foreign Language proficiency remain exactly the same as those that were required by the CPLE:

AP scores of 4 or 5 in French Language or French Literature; German; Vergil, Latin Lyric Poetry, or Latin Literature; or Spanish.

SAT II scores of at least 540 (French), 470 (German), 530 (Hebrew), 540 (Italian), 440 (Japanese with Listening), 530 (Latin), or 520 (Spanish).

VU Departmental test scores of at least 350 (French) or 365 (Spanish).

Description of AXLE Distribution Category: INT = International Cultures

All students must complete three courses in this category, irrespective of previous language study or proficiency in a language other than English. At least one of the three courses presented in fulfillment of this category must be a second semester (or higher) language acquisition class taught at Vanderbilt University, unless the student successfully demonstrates proficiency in a language other than English at or above the level achieved by second semester language acquisition classes taught at Vanderbilt University. The first semester of an introductory language acquisition class in any language a student has studied for at least two years in high school, or in which a student transfers credit from another institution, cannot be used in partial fulfillment of this requirement. Intensive elementary language courses that cover the content of two semesters in one shall count as one course toward this category.

2. MATH

AXLE Distribution Category: MNS = Mathematics and Natural Sciences

There is no specific math requirement though many students take a math course in partial fulfillment of this category.

Any student planning to major or minor in one of the following should take calculus (which is required or strongly recommended for these majors/minors):

  • Astronomy
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Earth & Environmental Sciences
  • Economics
  • Neuroscience
  • Physics
  • Psychology & Sociology possibly, depending on specialization

3. WRITING

Writing is the only skill that is privileged in the AXLE curriculum. ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE AT LEAST 3 WRITING COURSES UNDER AXLE. SOME WILL TAKE 4.

Incoming students must present SAT I or ACT test scores for placement purposes. The only exception is students with AP English scores of 4 or 5 (see below).

Students with SAT II Writing test scores of less than 560 must enroll in English 100. This is the same as with the CPLE curriculum.

Starting in Fall, 2006, students with SAT I test scores less than 500 on the Writing section, less than 500 on the Critical Reading section, or less than 1220 combined on the Writing and Critical Reading sections must enroll in English 100.

Students with ACT scores less than 27 on the English section and less than 7 on the Writing section must enroll in English 100.

AP English scores of 4 or 5 are the equivalent of SAT II Writing scores higher than 560 or SAT 500 Writing, 500 Critical Reading, and 1220 Writing + Critical Reading.

POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT AXLE
  1. No AP credit can be counted towards the 13 courses required for AXLE.
  2. AP credit does count towards other areas of a student’s course of study.
  3. AP credit is also used, in some cases, for placement in individual levels of courses.
  4. This is important because virtually every course is now open to first year students for AXLE fulfillment, regardless of level.