Placement tests are designed to help plan a student's best course of study and to promote student success at TCC.

Most new students who wish to enroll in classes at TCC must complete the College's Placement Tests.

These tests are not admissions tests.

• About the tests
• Who takes the tests?
• Who is exempt from taking the tests?
• Is there a fee?
• Testing steps
• Preparing for placement
• Non-native English-speaking (ESL) students
• Students with disabilities
• Looking for other tests?

• Testing Centers locations & hours
• Assessment testing schedule

• Placement tests are used to evaluate your reading, writing and math skills.
• For students whose native language is not English (ESL), reading, grammar and oral skills are evaluated.
• Based upon your scores, you will be placed in either college-level courses, developmental courses, or ESL (non-credit) courses.

• New students entering an associate degree or certificate program
• New students planning to take an English, math, or history class
• Students with disabilities who desire academic accommodations
• Students whose native language is not English [English as a Second Language (ESL)][Note: Select non-native English speakers who earned a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet-based) are not required to take the COMPASS/ESL test, and will instead take the general placement test.]
• Non-curricular students who have completed nine or more credit hours and have a grade point average below 2.0
• Nursing applicants who wish to be considered for admission into the Nursing Program must take the Nursing Math Diagnostic test. [more]

• Non-curricular students not enrolled in an English, math, or history class (unless nine or more credit hours have been completed and the grade point average is below 2.0)
• Students who submit a transcript to a counselor showing completion of college-level English and/or math with a grade of C or better from an accredited institution where English is the official language
• Students who submit satisfactory scores, as determined by the college, on the SAT or ACT test if taken no more than three years prior to enrollment. The student should provide a copy of the official scores from ACT or SAT to a TCC counselor who will interpret the scores to determine if an exemption from the college’s placement tests is appropriate.
  The scores that exempt a student from placement tests at TCC are:
  • ACT Scores in Verbal (Writing and Reading) and Mathematics: 21*  or
  • SAT Scores in Critical Reading and Mathematics: 500*

  The counselor will allow you to enroll in college-level English or select math courses as indicated by your scores.

  * NOTE:  With the indicated math scores, students qualify for placement into MTH 152 or MTH 158.
  If your curriculum requires MTH 163 or higher, you must take the math placement test.

• Students with satisfactory Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP, DANTES, or Excelsior College scores for English and/or math, as determined by the college

Students may take placement tests at any campus Testing Center.

Military students may take placement tests at any campus Testing Center or on many of the local military bases.

Check the Testing Center's hours. An appointment is necessary. [hours]

A $4.00 testing fee is payable at the Cashier Window at any campus Business Office, and the receipt should be shown to Testing Center personnel. (Business Office hours do not include weekends or hours immediately prior to Wednesday and Thursday 6:00 PM testing.)

All students are encouraged to prepare for placement testing. Resources are available to help students perform at their optimum--and TCC strongly recommends that students use them. Preparation materials vary by English and math, and also vary by a student's academic background.

 

[Testing and Preparation Steps]

 

 

 

 

Students with disabilities are encouraged to make an appointment with a Disabilities Services Counselor at least 45 days before classes begin, and should bring medical documentation of the disabling condition that is no more than three years old.  Disabilities Services Counselors can assist students in obtaining the required documentation.

Students with documented disabilities may qualify for academic accommodations such as more time on tests, priority registration, and other services as needed.

Transactions between the Disabilities Services Counselor and students with disabilities are confidential. Information regarding students with disabilities will not be shared with anyone without the student’s written permission. The student’s confidential files, related to his/her disability, never become a part of the student’s academic record.

[more]

• Most non-native English speaking students are required to take an English-as-a-Second Language placement test before enrolling in college courses.

• Placement Testing for ESL students is available in every campus Testing Center according to the Placement Testing Schedule.

• Select non-native English speakers are NOT required to take the ESL Placement Tests and instead take the placement tests for native speakers. These include students who have earned a TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet-based).
  

• Students who do not demonstrate appropriate proficiencies on the native speaker’s English test may be placed in ESL or developmental classes. [TCC ESL website]