Placement Testing

Placement Testing Process

Step 1: Submit an Admission Application

An admission application must be submitted prior to scheduling the placement test.

Step 2: Study and Prepare for the Placement Test

Preparing for the placement test may reduce or eliminate the need for prerequisite or co-requisite work, which can save time and money. Resources are available in the Test Preparation tab.

Step 3: Schedule an Appointment

    To schedule an appointment, contact:

    Image of Cindy Core
    Cindy Core, AAS
    Students Services Technician
    Phone: 336-838-6137
    cgcore955@wilkescc.edu

    Check in for the placement test in the Student Services Office, located in Window World Hall (building 1 on the campus map).

    Image of Amber Holliday
    Amber Holliday, MBA
    Office Manager
    Phone: 336-903-3115
    asholliday860@wilkescc.edu

    Image of Paige Belt
    Paige Belt, BA
    Administrative Assistant of the Alleghany Center
    Phone: 336-903-3146
    pbbelt113@wilkescc.edu

    Important Information

    • Seating is limited. Please call at your earliest convenience to schedule an appointment.
    • Allow two hours for each test (Math and English).
    • Placement test scores are recognized for a period of ten years.
    • To take the placement test, students must show picture identification, such as a driver’s license.

    Testing Accommodations

    Applicants requiring special testing accommodations due to a disability must notify the Disability Services office at 336-838-6560 and request appropriate accommodations be made ten working days prior to testing. Placement testing accommodations for applicants enrolling only in distance learning activities (telecourses, internet courses, teleconferences and cyber classroom) will be handled on an individual basis. Students enrolling in any distance learning activity should contact the Student Services Office at 336-838-6136 for further information.

    Exemptions from Placement Testing

    WCC students will be evaluated and placed into gateway English and Math course(s) based on the following criteria:

    • Graduated from a US High School with a valid High School GPA, or
    • Has earned developmental course credit, or has successfully completed a college-level English or Math course, or
    • Has completed an eligible placement test within the last 10 years, or
    • Has earned an Associate or Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

    Limited admission programs may be excluded from this exemption. Please speak with your limited admission advisor.

    Graduated from a US High School

    Students who have graduated from a US High School with a valid High School GPA will be placed into gateway English and Math courses using the following unweighted high school GPA ranges:

    • 0.0 – 2.799: May register for gateway English with the corresponding co-requisite course and/or a prerequisite Math course.
    • 2.8 or higher: May register for gateway English and/or Math course.

    Students whose High School GPA is more than 10 years prior to the enrollment term can request a placement test if the placement test would benefit the student’s placement.

    Transferable College-Level Coursework

    Students who have completed transferable college-level coursework in English and Math with a grade of C or better will be exempt from testing. Students who have successfully completed developmental or transferable college coursework in English and Math may be exempt from testing.

    Students must meet the prerequisites for all courses that will be taken at WCC, which may involve selected placement testing if the previous coursework does not clearly include prerequisite courses.

    ENG/RED/MATH DRE/DMA RISE Course Eligibility
    ENG 070 & RED 070 or ENG 075 DRE 096 ENG 025 + ENG 111
    ENG 080 & RED 080 or ENG 085 DRE 097 ENG 002, grade of P1 ENG 025 + ENG 111
    ENG 090 & RED 090 or ENG 095 DRE 098 ENG 002, grade of P2 ENG 111
    MAT 060 MAT 050 – DMA 030 MAT 003, grade of P1 MAT 110
    MAT 025 > MAT 143 or MAT 152
    MAT 035 > MAT 121, MAT 171 or MAT 175
    MAT 070 MAT 050 – DMA 050 MAT 003, grade of P2 MAT 110 or MAT 143 or MAT 152
    MAT 035 > MAT 121, MAT 171 or MAT 175
    MAT 080 MAT 050 – DMA 080 MAT 003, grade of P3 Any Gateway Math

    Eligible Placement Tests

    Eligible placement tests are valid for 10 years.

    SAT scores are only used to place into Gateway Math and English.

