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ASSESSMENT: PLACEMENT TESTS

English and Mathematics Tests Required of Most New Students

Learning Skills Center

Lassen Hall 2200
(916) 278-6725
www.csus.edu/learningskills

The Learning Skills Center offers preparatory courses for students on the basis of performance on the English Placement Test (EPT) and the Entry Level Math test (ELM). Its courses and tutorials are designed for first year students. The Learning Skills Center also provides supplemental (adjunct) instruction in support of selected General Education courses, as well as course and tutorial offerings in the areas of reading for native speakers and reading, oral skills, grammar, and writing for multilingual students. The Learning Skills program offers supplemental instruction for students in EOP Learning Communities and academic services for students with disabilities. In addition, internship courses provide opportunities for students who want to tutor at the college level.

Systemwide Placement Test Requirements

The California State University requires that each entering undergraduate, except those who qualify for an exemption, take the CSU English Placement Test (EPT) and the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) examination prior to enrollment. These placement tests are not a condition for admission to the CSU, but they are a condition of enrollment. These examinations are designed to identify entering students who may need additional support in acquring college entry-level English and mathematics skills necessary to succeed in CSU baccalaureate-level courses. Undergraduate students who do not demonstrate college-level skills in both in English and in mathematics will be placed in appropriate remedial programs and activities during the first term of their enrollment.

Students placed in remedial programs in either English or mathematics must complete all remediation in their first year of enrollment. Failure to complete remediation by the end of the first year may result in denial of enrollment for future terms. Students register for the EPT and/or ELM at their local CSU campus. Information and practice questions are available to help students prepare for the EPT:
www.csuenglishsuccess.org
www.calstate.edu/sas/ept.pdf

English Placement Test (EPT) and Exemptions

The CSU English Placement Test (EPT) is designed to assess the level of reading and writing skills of entering undergraduate students so that they can be placed in appropriate baccalaureate-level courses. The CSU EPT must be completed by all entering undergraduates, with the exception of those who present proof of one of the following:

• A score of “Exempt” on the augmented English CST, i.e., the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP), taken in grade 11 as part of the California Standards Test;
• A score of 550 or above on the verbal section of the College Board SAT (April 1995 or later);
• A score of 24 or above on the ACT English Test (October 1989 or later);
• A score of 680 or above on the re-centered and adjusted College Board SAT II: Writing Test (May 1998 or later);
• A score of 660 on the writing portion of the SAT Reasoning Test;
• A score of 3, 4, or 5 on either the Language and Composition or the Composition and Literature examination of the College Board Advanced Placement program;
• Completion and transfer of a course that satisfies the General Education-Breadth or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) written communication requirement, provided this course was completed with a grade of “C” or better.

The EPT may be taken at any CSU campus; placement tests taken at other colleges or universities do not apply.

Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Exam and Exemptions

The Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Placement Examination is designed to assess the skill levels of entering CSU students in the areas of mathematics typically covered in three years of rigorous college preparatory courses in high school (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry). The CSU ELM must be completed by all entering undergraduates with the exception of those who present proof of one of the following:

• A score of “Exempt” on the augmented mathematics California Standards Test, (CST), i.e., the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP), taken in grade 11;
• A score of “conditionally exempt” on the augmented mathematics California Standards Test (CST), i.e., the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP), plus successful completion of a Senior-Year Mathematics Experience (SYME);
• A score of 550 or above on the mathematics section of the College Board SAT or on the College Board SAT Subject Tests-Mathematics Tests Level I, IC (Calculator), II, or IIC (Calculator);
• A score of 23 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) Mathematics Test;
• A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Calculus examination (AB or BC) or Statistics examination;
• Completion and transfer of a course that satisfies the General Education-Breadth or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) quantitative reasoning requirement provided the course was completed with a grade of “C” or better.

The results of the ELM exam will not affect admission eligibility, but will be used to identify students who need special help in math in order to do college-level work (see the “mathematics” section below for specific placement information). Placement tests at other colleges or universities do not apply; however, the ELM may be taken at any CSU Campus. Failure to take the ELM exam before the first semester of enrollment as required will prevent students from enrolling at the University. The ELM exam may be taken more than once.

Information and practice questions are available to help students prepare for the ELM:
www.csumathsuccess.org.

Required English and Mathematics Preparatory Courses for Entering Students - Executive Order 665

According to CSU Executive Order 665, students who do not pass the EPT and/or ELM are required to enroll in the appropriate preparatory courses in their first semester of enrollment. All preparatory courses must be completed within the students’ first year of enrollment; otherwise, the students will not be allowed to continue at the University, resulting in Administrative Disqualification.

If students are administratively disqualified, they will be required to complete general education English and/or mathematics requirements at a community college with a “C-” or higher grade before returning to the University.

