English and Math Placement

woman sitting at computer

Get Started in Classes at the Right Level for You

Placement helps the College determine your academic skill levels in English and math so we can place you in classes that are at the right level for you.

There are multiple ways you can satisfy placement, including your high school GPA, taking the ACCUPLACER placement tests in both English and Math, or the following:

  • SAT score: A minimum score of 560 in English and 510 in mathematics, taken within the last five years.
  • ACT score: A minimum of 21 in English and 21 in mathematics, taken within the last five years.
  • Keystone Algebra Score (HS Transcript): A score of 1500 or higher.
  • AP English Lit/Com Exam: A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Exam.
  • AP Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam: A score of 4 or 5 on the exam, taken within the last five years.
  • IBT (internet based TOEFL): A minimum score of 77 overall and a 20 in writing, taken within the last two years.
  • IELTS score: A minimum of 6.0 overall and a 6.0 in writing, taken within the last two years.
  • An official transcript from an accredited U.S. college or university indicating you have earned a U.S. college degree or have passed college-level English or math with a grade of “C” or higher.
  • All documents (transcripts and test scores) submitted for placement should be sent to the Transfer Credit and Placement Office at traneval [at] ccp.edu (traneval[at]ccp[dot]edu).

Placement in Math and English Courses by High School GPA

Placement Test Options

By taking the ACCUPLACER tests, applicants will be placed in the most appropriate English and Math courses as indicated by their ACCUPLACER test results.  There are three options for testing.  

Accuplacer Test Takers Must Be:

  • Applicants with a HS GPA of 2.74 and below
  • GED students
  • Students who cannot obtain a high school transcript
  • English as a Second Language (ESL) students will take their ACCUPLACER placement and be placed in Pre-ESL or ESL courses. 

Please note: If you were involved in a high school program that included modified assignments, modified tests (other than extended time or distraction-reduced setting), substantial one-to-one services, life skills support, or other modified instruction, we advise you to take the placement test. Any student who needs accommodations for taking the placement test should contact the Center on Disability at COD [at] ccp.edu.

Option 1: Drop-in testing

Remember to bring a valid photo ID.

Main Campus

Monday through Friday: You can test in person anytime between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. No need to make an appointment. Saturday testing is available by appointment only.

Northeast Regional Center

Wednesday through Friday: You can test in person anytime between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. No need to make an appointment.

Virtual testing with CCP Proctors

This service is offered Monday through Thursday during business hours.

Send your full name, J number, date of birth and phone number to assessmentcenter [at] ccp.edu. Add that you’d like to take the test virtually with a CCP proctor.

Click here to make sure your computer is compatible with Accuplacer.

Please note that to test virtually, you must have a computer with a webcam and audio capabilities. Tablets, cell phones and chrome books are not compatible with the test.

Taking and Preparing for the Placement Test

Take a Practice ACCUPLACER Placement Test

Because the test determines your first year course load, it is very important that you familiarize yourself with the test format, test questions, and test strategies and that you practice taking the test. To do so, we highly recommend that you:

Visit the official ACCUPLACER site

Download the free ACCUPLACER Study app

Test Structure

Please take a moment to look at the test descriptions below. They will help give you an idea of what to expect on the actual placement test. Overall, the placement test consists of two parts: an English or ESL part and a Math part.

If your primary spoken language is other than English, you may be asked to take the ESL part, which includes ESL Listening, ESL Writing and ESL Reading Skills sections.  

On the other hand, if you are a native English speaker, you will be asked to take the English part, which includes English Writing (Writeplacer) and English Reading Comprehension (Next-Generation Reading) Sections.

Finally, the Math Part consists of three sections:

  • Next-Generation Arithmetic
  • Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)
  • Next-Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF)

Depending on your performance, you may be asked to take one, two, or all three sections of the Math test.

All parts and sections of the placement test are computer-based, and offered at the Main Campus and Regional Centers. No computer skills are required. You simply use the mouse to click on the answer.

English and ESL Writing Sections

In the English or ESL writing sections, you will have 60 minutes to write about a topic you will be given that day. Topics are chosen randomly.  The writing sample is then scored by ACCUPLACER. Members of the ESL faculty review essays and placement may be adjusted by that faculty reader. The combined scores of the faculty reader and ACCUPLACER, together with your score the ESL Reading Skills section, will be used to determine your placement in ESL classes.

