Postsecondary Placement

West Virginia

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:57:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

West Virginia Code §18B-2B-6 established the Freshman Assessment and Placement Standards. Degree-seeking students at all public postsecondary institutions must meet minimum cut scores on approved college-placement exams to enroll in college-level coursework.

Students who do not earn benchmark scores are now required to enroll in first-year, co-requisite courses or other entry-level college courses with additional academic support. The policy allows institutions to set higher cut scores and — with the Chancellor’s permission — to use multiple assessments, including high school GPA, for placement decisions.

Minimum Placement Exam Cut Scores

Test	Math (Quantitative Reasoning)	Math (College Algebra)	Reading	English Composition
ACT	19	21	17	18
SAT	510	530	23*	480
ACCUPLACER	N/A	76	252	250

*Critical reading sub-score on new SAT

**As of 2016, the Compass test system, and its affiliated tests, are no longer offered but scores from these tests will continue to be accepted.

Transfer students who fulfill their remediation requirements at one institution will be considered to have fulfilled those remediation requirements at their receiving institution. Institutions must develop strategies that allow students to progress through college-level, credit-bearing courses in the first year of enrollment. Institutions may require students who do not meet the standards to complete such courses at another institution.

Virginia

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:56:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Four-Year Institutions

Institutional boards set assessment and placement policies.

Community College System

Virginia’s State Board for Community Colleges approved a multiple-measures placement policy in 2017. The policy lists several exemption criteria for students, including high school grade-point average and qualifying SAT, ACT or GED scores. Additionally, students who have completed an associate degree, earned a C or better in a college-level math or English course, or completed developmental courses at a Virginia community college are exempt from placement testing.

Students who do not meet any of these criteria take the Virginia Placement Test for English and/or math. The tests determine placement in developmental or credit-bearing courses. Students who are considered nearly college-ready in English may enroll directly in College Composition I (ENG 111) while co‐enrolling in a two‐credit‐hour developmental English course.

Texas

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 16:45:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

Students who present minimum qualifying scores on one of six college-readiness assessments may enroll in any entry-level college courses without placement testing through the Texas Success Initiative Assessment. Veterans and active-duty military, transfer students who have satisfied readiness requirements at other institutions, and students enrolled in a short-term certificate program at a public two-year campus also are exempt from placement testing.

Texas College Readiness Benchmarks

Sub-test	ACT	SAT	New SAT*	TAKS
Composite	23	1070	–	–
English	19	–	–	2200
Reading	–	500	480	–
Math	19	500	530	2200

*New SAT first administered after March 5, 2016

**TAAS is the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills. TAKS is the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. STAAR is the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.

Before taking the TSIA, students participate in a Pre-Assessment Activity, which varies by institution but must include test preparation and academic counseling. Students who do not meet or exceed TSIA cut scores (Math, 350; Reading, 351; Writing, 340 with an essay score of at least 4) must work with a counselor to determine whether they may need to enroll in developmental education or may be able to enroll in a developmental intervention and college-credit course at the same time.

Tennessee

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:58:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

Board of Regents

University boards have set placement policies since the enactment of Chapter 869 in 2016. The Tennessee Board of Regents revised placement rules for community colleges in March 2019. Community colleges may use four assessments: ACT, SAT, Accuplacer, and the Seamless Alignment and Integration of Learning Support program. Students scoring at or above the cut score are exempt from Learning Support.

ACT/SAT Placement Cut Scores

Readiness Area	ACT	SAT	Accuplacer	SAILS
Reading	19	500	250	4
Math	19	530	250	5

Institutions require students who score below the cutoff in writing, reading, and/or math to enroll in corequisite learning support courses.

Community colleges may provide standalone learning support to non-degree seeking students whose program does not require college-level math, English or reading.

University of Tennessee System

The system’s three undergraduate institutions set minimum ACT and SAT cut scores for enrollment in specific English and math courses. Students may document passing scores on an Advanced Placement, CLEP or the online math placement exam to qualify for the first math course required for their major.

All three institutions require students with low ACT English or SAT critical reading sub-scores to take an additional course or participate in a supplemental writing lab.

UT-Martin requires students who score below 21 on the ACT English and/or ACT Math subtests to enroll in the lowest applicable college-level courses.

