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Please find below information regarding the placement and competency exams many of you will take before the start of the Fall 2026 semester.
We hope you are enjoying the start of your summer, and we are excited to welcome you to campus this August as you begin your studies at NEC!
In the coming weeks, our office will share important information to help you prepare for the start of the academic year and support a smooth transition to campus life. You will soon receive instructions for accessing your NEC accounts. Once your accounts are activated, please be sure to check your NEC email regularly, as it will be our primary means of communication for important updates and deadlines.
Below, you will find general information about placement and competency exams that many incoming students will complete prior to the start of the fall semester.
Please find below information regarding the placement and competency exams many of you will take before the start of the Fall 2026 semester.
We hope you are enjoying the start of your summer, and we are excited to welcome you to campus this August as you begin your studies at NEC!
In the coming weeks, our office will share important information to help you prepare for the start of the academic year and support a smooth transition to campus life. You will soon receive instructions for accessing your NEC accounts. Once your accounts are activated, please be sure to check your NEC email regularly, as it will be our primary means of communication for important updates and deadlines.
Below, you will find general information about placement and competency exams that many incoming students will complete prior to the start of the fall semester.
Placement and Competency Exams
Placement and Competency Exams
Depending on your degree program and major, you may be required to complete one or more placement or competency exams before arriving on campus.
All entering Undergraduate Students may choose to take placement exams in music theory.
All entering MM Students are required to take competency exams in music theory.
All entering students may have required or optional exams that are specific to individual majors.
These exams are diagnostic in nature and are designed to help us place you in courses that best match your current level of preparation and support your academic success at NEC.
Exam Dates, Format, and Preparation
Most exams will be administered online.
Official testing dates, detailed instructions, and the most up-to-date information will be available on this site. Practice materials are available on this site for the following exams:
Master of Music Theory Competency Exam (MMTCE)
Music Literacy & Musicianship (MLM) Exam
Analysis and Composition (AC) Exam
We strongly encourage you to review these materials in advance, as they are excellent preparation for the exams.
Determining Which Exams You Need to Take
This Student Resources site includes dedicated sections for specific degree programs and majors. Please review the tab(s) that correspond to your program to find detailed information about any required or recommended exams.
Scheduling Conflicts
We encourage you to reserve the published testing dates and times on your calendar now and plan to complete the exams as scheduled. Please note that alternative testing dates will generally not be available.
Questions
If you have questions about a specific exam, please contact the departmental representative listed on the corresponding exam page linked below.
For all other questions, please contact us at student.services@necmusic.edu.
We look forward to staying in touch throughout the summer and to welcoming you to Boston in August!
Questions: Office of Academic & Student Affairs (student.services@necmusic.edu)
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