Challenge Exam for Incoming Freshman

***Registration for the 2011 Challenge Exam is now closed.  Thanks to all who registered.***

UCOR030 - Research and Information Skills Lab

Research and Information Skills Lab is a required one-credit course in the University's Core Curriculum.  All freshmen admitted to following schools are automatically registered for Research and Information Skills Lab:

  • A.J. Palumbo School of Business Administration
  • Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • McAnulty School of Liberal Arts
  • Mylan School of Pharmacy
  • Rangos School of Health Sciences
  • School of Nursing

Students in the schools of Music and Education take equivalent courses and are not eligible to take the Challenge Exam.

Challenge Exam

Some incoming freshmen have the necessary information and computer literacy skills to transition to university level research. These students may be comfortable independently learning to use the resources for academic research available at Duquesne.  To identify these students, we offer an optional Challenge Exam. The exam is a standardized test called iSkills, which is published by Educational Testing Service (ETS).  Unlike the SAT exam, study guides are not available for the iSkills test, though an overview of the content of the exam is available on the ETS website.

Students who pass the Challenge Exam will receive one credit for the Research and Information Skills Lab course on their transcript. Students who do not pass or who choose not to take the challenge exam will enroll in Research and Information Skills Lab.

Registration Information

Students will choose a test date and time convenient to them.  The test is given on campus at the library, and each testing time is limited to 35 students.  The test will take approximately 1 hour to complete.  Test dates were chosen to coincide with the F.A.S.T. and Orientation programs for new students, as well as additional dates to accommodate students not participating in these programs.  Students will register and pay for the test by credit card through an online payment system. 

You will need the following information prior to registering for the Challenge Exam:

  1. Look up your Duquesne email address.
  2. Know your Social Security Number.
  3. Set up your MultiPass account. [Click MultiPass Setup]
  4. Credit card information: Visa, MasterCard, or Discover [cost for 2011 test will be $20.00]

On your exam day, please:

  1. Arrive 5-10 minutes early to check in at Gumberg Library Room 408
  2. Bring your registration receipt (this will come to your email address after you register)
  3. Bring a photo ID (Duquesne ID, Driver's License/State ID, Passport, or High School Photo ID)

You must bring valid photo identification with you to the library, or you will not be permitted to take the exam.

If you have no photo identification, please contact the Challenge Exam coordinator to discuss other authentication possibilities.

Last Updated 08/12/2011

Related Links:

Student FAQs

Parent FAQs

Campus Map

Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Information Literacy Standards

Contact:

Julie Motyka, MSLS

Reference and Instruction Librarian

motykaj@duq.edu

412.396.4890



After the Exam


  • Scores will be available within 10 days of completion of the exam.
  • Students must check their own scores if they would like them for personal reference.
  • Scores can be checked at: http://my.icttest.ets.org
  • Log in with the username and password created during the test.
  • If you have forgotten your username and password, contact the challenge exam coordinator.  Usernames and passwords will be sent only to DU email addresses, for security purposes.
  • The passing score for the exam is 260 or above.
  • The library will notify students' advisors if they have passed the exam.
  • Students who did not pass will not be permitted to re-take the exam, and will enroll in Research and Information Skills Lab (UCOR030).

 **** Note:  If your score is not available before your first scheduled day of UCOR030, you MUST attend the class that day.  You may want to hold off on purchasing the book, or you can check the return policy at the bookstore.  As soon as scores become available, the library will contact your advisor to have you removed from the course if you passed the exam.****