Pre-Registration Testing

All new degree students must take a Placement Test which includes measurement of reading, writing and mathematics. This test is designed to assure that students are ready to perform college-level work.

Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for the assessment by visiting:

Please Note: Your SAT, ACT, or Accuplacer scores must have been taken within the last three years to be considered for a waiver. Waivers of testing are available to students under the following provisions:

Full Test Waiver (You will not have to take the test):
  1. You have completed at least 24 college level credits with a grade of “C” or better from an accredited college. These 24 credits must include English composition and a mathematics course higher than elementary Algebra.
  2. You have taken the Accuplacer test at another college.
  3. You have at least a four-year degree from an accredited college.
Partial Test Waiver (You only need part of the test):

1.  You have taken the SAT test and have scored as follows (as of 03/01/2016):

a) Math – a score of 530 or higher will waive both the Computation and Algebra tests.

b) Evidence Based Reading and Writing (ERW) – a score 480 or higher will waive both the Writing and Reading tests.

2.  ACT tests with scores that are less than three years old will waive Foundational Studies Placement Tests as follows:

ACT tests taken on or after Sept. 10, 2016:

a) ACT Math score of 22 or higher will waive both Computation and Algebra.
b) ACT Reading score of 23 or higher will waive the Reading Comprehension Section of the test.
c) ACT Writing score of 8 or higher will waive the Sentence Skills section of the test. (NOTE: ACT Writing Scale of 2-12).

3.  GED Waiver –  You have taken the GED Test and have scored as follows:

a) Math –  A score of 165 or higher in the Math section of the GED will waive both Computation and Algebra tests.

b) Language Arts – A score of 165 or higher in the Language Arts section of the GED will waive both Writing (Sentence Skills) and Reading (Reading Comprehension) tests.

4.  You have credits from another college that do not meet the full guidelines of the Full Test Waiver category above. You MAY qualify for a partial waiver. An individual assessment must be made.

5.  Non-native speakers of English may also be eligible for a test waiver. To receive a waiver of testing, students must apply in person in the One Stop Center for Student Services.

6.  Persons 65 years of age and older may be eligible for a test waiver. To receive a waiver of testing, students must apply in person in the One Stop Center for Student Services.

Those wishing to waive on the basis of previous credits must provide an unofficial or official transcript, or a college diploma.

Students with documented disabilities who would like to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office prior to testing.

Once the student has tested, he or she will be given instructions by the Testing Services staff on the next steps, which will include participating in a session with an Academic Advisor to plan and choose their first semester classes.

Students whose scores indicate the need to enhance skills in the areas of reading, language arts, and/or pre-algebra or elementary algebra will be placed in the appropriate Foundational Skills courses. Students with gaps in their academic backgrounds, or those who, with the passage of time, have grown rusty in one or more of these areas, will find the Foundational courses are designed to bring skills up to the necessary level for optimum college performance. Students needing such work must take and satisfactorily complete the Foundational courses – although credits do not count towards graduation. (Students whose scores indicate no need for developmental work may not enroll in them.)