The EPT and ELM scores with the appropriate course placement are shown below:

English

Entering students scoring in one of the ranges below GE level on the EPT must enroll in the course corresponding to their placement range in the first semester at Sacramento State. During subsequent semesters, students must enroll for the next course in the sequence until college level English is complete. Multilingual students must take the English Diagnostic Test (EDT) if they did not take the EPT at Sacramento State.

Multilingual students who take the EPT at Sacramento State will complete a survey to determine whether multilingual writing instruction is appropriate. The student’s EPT essay will be assessed to determine if the student could benefit from writing courses designed for multilingual students. If so, the student will be given an EDT score of 3, 4, or 5 in addition to the EPT score. See the chart below for information on placement in multilingual courses.

EPT Scores	Course Placement
120-141	LS 15 and ENGL 1
142-145	ENGL 1
146-147	ENGL 1 or ENGL 1A and ENGL 1X
148+	ENGL 1A
Sophomores	ENGL 20
* If EPT score is 148-150, must pass ENGL 1A with at least a “C-” within the first year of enrollment.

EPT and EDT Scores	Multilingual Course Placement
EPT=120-141 and EDT=3	LS 86 and LS 87
EPT=142-145 and EDT=4	LS 87
EPT=146-147 and EDT=5	LS 87 or ENGL 2 and 2X
EPT=148+ and EDT=5	ENGL 2*
Sophomores	ENGL 20M
* If EPT score is 148-150, must pass ENGL 2 with at least a “C-” within the first year of enrollment.

Mathematics

Entering students scoring in one of the ranges below GE level on the ELM must enroll in the course corresponding to their placement range in the first semester at Sacramento State. During subsequent semesters, students must enroll for the next course in the sequence until college level math is complete.

After passing the ELM exam or the appropriate ELM equivalency courses, check with your major advisor to determine the most appropriate GE math course. You may enroll in MATH 1 for the General Education Quantitative Reasoning requirement (Area B4) or take a Mathematics Department Diagnostic Test as a prerequisite to enrollment in other Mathematics courses. See “Additional Course Placement Examination Requirements.”

ELM Scores	Preparatory Course Placement
34 or below	LS 7A and LS 7B
36-42	LS 10A
44-48	LS 10A or LS 10I for students planning to take MATH 1 for GE Area B4; MATH 9 and LS 10X for students planning to take a GE Area B4 course other than MATH 1.
50 and above	None required (ELM equivalency requirement met). To take a GE B4 course other than MATH 1, you must also take a Math Department Diagnostic test (see Additional Course Placement Exam Requirements.)

More Information

Testing Center
Lassen Hall 2302
(916) 278-6296
www.csus.edu/testing

During the admission process, all students subject to these requirements will receive information about the placement tests. Students register for the EPT and ELM online at: www.csus.edu/testing. Students who have been admitted to Sacramento State may check their EPT and ELM status and placement scores at the My Sac State portal under the “Admissions” link.

Additional Course Placement Examination Requirements

Chemistry

Sequoia Hall 156
(916) 278-6684

Students enrolling in Chemistry 1A are required to take a General Chemistry Placement Examination. This examination must be taken in the first laboratory period during the first week of the semester.

Mathematics

Brighton Hall 141
(916) 278-6534
www.csus.edu/math

All students enrolling in a course that satisfies the General Education Quantitative Reasoning requirement must satisfy the Entry-Level Mathematics (ELM) examination as a prerequisite to enrollment, unless exempted by test scores or prior course completion. Additionally, students are required to take diagnostic tests as follows:

MATH 9 and MATH 11*

Students are required to take a diagnostic test in basic Algebra and Geometry given at the beginning of each semester.

*Note: MATH 9 and MATH 11 are not applicable to a baccalaureate degree.

MATH 17, 24, 26A, 29 and 107A and STAT 1

Students are required to take a diagnostic test in Intermediate Algebra given at the beginning of each semester.

MATH 30

Students are required to take a test in pre-calculus mathematics. This test can be taken at the beginning of each semester.

Information on each diagnostic exam can be found on the Department of Mathematics and Statistics website (under Students — Diagnostic Exam).

Foreign Language

Mariposa Hall 2051
(916) 278-6333

Sacramento State students who continue their study of a foreign language begun elsewhere must enroll in a course that does not duplicate previous college credits received. A placement test will be given prior to registration or at the first class meeting. If given prior to registration, it will be listed in the Class Schedule. Adjustment of registration, if necessary, will be made in accordance with the results of the placement exam.

Students who have begun the study of any foreign language in high school and who will enroll before taking the placement test may use the following as a guide for their first enrollment:

1A -if the student has less than one year of satisfactory high school study
1B -if the student has one year but less than two years of high school study
1C -if students have completed up to two years of high school study or one year of college French or German or Spanish with failing or unsatisfactory achievement or evaluation; and if students have had an extended interruption of beginning or intermediate formal language study
2A -if the student has two but less than three years of high school study
2B -if the student has three years of high school study

Students who have acquired knowledge of a foreign language without having received high school or college credit should consult with an advisor for placement.

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