New Placement Pilot

On a pilot basis from Fall 2013 to Spring 2015, students may elect to use their SAT or ACT scores for placement in lieu of COMPASS and/or the Writing Sample. If a student has taken the SAT or ACT score multiple times within the allowable time frame, their highest score in each subject area may be used for placement:

Critical Reading

• SAT score 520 or greater within 5 years: no Reading required

Writing

• SAT score 520 or greater within 5 years: COM 121

Math

• SAT score 0-299 or ACT score 0-14 within 3 years: MAT 010
• SAT score 300-399 or ACT score 15-17 within 3 years: MAT 020
• SAT score 400-519 or ACT score 18-21 within 3 years: MAT 030 or MAT 035
• SAT score 520-580 or ACT score 22-24 within 3 years: MAT 110 (MAT 035 Bridge required if score is 520-539), MAT 150, MAT 210, BUS 100
• SAT score 581-619 or ACT score 25-27 within 3 years: MAT 160
• SAT score 620-679 or ACT score 28-29 within 3 years: MAT165
• SAT score 680 or higher or ACT score 30 within 3 years: MAT 220 (if completed high school trigonometry with a “B” within 2 years)

Notes:

• These pilots will be reviewed no later than July 2015 and may be altered or terminated by the appropriate Assistant Dean at any point prior to July 2015. 
• Student with SAT or ACT scores older than the identified time limits will be required to take the appropriate placement test at RACC. The time allowable is determined by counting backwards from the beginning of the student’s first semester of enrollment.
• The Critical Reading and Writing scores above apply only to students who have not attempted any reading or writing courses at RACC.
• The Math scores above apply only to students who have not attempted any math courses at RACC.
• Students may request to take the placement exam instead of using their SAT or ACT scores for placement and choose to follow either that placement or that determined by their SAT or ACT scores.
• Students may choose to enroll in a course lower than the placement indicated by their SAT or ACT score.

Exceptions:
Students who meet the following criteria may be referred to Karen Jacobson for possible permission to register for COM 121:

• SAT scores of 500 or higher
• COMPASS Reading Score of 80 or higher (no reading needed)
• Writing Sample score of 6 (COM 051)
• High School English Grades of B or higher

Effective immediately.