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What is the COBE Computer Placement Exam?

The COBE Computer Placement Exam allows students to place out of ITM 104 Operating Systems and Word Processing Topics, ITM 105 Spreadsheet Topics and ITM 106 Database Topics. Students have the option to take the ITM classes (ITM 104, 105, 106) OR to successfully complete the COBE Computer Placement Exam to place out of the requirements for these courses.

Who Should Take the Exam

All business majors are required to take ITM 105. In addition, ITM 106 is required for the following majors:

  • Information Technology Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Accountancy

Other majors may require one or more of the ITM 104, ITM 105 and ITM 106 classes. Check your specific major requirements.

Students may take the COBE Computer Placement Exam even if they have already taken the class. If a student is currently enrolled in ITM 104, ITM 105, and/or ITM 106 and then successfully completes the corresponding COBE Computer Placement Exam, the student must drop that class before the class drop deadline or receive a ‘W’ on their transcript. If the student does not drop the class at all the student will receive an “F” for the class even if they pass the exam.

Requesting the Tests

ITM Placement exams are available in a remote format. To request to take the test, students must review the COBE Placement Testing Agreement on the COBE ITM Placement Exam page and submit the agreement form at the bottom of the page. The testing agreement must be reviewed and submitted again before each test attempt (up to 6 times). After completing the agreement form, you will receive an email with instructions for taking the exam. Please read the email closely.

The Pearson MyITLab license for the exam can be purchased directly from Pearson using a credit card or PayPal. All MyITLab licenses are valid for 14 days after the license is used to enter your student profile. Note: If you need to use your 2nd attempt, make sure it is 24 hours after the first attempt, and within the 14-day license duration or another license will have to be purchased.

  • Each exam section is timed at 120 minutes per section and time is monitored by the computer.
  • You may request your test scores and print your exam results at the end of each section.
  • A score of 70% or above on each section is required to pass.
  • The exams do not show up on the student transcript for credit or grades as it is a placement/proficiency exam. A pass score is recorded for prerequisite purposes only.

Please email the IT-SCM department at itscm@boisestate.edu and include the following information in order to record your scores:

  1. Full name
  2. Boise State University student ID number
  3. Exam section(s) you completed