Admissions

Placement Testing Information

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Placement testing policy is mandated by our governing authority, the Alabama State Board of Education.

Who needs to take a COMPASS placement test?  
All entering students who enroll in associate degree or certificate programs, and those who enroll for more than seven credit hours.

I don't like where I placed, can I just start in any level class I choose?
Students may not register for any course above the placement level until appropriate prerequisite courses have been completed.

Who should not take a COMPASS placement test?

  1. A student has ACT or SAT 1 scores at a minimum level (see chart below).  ACT/SAT 1 scores must be on file before an exception to the placement testing requirement will be approved.   Note:  Placement scores from ACT, SAT 1, or COMPASS must have been within the last three years.

    ACT

    SAT 1

    English

    20

    Verbal

    480

    Mathematics

    20

    Mathematics

    480

    An ACT English score of 20 or better or a SAT Verbal of 480 or better is necessary for placement in English 101, and exempts you from taking the placement test.  A lower ACT score can be used for placement in a developmental English course.

    An ACT mathematics score of 20 or better or a SAT mathematics score of 480 or better is necessary for placement in MTH 110 or MTH 112, and exempts you from taking the placement test.  An ACT score of 18 can be used for placement in MTH 100.  An ACT math score of 17 or below requires placement testing.

  2. Students who transfer degree-creditable, college level English or Math courses with a "C" or better. Transcripts must be on file before an exception to the placement testing requirement will be approved.
  3. Students who hold an associate degree or higher, senior citizen, students who have successfully completed developmental studies, transient students, and dual enrollment students are exempt except for meeting prerequisites or program entry requirements.

Placement testing is an untimed computerized test.  The testing schedule for each campus is listed below.

*Decatur Campus

*Huntsville Campus
 Book appointment online

Book appointment online

Appointment necessary

Appointment necessary

Monday through Thursday

Monday through Thursday

8:30 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.
 

 
Fridays

 Fridays
8:30
9:00

*Testing dates and times subject to change.

Students who would like to request accommodations on the basis of disability should contact Disability Services at (256) 306-2630 or dmh@calhoun.edu.