Undergraduate Studies Placement Testing

Course Placement Testing Policy

To support student success and to meet the requirements of Minnesota State policy 3.31, St. Cloud State University has developed the following procedure for assessing new entering students’ skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.

All new incoming students, including transfer students, are required to take the ACCUPLACER subject tests if one or more of the following conditions apply:

  • If the student does not have ACT or SAT equivalent test scores
  • If the ACT or SAT equivalent test scores fall below the cut scores determined for English, Reading, and Mathematics for exemption from placement testing.

ACT Scores2

Shelf  life of  ACT equivalent  scores for exemption from testing

The shelf life of ACT equivalent scores is 5 years from original test year in order to be considered for exemption.  This shelf life applies to the Reading & English testing areas.

ACT math scores dated prior to May 1, 2013 are valid for four (4) years. ACT math scores dated May 1, 2014 - May 1, 2015 will be valid for three (3) years. ACT math scores dated after May 1, 2015 will be valid for two (2) years.

Appeal process

See appropriate director or department head for appeal information and forms.

Exemption from testing will be based on ACT scores as follows:

1.a. Reading and English

ACT Reading and English Sub-Scores

Action
21 or above in the Reading subtest
OR
18 or above in the English subtest		 Student may enroll in  English 191
Below 21 in the Reading subtest
AND
Below 18 in the English subtest		 Student will take the ACCUPLACER Reading subtest

1.b. Mathematics

ACT Math Sub-Score

Highest Class
24 or above Math 115, STAT 219, 239
22 or above Math 196, 112, 201
20 or above Math 193, 072, STAT 193
Below 20 Math 070

NOTE:  Students who wish to take MATH 113, MATH 211, MATH 221 or STAT 239 must take the College Level Math test.  Students may be able to place into higher level math courses than indicated by their ACT score by taking the ACCUPLACER Mathematics test and placing into higher level coursework.

1.c. ESL

 

ACT Reading and English Sub-Scores
Other Standardized Test Scores

Action
Non-native speakers of English who are NOT international students3 21 or above in the Reading subtest
OR
18 or above in the English subtest		 Student may enroll in  English 191
Below 21 in the Reading subtest
AND
Below 18 in the English subtest
  • If the student identifies him/herself as a non-native speaker of English, the student will take the ACCUPLACER ESL Reading test and College ESL Essay Test unless the student requests to take the ACCUPLACER Reading test for native speakers of English.
  • If the student scores 54 orbelow on the ACCUPLACER Reading test for native speakers of English, the student will be required to take the ACCUPLACER ESL Reading test, College ESL Essay Test, and ACCUPLACER Listening Test.
Non-native speakers of English who are international students 600 or above in the paper-based TOEFL
OR
250 or above in the computer-based TOEFL
OR
100 or above in the iBT TOEFL with subscores no less than 25 in reading, writing, and listeningFor additional exemption criteria, refer to the EAP Program website (http://www.stcloudstate.edu/eap/exam.aspx).		 Student may enroll in English 191.
Below 600 in the paper-based TOEFL
OR
Below 250 in the computer-based TOEFL
OR
Below 100 in the iBT TOEFL and one or more subscores less than 25 in reading, writing, and listening
OR
None of the additional exemption criteria is met.		 Student will take the ESL ACCUPLACER Reading and Listening tests
AND
College ESL writing test.

 

ACCUPLACER Testing

The Minnesota State Assessment for Course Placement Committee (ACPC), after researching several testing instruments has chosen ACCUPLACER as the primary testing instrument in Reading, Mathematics, and ESL to assess student skills.  Sample questions may be viewed at the ACCUPLACER website: www.testprepreview.com/accuplacer_practice.htm.

Retesting

Students are allowed one (1) retest in a calendar year.
International  students who are non-native speakers of English are required to take required ESL courses during their first semester at SCSU; therefore, retesting is not allowed.

Appeal Process

See appropriate director or department head for appeal information and forms.

Accommodation for students with disabilities

Student will contact Student Accessibility Services for information regarding testing accommodations, dates, and sites.

