Course Placement

First-time college students establish course placement using the following:

• ACT, SAT scores within the past 5 years. Many students take ACT exams in the 10th and 11th grade. To learn how to submit scores, visit How to Send My Scores webpage.
• Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) scores in reading and math within the last 5 years. To learn how to submit scores, visit the Send Your Score Report webpage.
• High School Grade Point Average (GPA) if you graduated in the past 10 years. If you submitted your high school grade point average (GPA) in your application for admission and/or requested ACT, SAT, MCA scores to be sent, you’ll receive course placement by email. 
• Directed Self Placement Guides. If you don’t have a U.S. high school grade point average in the past 10 years, or ACT, SAT, and/or MCA test scores in the past 5 years, students are eligible to establish course placement through Directed Self-Placement process. Please see the Directed Self Placement Guides below.

Are you transferring?

Great! Transfer students who have completed college-level coursework at a regionally accredited college or university may have already satisfied course placement requirements. Just send your official transcripts and visit the transfer student course placement webpage.

The college is not conducting Accuplacer testing and is using alternative placement methods to establish course placement. The college will honor the highest valid course placement on file.

Accuplacer test scores are valid for the following time periods:

• Math test scores are valid for 2 years
• ESOL test scores are valid for 3 years
• Reading and Writing scores do not expire.

A student with a valid course placement may be eligible for re-revaluation of a current course placement utilizing the following metrics:

• A high school GPA within the past 10 years.
• ACT, SAT, or MCA scores within the past 5 years.
• Previous College Credit.
• AP, CLEP, and IB.

Please submit this form to be re-evaluated.

Visiting students must meet the course prerequisites and placement requirements. Many visiting students are exempt based on previous completed college coursework. To learn more about registering, visit the Visiting Students Registration webpage.

The college is not conducting Accuplacer testing and is using other course placement methods to establish course placement.

The college will honor the highest valid course placement on file using the following metrics: 

• ACT, SAT scores within the past 5 years. Many students take ACT exams in the 10th and 11th grade. To learn how to submit scores, visit the How to Send My Scores webpage.
• Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) scores in reading and math within the last 5 years. To learn how to submit scores, visit the Send Your Score Report webpage.
• Current High School Grade Point Average (GPA)   If you submitted your high school grade point average (GPA) in your application for admission and/or requested ACT, SAT, MCA scores to be sent, you’ll receive course placement by email.

English/Writing Placement

English 1110: College Composition

• High school GPA within the past 10 years of 2.6 or higher
• ACT English: 18 or higher
• ACT English: 16 or higher AND High School GPA 2.5 or higher
• SAT Writing: 480 or higher
• SAT Writing: 440 or higher AND High School GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Accuplacer Next Gen Read 250 or higher

English 0900: Accelerated Fundamentals of Composition

• High School GPA of 2.1 to 2.59
• Accuplacer Next Gen Read 237 or higher

English 0900: Fundamentals of Composition

• High School GPA of 0.01 to 2.0
• Accuplacer Next Gen Read 210 or higher

Reading Placement

Reading 1300: Critical Reading or Academic Texts

• High school GPA within the past 10 years of 2.6 or higher
• ACT Reading: 21 or higher
• SAT Writing: 480 or higher
• SAT Writing: 440 or higher AND High School GPA of 2.5 or higher
• MCA Read 1047
• Accuplacer Next Gen Read 250 or higher

Read 0200: Reading 2

• High school GPA within the past 10 years of 2.1 or higher
• Accuplacer NextGen Read 236 or higher

Read 0100: Reading 1 

• High GPA 0.01 - 2.0.
• Accuplacer Next Gen Read score of 210 or higher.

Math Placement

Math 1110/1119 *

• High School GPA within the last 10 years: 2.8 or higher and completion of Algebra II in high school
• ACT Math: 22 or higher
• ACT Math: 20 or higher AND High School GPA of 2.7 or higher
• SAT Math: 530 or higher.
• SAT Math 520 or higher AND High School GPA of 2.7 of higher
• Accuplacer Next Generation Math AAF: 250 or higher
• MCA 1158 or higher
• MCA 1152 and High School GPA of 2.7 or higher

Math 0080 or Math 1140

• High School GPA within the last 10 years: 2.7 or higher
• Accuplacer Next Generation Math AAF: 230 or higher

Math 0070/0075/1001

• High School GPA within the last 10 years: 2.2 or higher
• Accuplacer Next Generation Math Arithmetic: 260 or higher

* Students who meet the MATH 1110/1119 criteria are encouraged to review the Directed Self Placement Guide for Math (below).

