Students entering diploma and degree programs as well as many certificate programs must satisfy the placement test requirement as part of the enrollment process. In addition, testing may be needed to satisfy prerequisites for English and math courses as well as many other college transfer courses.
The placement test requirement must be satisfied prior to class registration. Students may attend New Student Orientation prior to satisfying the placement test requirement. However, they will not be able to register for classes at that time. Therefore, it is highly recommended that students satisfy the requirement before attending New Student Orientation.
The placement test requirement may be satisfied using one or more of the following options:
Option 1 - RISE (Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence)
High School Graduation Within the United States: Students who graduated from a United States high school (public, private or homeschool) or who earned an Adult High School Diploma in the US will be placed into courses based on their unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA). Placement is as follows:
- Students with an unweighted GPA of 2.8 or higher will be placed into gateway English and math courses without a required corequisite support course.
- Students with an unweighted GPA of 2.2 - 2.799 will be placed into gateway English and math courses with a required corequisite support course.
- Students with an unweighted GPA of less than 2.2 will be placed into Transition English and math courses.
*Students whose transcripts do not contain a GPA may be required to take the RISE placement test.
**GPA cannot be used for course placement for students who graduated from high school with an Occupational Course of Study designation. Students with an OCS diploma are encouraged to take Transition English and math courses.
Students have the option to take the RISE Placement Test one time (per tier) to try to improve their course placement if desired.
Students should submit an official high school transcript to the Registrar’s office for review.
High School Graduation Outside of the United States:
Students who graduated from a high school outside of the United States will be required to take the placement test unless they are eligible for waivers based on another placement option.
High School Equivalency Graduates:
Students who completed a high school equivalency diploma (GED or HiSET) may be waived from testing if they meet the following criteria:
- GED 2014-Present: Students who earned a 2014 Series GED diploma will be waived from placement testing. Course placement is as follows:
- Students who scored a 165 or higher on all sections of the GED test will be placed into gateway English and math courses without a required corequisite support course.
- Students who scored a 145-164 on all sections of the GED test will be placed into gateway English and math courses with a required corequisite support course.
- Students who received a GED prior to 2014 will be required to take the placement test unless they are eligible for waivers based on another placement option.
- Students may choose to enroll in Transition English (ENG-002) and Transition Math (MAT-003) classes in lieu of taking the placement test if desired.
- HiSET: Students who earned a HiSET diploma will be waived from placement testing. Course placement is as follows:
- Students who scored a 15 or higher on all sections of the test and a score of 4 or higher on the essay will be placed into gateway English and math courses without a required corequisite support course.
- Students who scored an 8 or higher on all sections of the test and a score of 2 or 3 on the essay will be placed into gateway English and math courses with a required corequisite support course.
Students should submit an official GED or HiSET transcript to the Registrar’s office for review.
Option 2 - Transfer Credit
- Students who completed an Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree at a regionally accredited institution will be waived from placement testing.
- Successful completion of college-level math and English courses at a regionally accredited institution may waive placement testing. Courses must be at the 100 level or higher and a grade of “C” or higher is required.
- Courses classified as developmental or remedial will not transfer to SCC but may be used to meet the placement test requirement.
- Official transcripts must be received from the issuing institutions before placement waivers are awarded.
Option 3 - Alternate Placement Assessments
The college accepts the following placement test types from other institutions:
The college accepts the following placement test types from other institutions:
- ACCUPLACER NC_DAP. Scores are valid for a period of ten years from the date of the assessment and must include all relevant sections. Course placement will be determined upon receipt of scores.
- RISE Placement Test. Scores are valid for a period of ten years from the date of the assessment and must include all relevant sections. Course placement will be determined upon receipt of
scores. - Scores must be sent to SCC directly from the institution that administered the test. Scores will be accepted via mail, fax or email. Hand delivered copies will be accepted provided the scores are received in the original sealed envelope. Copies provided by students will not be accepted.
- SCC is unable to accept the ACCUPLACER Next Generation placement test.
The college also accepts SAT and ACT scores to satisfy the placement test requirement.
SAT:
- Scores for tests taken prior to March 2016: Scores of ≥ 500 in Verbal (Critical Reading) OR ≥ 500 in Writing AND ≥ 500 in Math are required for college-level course placement.
- Scores for tests taken on or after March 1, 2016: Scores of ≥ 480 in evidence-based reading & writing AND ≥ 530 in math are required for college-level course placement.
- Test scores are considered valid for a period of ten years from the date of the assessment.
- For test scores that fall below the established minimums, the college requires transition education courses to improve basic skills.
- The college may require additional math testing prior to being permitted to take upper-level math courses.
ACT:
- Scores of ≥ 22 in reading or ≥ 18 in English AND ≥ 22 in math are required for college-level course placement.
- Students whose test scores are within two points of the benchmark score will be eligible to take a gateway course with a required corequisite course.
- For test scores that fall below the established minimums, the college requires transition education courses to improve basic skills.
- The college may require additional math testing prior to being permitted to take upper-level math courses.
- Test scores are considered valid for a period of ten years from the date of the assessment.
Option 4 - RISE Placement Testing
Complete a RISE Placement Test offered at SCC. The assessment is computer-based and must be completed in person. Testing is offered at the Jackson Campus and the Macon Campus. Please review the RISE Placement Test information page for more details.
Complete a RISE Placement Test offered at SCC. The assessment is computer-based and must be completed in person. Testing is offered at the Jackson Campus and the Macon Campus. Please review the RISE Placement Test information page for more details.