South Carolina

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:56:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

The University of South Carolina System

State policy prohibits the delivery of remedial and developmental education courses at four-year institutions.

While technically allowed by state law, system policy also prohibits these courses from being offered at the board’s three two-year colleges. These institutions provide enriched sections of entry-level courses. Institutions may require students to complete testing by subject (e.g., math and foreign language) to determine course placement.

Technical College System

Technical college students may present qualifying SAT or ACT scores or participate in placement testing. Students must take institutionally determined placement tests in reading, writing and math. Institutions place students who do not meet placement benchmarks in developmental education courses.

Oklahoma

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:55:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

State policy exempts students from remedial and developmental education if they score 19 or higher on each ACT subtest. However, institutions may establish higher standards by requiring additional testing of those students meeting or exceeding the minimum ACT subject test score requirement.

State policy requires institutions to develop entry-level assessment programs for students scoring below the ACT thresholds. These programs should evaluate students’ academic qualifications, goals, study skills, values, and motivation. Students placed in developmental education must start in their first semester and complete these courses within the first year or before completing 24 credit hours.

The president or the president’s designee may allow exceptions on an individual basis for students with extenuating circumstances. Institutions must report these exceptions to the Oklahoma state regents for higher education.

North Carolina

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:44:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Four-Year Institutions

Institutions set requirements for placement into math, English and other courses.

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

North Carolina Community Colleges administer the North Carolina Diagnostic Assessment and Placement Test. Colleges place students who do not meet placement cut scores in developmental education courses.

The State Board of Community Colleges requires institutions to use a multiple-measures placement policy. Students who meet one or more of the following criteria may be exempt from all or a section of the NC DAP Placement Test.

Multiple Measures Used for Community College Placement Decisions

Placement Measure	Description	Benchmark
High School GPA	Students who graduated within 5 years of enrollment who meet the GPA benchmark are exempt from placement testing.	2.6 GPA
ACT/SAT	Qualifying scores exempt students from placement testing.	ACT Reading 22 OR ACT English 18 SAT Evidence-based Reading 480 ACT Math 22 SAT Math 530
NC Diagnostic and Placement Test	The College Board administers the ACCUPLACER exam to assess students’ skills in English, reading, and math	Scores help determine appropriate coursework for new college enrollees.

Placement Measure

Description

Benchmark

High School GPA

Students who graduated within 5 years of enrollment who meet the GPA benchmark are exempt from placement testing.

2.6 GPA

ACT/SAT

Qualifying scores exempt students from placement testing.

ACT Reading 22 OR

ACT English 18

SAT Evidence-based Reading 480

ACT Math 22

SAT Math 530

NC Diagnostic and Placement Test

The College Board administers the ACCUPLACER exam to assess students’ skills in English, reading, and math

Scores help determine appropriate coursework for new college enrollees.

The board authorizes community colleges to establish policies on how to support students that earn scores very near to Accuplacer cut scores through enrollment in a college course with appropriate developmental education supports.

Mississippi

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:43:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Four-Year Institutions

Students who do not meet the requirements for unconditional admission may be admitted but must participate in an on-campus placement process at the institution.

Students who score below 16 on the ACT English, reading or math subtest must take intermediate courses. The board allows institutions to require students with an ACT sub-score between 17 and 19 to enroll in intermediate courses. However, students are exempt from the intermediate course requirement if they completed an SREB Math Ready and/or Literacy Ready courses with a grade of 80 or higher.

Students required to take two or more intermediate courses must enroll in the year-long Academic Support Program.

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

Institutions have the right to set their own placement thresholds for entry into college-level English and math courses. However, the Mississippi Community College Board convenes a group of 14 of the 15 community colleges’ chief academic officers who have agreed to use an ACT English score of 17 or higher for placement in English Composition and an ACT math score of 19 or higher for placement in College Algebra.

Entering freshmen enrolled at a public postsecondary institution who have an ACT math, reading or English subtest score of 16 or less are required to take Intermediate Algebra or Intermediate English during their first semester of college. Institutions may also require that students who score between 17 and 19 take the intermediate course(s).

However, students are exempt from the intermediate course requirement if they completed an SREB Math Ready and/or Literacy Ready courses with a grade of 80 or higher. Students taking two or more intermediate courses must enroll in the year-long Academic Support Program or equivalent courses.