Instructions:

This guide is to provide placement to students for which English is their first language, and do not have a high school GPA, ACT, SAT, MCA or completed college credits from another institution.

1. Review the course guidance below.
2. After you have selected course placements that best match your skills, submit this online form and a Placement Advisor will email you within 1 business day with your approved placements.
3. Upon receiving your placements, you will be ready to register!

READ 1300 and ENGL 1110 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 1300 and ENGL 1110 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I have successfully read and understood books for leisure purposes.
• I can read four or five textbook chapters in a week and understand the text.
• I am comfortable reading newspaper or magazine articles.
• I can read a 300-page, nonfiction text in three weeks.
• I am willing to consider others’ points of view and open my mind to new possibilities.
• I would like to increase my vocabulary. I already have a basic understanding of prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
• I am familiar with terms such as thesis statement, topic sentence, critical reading, argument, analysis, and synthesis.
• English is not my first language, but I feel comfortable reading textbooks and writing essays in English.
• I can summarize an author’s message.
• I am comfortable using a computer and use Microsoft Word on a regular basis.
• I am comfortable working in an on-line environment and have reliable access to a computer and the Internet.
• I have written reports or essays of 2-3 pages for professional or educational purposes.

READ 0200 and ENGA 0900 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 0200 and ENGA 0900 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I would benefit from a basic review of reading, vocabulary, and technical skills and the essay writing process for college classes and could use extra support.
• I sometimes read full-length books (fiction or nonfiction) or magazines or newspapers for pleasure.
• When I have an assignment to read 50 pages of text in two days, I would find it challenging to finish the assignment.
• I have a limited understanding of prefixes, roots, and suffixes when encountering unfamiliar vocabulary.
• I am familiar with word processing but need a little extra support to be successful.
• I feel somewhat uncomfortable using computers and online learning platforms, such as D2L (Desire2Learn), and I need support to be proficient.
• Although my English writing skills are rusty, I am highly motivated to do well.
• English is not my first language. I feel comfortable reading texts in English, but I need a little extra support when I try to understand and follow oral directions.

READ 0200 and ENGL 0900 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 0200 and ENGL 0900 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I have a lot of challenges in my life and I may need extra time and support to pass my classes.
• I have had trouble reading high school textbook chapters of more than 20 pages.
• I have read an entire book for pleasure or for school.
• Magazine or newspaper articles can be difficult for me to read.
• I can write some letters and emails.
• I am unfamiliar with terms like thesis statement and topic sentence and need lots of instruction in how to use them in my writing.
• I received help for reading and writing in high school.
• I have not used a computer much and am not familiar with word processing, Desire2Learn, storing documents, or using the internet for schoolwork.
• English is not my first language. Although I can read texts in English, I have trouble understanding and following oral directions.

READ 0100 and ENGL 0900 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 0100 and ENGL 0900 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I’m not sure if college is a good fit for me, but I want to explore the possibilities.
• I have not been in school for a while.
• School at every level has been a struggle for me.
• I have a lot of challenges in my life and I need extra support and time to pass my courses.
• I think I will need a lot of extra support with reading and writing.
• I cannot remember ever reading an entire book and I do not read for fun.
• Many times, I have a hard time fully understanding what I have read.
• I often find myself not knowing or understanding words I read or hear spoken by others.
• I have not used a computer much and am not familiar with word processing, Desire2Learn, storing documents, or using the internet for schoolwork.
• English is not my first language, and I need to look up the definitions to many words when reading school material.
• English is not my first language. Although I can read texts in English, I have trouble understanding and following oral directions.

Instructions:

This guide is to provide placement to students for which English is not their first language.

1. Review the course guidance below.
2. After you have selected course placements that best match your skills, submit this online form and a Placement Advisor will email you within 1 business day with your approved placements.
3. Upon receiving your placements, you will be ready to register!

ESOL 0034 and ESOL 0035 (Integrated Skills-Listening, Speaking, Reading, & Writing) Placement

You should choose placement of ESOL 0034 and ESOL 0035 if most of the statements describe you:

• People don’t always understand me when I speak.
• I don’t know a lot of English vocabulary.
• I’m not sure how to write a paragraph in English.
• I am not comfortable using a computer for school.
• I do not understand English grammar terms like “subject”, “verb”, “present progressive”, etc.
• I’m not sure if I follow all the basic rules for English grammar when I write and speak.
• I’m not sure if I follow all the basic rules for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
• I can’t understand longer stories, essays, and textbook chapters.
• I need to look up a lot of words when I read anything.
• My reading speed is very slow.
• I need to read stories, articles, essays and textbook chapters more than once to understand them.