For how the essays are evaluated and for sample practice questions as well as scored writing samples, please download the set of or the set of ESL Sample Essays.

Reading Comprehension, ESL Reading Skills, ESL Listening and the Math Sections (computerized):

The Next-Generation Reading, ESL Reading Skills, and ESL Listening sections are comprised of 20 questions each and are untimed, allowing you to work at you own pace.

The math part begins with either the Next-Generation Arithmetic or the Quantitative Reasoning section and may progress to the Advanced Algebra test, depending on your skills. Each math section consists of 20 questions.

Taking the Test

While the sections are untimed (except the English or ESL Writing section, which is limited to one hour), you should plan on spending at least two hours taking the tests. 

You will have two options for taking the ACCUPLACER test:

  • In-person: A limited number of appointments are available for in-person testing. Please contact the Assessment Center by email at assessmentcenter [at] ccp.edu (assessmentcenter[at]ccp[dot]edu) to schedule an in-person test.
  • Online with remote proctoring via Zoom: If you want to take the test online, applicants should check their CCP email for an email from the Admissions Office with directions on how to schedule a remote testing appointment.

When you have finished the required sections of the placement tests, you will receive your placement results and instructions on how to login to your Online Orientation. The Online Orientation will provide information on financial aid, registration, payment options and college resources.

Test Prep Sites

Besides the official ACCUPLACER site and the study APP, other test prep sites for the Placement Test may be accessed on the internet by typing "ACCUPLACER Practice" from any browser search field. A number of sites will be listed, some for English and some for Math. Any of the free sites provide valuable practice opportunities; there is not need to use any site for which you need to pay a fee. Some of the better sites are as follows

Placement Levels and Courses

Based on your performance on the placement test, and depending on your specific English language and mathematics abilities and needs you will be placed in one of CCP’s college-level courses or pre- college-level courses.

Please review below the CCP placement levels and courses and visit the relevant department links to view brief course and program descriptions.

English Placement Levels and Courses
Your placement in English courses is based on how you perform in the English Writing and the Reading Comprehension sections. The set of pre-college and college English levels and courses that you may be placed in are shown in the chart below.

 LevelsCourses
Pre-collegeABE (Adult Basic Education)
Level 2
ABE Classes
English 097
CollegeLevel 4
Level 6
English 101 and English 098
English 101

If you are placed in ABE, you will able to retest upon successful completion of the ABE classes. Learn more about ABE classes.

If you are placed in Level 2 and pass the courses at that level with a grade of "Pass" you automatically move to College Level courses ENGL 101 and ENGL 098

ESL Placement Levels and Courses
Your placement in ESL courses is based on the combination of how you perform in the ESL Reading Skills section, the ESL Writing Section, and the ESL Listening. The set of pre-college and college ESL courses that you may be placed in are shown in the chart below.

 

 ESL Reading and ESL Writing CoursesESL Listening/Speaking Courses
Pre-collegePre-ESL 
English 081 and English 091
English 082 and English 092
English 083 and English 093
English 084 and English 094
Pre-ESL
English 071
English 072
English 073 
CollegeEnglish 101 (Level 6) 

If you place in Pre-ESL, you must contact the ESL Institute and pass their highest ESL level before retesting. You will need to bring a letter of completion to the Assessment Center in order to retest. For more information, please visit the ESL Institute.

All ESL Reading, ESL Writing, and ESL Listening/Speaking courses are part of a series and have to be taken sequentially depending on where you are initially placed.

Math Placement Levels and Courses

Your placement in mathematics courses is based on how you perform in the Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, and/or College-Level Math sections.  The set of pre-college and college math courses that you may be placed in are listed in the chart below.

 Courses
Pre-collegeFoundational Math 016
Foundational Math 017
Foundational Math 019/020
Foundation Math 019
CollegeFoundational Math 118
Math 161
Math 162
Math 171

The Foundational Math courses and Math courses are part of a series and have to be taken sequentially depending on where you are placed. 

Contact Us

Visit Us

Bonnell Building, Room BG-14

Phone:

215.751.8006

Fall and Spring Semesters: 

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m

Summer Semesters: 

Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m