Maryland

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:42:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

Institutions set requirements for placement into math and English courses.

Louisiana

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:40:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

The Louisiana Board of Regents requires students at all public institutions to earn at least a 19 ACT score in Math for placement in college-level courses or earn an equivalent score on one of the following assessments:

500-510 on SAT Math
65 on the Accuplacer Elementary Algebra subtest

Students at all public institutions must earn at least an 18 ACT score in English for placement in college-level courses or earn an equivalent score on one of the following assessments:

500 on the SAT ERW
86 on the Accuplacer Sentence Skills section

Institutions may enroll students in co-requisite math and English courses if they score an 19 or 18 on the ACT Math and English subtests, respectively.

The board authorizes institutions to create alternative placement systems, upon approval by the system’s Division of Academic and Student Affairs.

Kentucky

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:37:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education revised the placement requirements beginning with the 2019-20 academic year.

Students who meet or exceed the state’s minimum qualifying scores (see table) on one of five assessments are exempt from completing developmental education or co-requisite coursework. The council also sets cut scores for placement into three credit-bearing math courses: quantitative reasoning, college algebra and calculus.

Kentucky’s Minimum College Readiness Benchmarks

Readiness Area	ACT	SAT	KYOTE	GED	ALEKS
English	18	480 or 25	6	165	N/A
Reading	20	480 or 25	20	165	N/A
Math (Quantitative Reasoning)	19	500	22	165	30
Math (College Algebra)	22	560	14	175	46
Math (Calculus)	27	650	15	N/A	76

Georgia

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:33:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

University System of Georgia

The Board of Regents has established system-wide placement policies and exemptions for community colleges and four-year institutions.

To be exempt from placement testing in English (reading and writing), students must meet one of the following criteria:

Completed Area A English course with grade of “C” or higher
English Placement Index of 4230 or higher
High School grade-point average of 3.1 or higher and completion of required high school curriculum in English
Score of 480 SAT or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section
Score of 17 ACT or higher on the English or Reading subtest higher
Score of 61 or higher on Classic Accuplacer (237 or higher on Next-Generation Accuplacer) Reading Comprehension Test and score 4 or higher on the WritePlacer

To be exempt from placement testing in Mathematics a student must meet one of the following criteria:

Complete Area A mathematics course with grade of “C” or higher
Placed into pre-calculus or higher math course
Math Placement Index of 1265 or higher
High School GPA of 3.4 or higher and completion of required high school curriculum in mat;
Score of 510 or higher on the SAT math section
Score of 20 or higher on the ACT math subtest
Score of 79 or higher on Classic Accuplacer Elementary Algebra test
Score of 266 or higher on Next-Generation Accuplacer Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics test

Institutions may set higher scores or require additional measures for screening and placement into Learning Support courses. Students who meet the institution’s admission standards for programs leading to baccalaureate degrees are exempted from further placement testing.

Institutions may calculate a Mathematics Placement Index and an English Placement Index based on high school grade point average, SAT or ACT and, when indicated, the Classic Accuplacer placement test.

Institutions place students who do not meet placement thresholds into co-requisite, Learning Support courses. For more detailed information, please see the University System of Georgia Academic Affairs Handbook 2.9.1 Administrative Procedures for Learning Support Programs.

Technical College System of Georgia

System policy requires technical colleges to assess students’ readiness to enter academic programs of study. Institutions may accept a student’s official entrance score on several validated assessment instruments, including the SAT, ACT, GED, Accuplacer, COMPASS or Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). Colleges may also use high school GPA and documentation of certain work experiences to exempt students from placement testing.

Students who do not meet all requirements for regular admission into a selected program are granted provisional admission status. Provisionally admitted students may take learning support classes and certain specified occupational courses until they satisfy program pre- and co-requisites.

Florida

CroweM — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 14:29:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

Florida uses the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test for placement, a customized placement test aligned to the Postsecondary Readiness Competencies identified by faculty as necessary for entry-level college coursework. The PERT covers mathematics, reading and writing. Students may use corresponding scores on other college placement exams such as the Accuplacer Classic, the SAT or the ACT.

A student who entered ninth grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year or after and earned a Florida standard high school diploma, or who is serving as an active-duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services, is exempt from placement testing and cannot be required to enroll in developmental education instruction in a Florida College System institution.

