Placement Assessments

You may be exempt from completing any placement assessment. Please review the list below. 

• Equivalent college-level coursework with a qualifying grade from an accredited post-secondary institution (e.g. ENG-101 or college level math completed at another institution with a grade of a C- or higher)
• High school graduates with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.7 or higher earned within the past ten years for English exemption
• High school graduated with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or higher earned within the past three years for Math exemption
• HiSET earners with a score of 15 or higher earned within the past three years
• GED earners with a score of 165 or higher earned within the past three years
• Students who have previously completed the STCC placement assessments within the past two years
• Students who have completed coursework in English, reading, and math at STCC with a grade level of C- or greater.

Students can be placed into their math course in a variety of ways. 

ALEKS PPL

ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The assessment is up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After the assessment is complete, an individualized Prep and Learning module is available for students to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics.

ALEKS consists of three parts:

• An initial Placement Assessment
• The Prep and Learning Module, an individualized, self-paced online overview
• Access to 4 additional Placement Assessments

STCC encourages students to spend time in the Prep and Learning Module even if the desired score is achieved because time spent in ALEKS will ultimately lead to better preparation and improved grades.

The assessment can be taken from home or in the Testing and Assessment Center. This is for students who have graduated more than three years ago and do not meet exemption requirements.

Preparation

To prepare for the mathematics assessment students are encouraged to complete the following practice problems:

• MAT-061 Modular 1 Practice Problems
• MAT-062 Modular 2 Practice Problems
• MAT-063 Modular 3 Practice Problems
• MAT-064 Modular 4 Practice Problems

Multiple Measures

High School GPA

If you graduated high school within the past three years and have a cumulative high school GPA of a 2.0 or higher, then you can be placed in to a math course based on your GPA. It is important to know that the program you are taking here at STCC plays a big role in determining what math course is best to start with, so while GPA gives you a placement, it may not be in your best interest to take the highest math you are eligible for. It is very important to talk your math placement through with an advisor during your registration process. 

You can review your program math requirement by using the Multiple Measures programmatic math requirement grid.

Math classes/grades earned in high school

If you feel that your high school GPA does not portray your placement appropriately, your high school math coursework can also help determine your placement at STCC. If you recently graduated from high school, the math courses you completed, such as Algebra II, Precalculus, or other advanced math classes, and their subsequent grades can provide helpful insight into your current level of preparation.

• High school Algebra 2 or Integrated Math with a C- or higher can place you into MAT115 or MAT101 with co-req, MAT100, MAT122, MAT126, or MAT063
• High School Statistics with a C- or greater can place you into MAT115
• High School Algebra 2 or Integrated Math with a B- or higher can place you into MAT117 or MAT064
• High School Algebra 2 or Integrated Math with a B or higher can place you into MAT124 or MAT127 
• High School Precalculus with a B- or higher can place you into MAT130
• High School Precalculus with a B or higher can place you into MAT131

If you believe your high school math courses should be considered for placement, be sure to submit your official high school transcript prior to meeting with your advisor so our team can review your coursework and determine the best placement option for you.

If you do not meet the exemption requirements, you must complete the Directed Self-Placement. This is a self-assessment on your reading and interpretation abilities. It is important that you respond honestly to allow for an accurate placement into English. The Directed Self-Placement can be completed by logging back into your application portal and selecting "supplemental items and documents" at the top. Once you complete it, an email will be sent to you with your recommended English Placement.

It is important to note that your English placement is not finalized until you meet with your academic advisor during the registration process. You can sign up for an advising meeting through your application portal after you complete all your supplemental items. Once you register to meet with an advisor, please follow the steps below to prepare for your meeting.

1. Locate the course identified by your initial placement results from the Testing Center. The initial placement is determined by high school GPA or essay.
2. Review the English Placement Grid.
3. Consider your placement. Think about your experiences with writing as you read over the English Placement Grid and consider these questions:
1. How well do you understand the “Necessary Skills” listed?
2. Do you struggle with any of the “Skills Developed” in the course?
3. How easily do you think you could complete the “Typical Course Activities” listed?
4. Decide what course is best for you.
1. If you are confident that you already possess most of the “Skills Developed” in the course, look one column to the right and repeat step 3.
2. If you are concerned that you do not have the “Necessary Skills” listed, look one column to the left and repeat step 3.
3. When you are confident you have found a course that would offer a reasonable challenge and cover skills you have not yet mastered, make note of the course in preparation for your appointment with an academic advisor.
5. Schedule an Advising Appointment. To make an appointment to meet with an advisor, please contact the Academic Advising and Transfer Center at advisor@stcc.edu or (413) 755-4857. 

For a one-page PDF infographic of the process please see the Directed Self-Placement for English Infographic PDF.