ESOL 0041(writing) and ESOL 0042 (reading) Placement

You should choose placement of ESOL 0041 and ESOL 0042 if most of the statements describe you:

• I can write short paragraphs in English, but I don’t know how to write longer essays.
• I don’t understand the different organizational patterns of writing in English.
• People can understand my writing, but my grammar is not always correct.
• I communicate well with everyday English, but my academic language use is limited.
• I understand the basic rules of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, but I’m not sure if I can always apply them to my writing.
• I can understand parts of short academic stories, articles, essays, and textbook chapters, but I struggle if they are longer.
• I need to look up some difficult words when I read stories, articles, essays and textbooks.
• I can’t read quickly. It takes me a long time to read longer readings.
• I still have trouble understanding and explaining the main ideas of stories, articles, essays and textbook chapters.
• I know the basics of Microsoft word and course management systems like D2L, Blackboard and Moodle, but I need improve my computer knowledge and skills.
• I feel comfortable reading short and simple texts in English, but I need some help when I try to understand and follow oral directions.

ESOL 0043 (Listening and Speaking) Placement

You should choose placement of ESOL 0043 if most of the statements describe you and your listening and speaking skills in English.

• People sometimes have difficulty understanding my speech.
• I sometimes have trouble understanding when a native speaker is talking to me.
• I often watch TV/movies and listen to music, but I don’t always understand everything.
• I don’t know how to take notes while listening to lectures in English.
• I sometimes do not have the vocabulary I need to express my ideas and feelings in English.
• I’m not sure how to explain something that I read or hear in English very well.
• I need some work in the grammar of my speaking—complete sentences, asking questions, verb tenses, etc.
• I have trouble speaking in front of the class.
• I can fix my speaking grammar errors with help but I need to work on finding and fixing my own errors by myself.
• I communicate well in everyday English but have trouble with more academic language (speaking and listening).

ESOL 0051(writing) and ESOL 0052 (reading) Placement

You should choose placement of ESOL 0051 and ESOL 0052 if most of the statements describe you:

• I can write 1-2-page essays, but I struggle to organize longer essays.
• I can use advanced grammar structures, and I want to learn more academic grammar.
• I don’t know how to connect readings to my essays.
• I am confident writing with a computer, and I want to learn more advanced Word processing tools.
• I can identify and fix many issues in my writing, but I need more strategies for editing on my own.
• I feel confident understanding shorter academic nonfiction articles, textbook chapters, essays, etc. but struggle if they are longer or more complicated.
• I can use academic reading strategies for a variety of readings.
• I can use various vocabulary skills to understand and remember new words, but still need to improve my academic vocabulary.
• I don’t know what it means to analyze a reading.
• I can understand and explain the main ideas of stories, articles, essays and textbook chapters to others, but I struggle if the readings are more difficult.
• I have trouble comparing different readings.

READ 1300 and ENGL 1110 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 1300 and ENGL 1110 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I have successfully read and understood books for leisure purposes.
• I can read four or five textbook chapters in a week and understand the text.
• I am comfortable reading newspaper or magazine articles.
• I can read a 300-page, nonfiction text in three weeks.
• I am willing to consider others’ points of view and open my mind to new possibilities.
• I would like to increase my vocabulary. I already have a basic understanding of prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
• I am familiar with terms such as thesis statement, topic sentence, critical reading, argument, analysis, and synthesis.
• English is not my first language, but I feel comfortable reading textbooks and writing essays in English.
• I can summarize an author’s message.
• I am comfortable using a computer and use Microsoft Word on a regular basis.
• I am comfortable working in an on-line environment and have reliable access to a computer and the Internet.
• I have written reports or essays of 2-3 pages for professional or educational purposes.

To access all the Math courses for self placement, visit the

Directed Self Placement Guide for Math webpage

Students who meet the MATH 1110/1119 criteria based on HS GPA or standardized test scores are encouraged to review the Directed Self Placement Guide for Math. 

If students believe a higher level of math (MATH 1120 or 1180) is appropriate for their current skillset, they may submit a Directed Self Placement Guide Request Form for English, Read, and Math for review. 

Students should select READ 1300 and ENGL 1110, and either MATH 1120 or 1180.

Minneapolis College has suspended all testing for Accuplacer due to COVID-19.
This guide is intended for historical reference, if placement through Accuplacer has already been received. Please refer to Accuplacer Classic scores and placements if you are referencing scores before 10/9/19.

These scores are used to determine course placements for Minneapolis College course curriculum. Testing includes Reading, Writing, Math and English as a Second Language.

Cut scores lead to placements within our course and program curriculum. Scores are made visible at the top of the student degree audit report.