The following cut scores in each of the areas determines placement as described below:

2.a. English and Reading

ACCUPLACER Test Scores

Action
78 or above in Reading Student may enroll in English 191
77 or below in Reading Student will be placed into appropriate Reading AND English courses

 

2.b. Mathematics

Transfer students present evidence of prerequisite for exemption.

All students wanting to enroll in a math course above MATH 070 must present an ACT math score or will be required to take the ACCUPLACER placement test in one or more of the following areas:

  • ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra (EA) And/Or
  • ACCUPLACER Intermediate Algebra (IA) And/Or
  • College Level Mathematics (CLM)

Mathematics and Statistics Courses

Math 070

Math 072
Math 193
Stat 193

Math 112
Math 196
Math 201

Math 115
Stat 219
Stat 239

Math 211
Math 113

Math 221
Math 271
ACT math subscore minimum   20 22 24    
Calculus Readiness Test Minimum   16 16 16 19 20
ACCUPLACER minimums None required 70 EA 60 IA or 50 CLM 65 IA or 50 CLM 60 CLM 65 CLM

Mathematics and Statistics Requirements

First
Requirement		 Math 221 Math 211 Stat 219, 239 Math 112 115, 196, 201 Math 193 Stat 193
Recommended Preparation Math 115 or Math 112 and
Math 113		 Math 112 Stat 193  
Review Math 072 Math 070 Math 072 Math 070 Math 070 Math 072 Math 070 Math 070

Goal 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning

CSCI 200; MATH 112, 113, 115, 193, 196, 201, 211, 221, 222; PHIL 223; STAT 193, 219, 239

For more information, testing schedule and practice questions, see the Department of Mathematics and Statistics site.

2.c. ESL

Course Placement Tests

Course Placements
ACCUPLACER Listening Test 90 or above Exempt from ESL Listening & Speaking courses
80 ~ 89.9 ESL Listening & Speaking 201
70 ~ 79.9 ESL Listening & Speaking 101
Below 70 No permission to take ESL L&S. Recommended to take IEC courses
College ESL Essay Test
&
ACCUPLACER Reading TestWhen the test scores from these two tests place a student in two different levels of ESL Reading & Writing, the essay test score will be used for the placement decision.		 85 or above on the Essay Test
AND
100 or above on ACCUPLACER Reading		 Exempt from ESL Reading & Writing courses
75 ~ 84.9 on the Essay Test
OR
90 ~ 99.9 on ACCUPLACER Reading		 ESL Reading & Writing 202
70 ~ 75 on Essay Test
OR
Below 90 on ACCUPLACER Reading		 ESL Reading & Writing 102
Below 70 on Essay Test No permission to take ESL R&W. Recommended to take IEC courses

Appendix I

CONCORDANCE TABLES FOR ACT AND SAT SCORES4

ACT English

SAT Verbal

ACT Math

SAT Math
36 800 36 800
35 790 35 790
34 780 34 780
34 770 34 770
34 760 34 760
33 750 33 750
33 740 33 740
32 730 32 730
32 720 32 720
31 710 31 710
31 700 31 700
30 690 30 690
30 680 30 680
29 670 29 670
29 660 29 660
29 650 29 650
28 640 28 640
28 630 28 630
27 620 27 620
27 610 27 610
26 600 26 600
26 590 26 590
25 580 25 580
25 570 25 570
24 560 24 560
24 550 24 550
23 540 23 540
23 530 23 530
22 520 22 520
21 510 21 510
21 500 21 500
20 490 20 490
20 480 20 480
19 470 19 470
19 460 19 460
18 450 18 450
17 440 18 440
17 430 18 430
16 420 17 420
16 410 17 410
15 400 17 400

1The Minnesota State Assessment for Course Place Committee website can be found at http://www.minnstate.edu/board/procedure/303p1.html

2See Appendix I for SAT Equivalent scores.

3 According to the definition in Minnesota State Board Policy 3.4 Part 1, “An International Student is a student who is required to be registered under the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).”

4 Source: ACT, Inc.