    Date of Test Test Passing Score
    Pre-December 2011 Reading OR Writing 510 or higher
    Math 510 or higher
    January 2012 – February 2016 Critical Reading OR English 500 or higher
    Math 500 or higher
    March 2016 – Present Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 480 or higher
    Math 530 or higher

    Click here to request your official SAT scores be sent to WCC.

    Pre-February 2014 ACT scores are only used to place into Gateway Math and English

    Date of Test Test Passing Score
    Pre-December 2011 Reading OR English 22 or higher
    Math 22 or higher
    January 2012 – February 2014 Reading OR 21 or higher
    English 18 or higher
    Math 22 or higher
    March 2014 – Present Reading OR 20 – 21 = ENG 025 + ENG 111
    22 or higher = ENG 111
    English 16 – 17 = ENG 025 + ENG 111
    18 or higher = ENG 111
    Math 20 – 21 = Prerequisite for chosen Gateway Math
    22 or higher = Any Gateway Math

    Click here to request your official ACT scores be sent to WCC.

    Test Validity Date Passing Score
    Mathematical Reasoning
    Reading through Language Arts
    Social Studies
    Science    		 January 1, 2014 to present 165 or higher on ALL tests = Gateway Math and English
    145 – 164 on ALL tests = ENG 025 + ENG 111 and Prerequisite for chosen Gateway Math

    HiSET scores are only used to place into Gateway Math and English.

    Test Validity Date Passing Score
    Language Arts – Reading
    Language Arts – Writing
    Essay
    Mathematics
    Science
    Social Studies    		 January 1, 2014 to present 15 or higher on ALL subject tests, with a minimum of 4 on the Essay

    Test Validity Date Passing Score Course Eligibility
    RISE English Tier 1 October 1, 2018 to present 70 or higher ENG 025 + ENG 111
    RISE English Tier 2 October 1, 2018 to present 70 or higher ENG 111
    RISE Math Tier 1 October 1, 2018 to present 70 or higher MAT 110
    MAT 025 > MAT 143 or MAT 152
    MAT 035 > MAT 121, MAT 171 or MAT 175
    RISE Math Tier 2 October 1, 2018 to present 70 or higher MAT 110 or MAT 143 or MAT 152
    MAT 035 > MAT 121, MAT 171 or MAT 175
    RISE Math Tier 3 October 1, 2018 to present 70 or higher Any Gateway Math

    Test Passing Score Course Eligibility
    CCRG English Tier 1 80 or higher ENG 025 + ENG 111
    CCRG English Tier 2 80 or higher ENG 111
    CCRG Math Tier 1 80 or higher MAT 110
    MAT 025 > MAT 143 or MAT 152
    MAT 035 > MAT 121, MAT 171 or MAT 175
    CCRG Math Tier 2 80 or higher MAT 110 or MAT 143 or MAT 152
    MAT 035 > MAT 121, MAT 171 or MAT 175
    CCRG Math Tier 3 80 or higher Any Gateway Math

    Test Passing Score Course Eligibility
    Writeplacer 1-4 ENG 025 + ENG 111
    5-8 ENG 111
    Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics 200-236 Prerequisite for chosen Gateway Math
    237-262 MAT 110 or MAT 143 or MAT 152
    MAT 035 > MAT 121, MAT 171 or MAT 175
    263-300 Any Gateway Math

    Associate or Bachelor’s Degree

    Developmental and co-requisite requirements are met if a student has earned an Associate or Bachelor’s degree from an institution from which WCC accepts credits.

    Questions?

    For more information, contact:

    Image of Wendy Nichols
    Wendy Nichols, BS
    Assistant Director of Admissions
    Phone: 336-838-6136
    wdnichols077@wilkescc.edu

    Retesting

    You are allowed to attempt exemption from a pre-requisite or co-requisite course only one time per subject within a 10-year period.

    You must provide a picture ID in order to be admitted into the retesting session. The highest scores will be used for enrollment purposes.

    To schedule a retest, contact:

    Image of Cindy Core
    Cindy Core, AAS
    Students Services Technician
    Phone: 336-838-6137
    cgcore955@wilkescc.edu

    Request Test Scores

    Please complete the Request for Test Scores Form and email to wdnichols077@wilkescc.edu to have your placement test scores sent to another institution.