Placement Testing

The college uses placement tests to assess skills in reading, writing, mathematics and English as a second language (ESL). * The results are used to place students into courses where they will have the best opportunity to succeed. Courses are available for students who need developmental work as determined by placement testing.

Before registering for credit courses, students must take the placement tests (or provide other evidence of English or mathematics eligibility). If students need developmental work, they must begin that work in their first semester at the college and continue until the requirements are completed (which may take several semesters). Students who test into both developmental writing and reading are required to enroll in COUN150 College Seminar: Applied Skills for Academic Success. Developmental course work does not count toward degree requirements. Students who place into developmental courses can retest once before starting those courses. Students may not take the test whole enrolled in a developmental course.

Some students may be placed into English or mathematics courses as a result of PSSA, ACT, or SAT scores, or previous degrees or courses. Students must furnish the appropriate evidence of previous testing or experience before registering for courses. If they do not furnish evidence, the must take the placement test before registering.

*Students whose first language is not English should contact the ESL department for testing and placement. If students have low reading or writing scores on the English placement test and their fist language is not English, they will be referred to the ESL department for ESL testing and placement.

Requests for accommodated testing must be submitted through the Office of Disability Services.

Placement Guidelines

English
English I (ENGL101):
*Competence as determined by the English placement test
*Combined Reading and Writing 11th grade PSSA score of at least 2650 (with neither Reading nor Writing score below 1200).
*Score of 500 or higher on both the SAT Writing and Critical Reading exams
*Score of 21 or higher on the ACT English exam
*Completion of required developmental courses

Basic English (ENGL020), Reading Fundamentals (READ016), Critical Reading (READ017):
*Placement as determined by the English placement test

English as a Second Language:
*English language competence as determined ESL department

Helpful Links
Test Taking Tips
Sample Questions for Reading
Sample Questions for Writing


Mathematics
Prealgebra (MATH020), Applications in Math (MATH103):
*Open enrollment; no placement or pre-requisites needed

Elementary Algebra (MATH022), Intermediate Algebra (MATH026):
*Competence as determined by the mathematics placement test
*Completion of required developmental courses with a C or better

Elementary and Intermediate Algebra Combined (MATH028):
*Competence as determined by the mathematics placement test

Foundations of Mathematics I (MATH118), Foundations of Mathematics II (MATH119), Nature of Mathematics (MATH120), College Algebra (MATH140), Introductory Statistics (MATH150):
*Competence as determined by the mathematics placement test
*11th grade PSSA mathematics score of 1300 or higher
*Score of 500 or higher on the SAT mathematics exam
*Completion of required developmental courses with a C or better

For all other MATH classes, refer to course prerequisites in each course description.

Helpful Links
Test Takings Tips
Sample Questions for Mathematics

Revised by Academic Policy Committee 4/2/09