English Placement Scores
The course sequence you take depends on your score on the English portion of the ACT, SAT or COMPASS exams, as indicated in the table below. If you do not have ACT or SAT score, you must take a COMPASS exam.
NOTE: If you know you want to start in ENGL 90, you do not need to take the COMPASS exam.
| ACT Score | SAT Score | COMPASS Score | Class Indicated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-17 | 200-440 | 0-67 | Take ENGL 90, then ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 |
| 18-24 | 450-560 | 68-94 | Take ENGL 101, then ENGL 102 |
| 25-30 | 570-690 | 95-99 | Credit (P) for ENGL 101 (3 credits) and place in ENGL 102 |
| 31-36 | 700-800 | N/A | Credit (P) for ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (6 credits) |
Why you should take ENGL 101, even if your ACT/SAT/COMPASS test scores indicate you don't need to:
- Computerized tests, like the ACT, SAT and COMPASS, aren't very good measures of writing ability and they don't match the curriculum they are being used to replace.
- A high score on a multiple choice test doesn't necessarily mean you're a strong college writer.
- You'll miss the individual attention that a small class can provide (English class are limited to 27 students per class).
- The ENGL 101 course encourages discussion and collaboration with other students.
- For many students, ENGL 101 is their favorite first-year class.
- ENGL 102 instructors expect you to have all the skills you would have learned in ENGL 101.