Course Placement Options

We place students in English and Math courses using, in this order, multiple measures, guided self-placement, and Accuplacer placement tests.

Multiple Measures

Placement testing may be waived for students who meet any of these criteria.

  • TRANSFER CREDIT: The student has completed previous college-level English and math courses that have been accepted for transfer credit.
    • Students who have completed an accredited Bachelor’s degree may be eligible for direct placement into ENG 101 even if they have not taken a transferable ENG 101 course.
  • GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL GPA: Graduated high school students may be eligible for placement based on their final GPA.
  • HISET: Students with a HiSET Mathematics score of 15 or higher from within the past five years do not need to sit for math sections of the placement test. Students with a HiSET Reading and Writing scores of 15 or higher from within the past ten years do not need to sit for the English sections of the placement test.
  • GED: Students with a GED Mathematical Reasoning score of 165 or higher from within the past five years do not need to sit for math sections of the placement test. Students with a GED English Language Arts score of 165 or higher from 2014 or later do not need to sit for the English sections of the placement test.
  • SAT/ACT: Students with an SAT Reading and Writing score of 600 or higher or an ACT English Language score of 22 or higher from within the last three years do not need to sit for the English sections of the placement test. Students with an SAT Math score of 500 or higher from within the past three years do not need to sit for the Math sections of the placement test.
  • PSAT: Students with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 570 or higher do not need to sit for the English sections of the placement test. Students with a Math score of 570 or higher do not need to sit for the Math sections of the placement test.

Guided Self-Placement

Students who do not meet any of the outlined multiple measures criteria may elect to take guided self-placement surveys for English, mathematics, or both. Please speak with your advisor or enrollment staff about this option.

College Placement Tests

Students who are not satisfied with their multiple measures or guided self-placement results may elect to use Accuplacer as a definitive placement option. Accuplacer Testing is done at the suggestion of an advisor or by student selection in the guided self-placement process.

Scores for the WritePlacer Essay and Reading Comprehension sections are used for English placement. The Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics section is used for math placement.  Additionally, the Advanced Algebra and Functions section is required to place into MAT 163 or MAT 211.

Information about the test is found on the Testing Services webpage.

ESL Placement Tests

Students whose first language is not English who do not place into college-level English courses may benefit from ESL courses. MWCC offers credit ESL courses at the intermediate and advanced levels. Placement testing can be arranged through Testing Services.