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Online Degrees

Part of Western Governors University

Guide to the WGU Readiness Assessment.

Our goal is for every single student to succeed.

WGU seeks to admit individuals who have the capacity and determination to complete a rigorous WGU degree program … and graduate. The admission process is designed to help you and the university reach an informed decision about your likelihood of success.

At WGU we want you to graduate, not just enroll. Consequently, not every applicant is admitted because WGU’s programs and competency-based, online academic model don't meet every student's needs.

About this assessment:

The WGU Readiness Assessment is a three-part admissions assessment to determine your readiness for college-level study in an online learning environment.

Successful completion of this test is required for:

  • Students entering Teachers College bachelor’s degree programs who do not possess an A.A. or A.S. degree.
  • Students entering College of Business degree programs who do not possess a bachelor's degree or higher.
  • Students entering a College of IT bachelor’s degree program who do not possess an A.A.S. in information technology (or equivalent), an A.A. or A.S. in any field, or one of the IT certifications that WGU recognizes for competency credit. See more about transferrable IT certifications.
  • Students entering the B.S. Health Information Management program who do not possess an associate’s degree or an associates of applied science degree in one of the following: Health Information Technology, Health Information Management, Health Information System Technology, Health Information System Management, or Medical Record Technology.

Math - This multiple-choice test measures your background competence in fundamental mathematics subject areas, such as number notations, basic arithmetic, estimation, simple geometry, and graphs, and touches upon elementary algebra and probability. Individuals need not have extensive mathematics background nor get all the answers correct in order to successfully pass this test.
Language - This is a multiple-answer test designed to measure your competency in the basic academic skills of Writing, Critical Reading, and Reading Comprehension.

Since writing is critical to success at WGU in every program, you will be asked to write a short essay addressing a specific assignment. The essay question will not require special content knowledge.

You will complete the essay online, and you will have the opportunity to revise and edit it before you submit it. We recommend that you write your essay in a word processing program such as Microsoft Word, and then copy and paste your essay into the exam. You should allow up to an hour to write and submit your essay.

This section is designed to help you determine if WGU is a good "fit" for you. It's comprised of questions that address your readiness to handle online study at WGU.

Advice for taking the WGU Readiness Assessment.

  • Please take this exam seriously. You are expected to satisfactorily complete the test in order to be admitted. If you fail any of the three sections of the exam, you may retake the failed section after a 72-hour waiting period. 
  • Allow for up to two (2) uninterrupted hours to complete all three sections. (Most individuals take between 1 and 2 hours.)
  • Take the assessment in a quiet environment. Please don't take the test in a noisy, hectic environment.

To take the test:

If you have not already done so, you will need to claim your new WGU Student Login. (Note: Creating the login does not mean you are considered a student). Instructions can be found http://studentclaim.wgu.edu/.

Access the Readiness Assessment with the button below. Please note you will be prompted to log in to the WGU Student Portal, using the username and password you created when you claimed your WGU Student Login. On the WGU Student Portal, the WGU Readiness Assessment is found in the Admissions tab.

When you are ready:

The Readiness Assessment is on the WGU Student Portal.

Take the assessment

IMPORTANT: Make sure Javascript and third-party cookies are enabled in your browser's settings (Firefox and Google Chrome browsers are recommended). Also, make sure pop-up blockers are disabled.

If you have any questions about the Readiness Assessment, or experience technical difficulties, please speak to your Enrollment Counselor as soon as possible.