However, a student who is exempt may opt to be assessed and enroll in developmental education. If so, the college shall administer assessments and courses upon the student’s request.

Non-exempt students who have not earned credit for college-level coursework for reading, writing and mathematics shall be tested for proficiency prior to the completion of initial registration. A student admitted to a Florida College System institution whose score on a common placement test indicates a need for developmental education must be advised of all the developmental education options offered at the institution and, after advisement, shall be allowed to enroll in the developmental education option of his or her choice.

Florida College System – Minimum Placement Assessment Scores*

Test	Math	Reading/Verbal	English/Writing
ACT	19	19	17
SAT (prior to 3/1/16)	440	440	N/A
New SAT	24	24	25
ACCUPLACER	72	83	83
PERT	114	106	103

* A Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 2.0 (FCAT 2.0) minimum composite score of 262 was accepted through March 2017.

Delaware

Beth Day — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 20:37:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Four-Year Institutions

Delaware requires that 100% of high school students take the SAT before graduation. Accordingly, students who meet the SAT cut score set by the state’s public colleges and universities are exempt from remedial or developmental courses upon enrollment.

The University of Delaware and Delaware State University require that all first-time freshmen take the ALEKS assessment to determine their math course placement. A score of 45 or higher on the ALEKS assessment allows students to enroll in credit-bearing math courses.

High school students who pass the state’s transitional courses with a 77 or higher are exempt from remedial and developmental courses.

University of Delaware

At the University of Delaware, placement determinations vary by college and intended major. Students cannot register for specific math courses unless they meet the appropriate placement thresholds. Once students know the required math course for their major, use the following chart to determine the placement level.

Course	Title	*Placement Level Required for Enrollment
Math 010	Intermediate Algebra (Remedial, non-credit)	G, M, P, S, B, C
Math 113	Contemporary Mathematics	G, M, P, S, B, C
Math 114	College Mathematics and Statistics	M, P, S, B, C
Math 115	Precalculus	P, S, B, C
Math 117	Precalculus for Scientists and Engineers	S, B, C
Math 221	Calculus I	B, C
Math 241	Analytic Geometry and Calculus A	C

Delaware State University

All formally admitted freshmen and transfer students must complete the online ALEKS placement test for math two weeks prior to orientation and score at 45 or higher to enroll in college-level math courses. Student performance on the ACT or SAT determines placement into English composition courses.

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

All Delaware Technical Community College students are required to meet one of the following college readiness requirements:

Earn a 3.0 (83%) or higher high school GPA (junior or senior transcript)
Meet SAT benchmark scores
Earn benchmark scores on the ACCUPLACER test
Enroll in an International Baccalaureate or the Academic Challenge program
Earn 75 or higher in a Foundations of College English course or 77 or higher in a College Math course
Earn an A or B grade in AP English or math course
Earn an A or B grade in Pre-Calculus or Calculus
Have earned previous college credit or a degree

Arkansas

Beth Day — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 20:35:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Statewide

Students who meet or exceed the ACT Benchmarks in English, reading and math are exempt from placement testing.

The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board requires all institutions to have an approved student placement plan. The board directs institutions to use multiple measures to determine placement into college-level courses when students score below the minimum ACT cut scores.

Arkansas Department of Higher Education ─ Minimum ACT Scores

ACT Sub-test	Cut Score
English Composition	18
Reading	22
Math – College Algebra	22

The multiple weighted measures may include the following:

high school grade-point average
the number of years since a student took a specific course or was in school
other test scores (such as SAT or high school end-of-course exams)
other non-cognitive information such as motivation, time management skills or family support
writing samples and successful completion of a transitional course in high school

The board requires institutions to assess the effectiveness of placement criteria in predicting student success in the first credit-bearing college course.

Institutions may require that students interested in STEM majors meet higher standards for placement.

Alabama

Beth Day — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 20:33:00 +0000

Postsecondary Placement Policies

Four-Year Institutions

Common, statewide placement requirements do not exist for four-year institutions. Instead, institutional governing boards set placement requirements.

Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges

The Alabama Community College System encourages but does not require its institutions to use the ACCUPLACER to assess students for placement into credit-bearing college courses.

Institutions may exempt students from placement tests if students achieve satisfactory scores — as set by each institution — on the ACT or SAT.