by Ken Dunkin
senior editor

What you don't know may keep you from being able to register for classes.

It has been a standing policy at UM-St. Louis that students must take an academic test to give an estimate of knowledge. The Academic Profile II must be taken by undergraduate students before they reach 23 credit hours. Students who haven't taken the test and have 23 credit hours, will have holds put on their accounts keeping them from registering. Students with 90 or more credit hours must take the same test again.

"We want to be able to compare the two scores and get an idea of knowledge that was added through education at UM-St. Louis," Simon said. "We can't claim that they acquired all the knowledge while at the University but where they began with the test score and where they finished."

The 40-minute test is given over 100 times during a school year. There is no registration fee for the test. Students can attend any time but they are asked to arrive five minutes early with proper identification.

"This test is mandated by legislature," Simon said. "We aren't trying to be mean by making students take this test. We realize students are paying a lot of money to attend, and we want to protect their investment by making sure their time spent here was money well spent."

During a student's last semester at UM-St. Louis he or she is required to take a major field test. Students must take a take to show how well they have mastered in their major. The School of Education uses the C-Base which is given to students wishing to apply for admissions to the school. It is given to students when they get in the 45-65 credit hours range.