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Being placed in the correct English course is important for your college success. Placement can be deduced through a variety of measures, as shown below. Please review the information on this page and reach out to your Guided Pathways advisor with any questions.

Placement Measures

During the 2024-25 academic year, students should be placed into appropriate English courses based on the following multiple measures. High school (HS) GPA is always the first measure, and the ones that follow should be considered in the order they are provided below. If none of this data is available, students should complete a new challenge essay to determine their placement.

High School GPA Scores

HS GPA Scores (Only use HS GPA for students who have graduated high school, or for students who have completed at least three years of high school.  Students who have completed less than three years of high school should be placed by another multiple measure.)

GPA is not a useful measure for the placement of multilingual learners with fewer than three years of high school in the US. All ESOL students should schedule testing at their home campus prior to attending an advising session.

HIGH SCHOOL GPA COURSE ELIGIBILITY

≥ 2.8

ENG 1010: Composition

2.3-2.79

ENG 1010/ENG 0910: Composition/Composition Workshop

˂ 1.99

ENG 0960: Introduction to College English

Please note that GPA below 2.0 places all students in ENG 0960. However, the multiple measures below may place some of these students in ENG 0930.

SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing
SAT SCORES COURSE ELIGIBILITY

≥ 480

ENG 1010: Composition

≥ 420

ENG 1010/ENG 0910: Composition/Composition Workshop

≥ 360-419

ENG 0930: Introduction to College Reading and Writing

< 360

ENG 0960: Introduction to College English

ACT

Based on page three for SAT EBRW and ACT English + Reading equivalencies. https://www.bestcolleges.com/test-prep/act/act-sat-conversion/

ACT SCORES COURSE ELIGIBILITY

≥ 34

ENG 1010: Composition

28-33

ENG 1010/ENG 0910: Composition/Composition Workshop

23-27

ENG 0930: Introduction to College Reading and Writing

< 22

ENG 0960: Introduction to College English

Accuplacer Next Generation Reading

Based on the Accuplacer Skills Chart 

Please note: Accuplacer will no longer be administered, so this will be used for students who had these scores in the past. If only Reading/Writing combined scores are available, advisors should use the available data to make an equitable placement if a student has no other multiple measures. 

ACCUPLACER SCORES COURSE ELIGIBILITY
≥ 263 - 300

ENG 1010: Composition

250-262

ENG 1010/ENG 0910: Composition/Composition Workshop

237-249

ENG 0930: Introduction to College Reading and Writing

≤ 236

ENG 0960: Introduction to College English

GED (GEDR)

Reasoning Through Language Arts test, score range is 165 – 174 for placement into ENG*1010. This score was agreed upon by the PA 12-40 Advisory Council and ACME agrees that it should remain the same.

Challenge Essay/Writing Sample Process

Students who place in ENG 0960 are eligible to challenge their placement. Students who place into ENG 1010/0910 may not challenge.  This challenge is optional.  Students without placement scores should complete the challenge essay to determine placement. Check local campus procedures.

Check out our FAQs page for answers!