READING
(reading and writing placements do not expire)

The reading test provides placements for reading and writing
Score and Reading placements

• Up to 209 | Needs Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 210 - 236 | Placement into READ 0100: Reading 1 and ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition
• 237 - 249 | Placement into READ 0200: Reading 2 and ENGL 0900/ ENGA 0900: Fundamentals of Composition
• 250 + | Placement into READ 1300: Critical Reading of Academic Texts and ENGL 1110: College Composition

ARITHMETIC
(score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Score and Arithmetic placements

• 200 - 229 | Placement into MATH 0005: Math Review 1
• 230 - 259 | Placement into MATH 0006: Math Review 2
• 260 + | Placement into MATH 0070: Introductory Algebra Placement into MATH 0075: Applied Intermediate Algebra Placement into MATH 0077: Beginning Algebra w/ALEKS Placement into MATH 1001: Math for Liberal Arts

ADVANCED ALGEBRA AND FUNCTIONS
(score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Scores and Algebra placements

• Up to 229 | See Arithmetic test for placement
• 230 - 249 | Placement into MATH 0080: Intermediate Algebra
  Placement into MATH 1001: Math for Liberal Arts
  Placement into MATH 1140: Into to Statistics
• 250 - 271 | Placement into MATH 1110: College Algebra
  Placement into MATH 1119: Precalculus 1
  Placement into MATH 1165: Mathematics for Teachers
• 272 - 284 | Placement into MATH 1120: Precalculus 2
  Placement into MATH 1125: Accelerated Precalculus
• 285 + | Placement into MATH 1180: Calculus 1

ESOL Listening/Speaking courses need to be taken in together with ESOL Reading/Writing courses.
ESOL tests are selected for students based on answers to background questions prior to the tests. New students start with the ESOL reading tests, progress to the writing then Listening and Speaking.

Students may be placed in the ESOL sequence or branched to the Next Generation Reading (Comprehension test).

ESOL READING
(score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Scores and ESOL Reading placements

• 20 - 74 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 75 - 96 | Placement into ESOL 0034/0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 1 & 2
  Students should register and complete 34 prior to registering for 0035.
• 97 - 109 | Placement into ESOL 0042: Writing 4
  Students should register for both courses together or complete 0041 prior to taking 0042.
• 110 - 120 | Placement into ESOL 0052: Reading 5 or READ 0200: Reading 2
  Placement into ESOL 0051: Writing 5 or ENGL 0900: Fundamental of Composition

ESOL WRITING
(score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Writing Placement is based on Language Usage score times .31 plus Sentence Meaning score times .33 to create the composite score.

Composite scores and ESOL Writing placements

• 13 - 46.4 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 46.5 - 59.4 | Placement into ESOL 0034/0035: Integrated Skills High- Intermediate 1 & 2
• 59.5 - 68.4 | Placement into ESOL 0041: Writing 4
• 68.5 - 77 | Placement into ESOL 0051: Writing 5 or ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition

ESOL LISTENING/SPEAKING
(score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Scores and ESOL Listening/Speaking placements

• 20 - 67 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 68 - 77 | Placement into ESOL 0034/0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 1 & 2
• 78 - 86 | Placement into ESOL 0043: Academic Listening and Speaking 4
• 87 - 120 | EXEMPT: No Listening/Speaking Class Needed

Students are limited to two (2) tests during a testing term and a total of three (3) times in 12 months.

Term I: February through August | Term II: September through January
This includes tests submitted to Minneapolis College for placement.

Scores and placements on this webpage are subject to change.

Minneapolis College has suspended all accuplacer testing due to COVID-19. This guide is intended for historical reference for accuplacer placements already received.

The following scores are used to determine course placements in READ, ENGL & MATH.

READING & WRITING (READING COMPREHENSION) 163
Score Range and Placement:

• 20 - 37 | Need Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 38 - 59 | Placement into READ 0100: Reading 1 and ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition
• 60 - 77 | Placement into READ 0200: Reading 2 and ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition
• 78 - 120 | Placement into READ 1300: Critical Reading of Academic Texts and ENGL 1110: College Composition

ARITHMETIC 165
Score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year.

Score Range and Arithmetic Placement:

• 20 - 24 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 25 - 38 | Placement into MATH 0005: Math Review 1
• 39 - 49 | Placement into MATH 0006: Math Review 2
• 50 - 120 | Placement into MATH 0070: Introductory Algebra
  MATH 0077: Beginning Algebra w/ALEKS
  MATH 0990: Statway 1

ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA 166
Score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year.

Score and Elementary Algebra Placement

• 20 - 45 | See Arithmetic score for placement
• 46 - 75 | Placement into MATH 0070: Introductory Algebra MATH 0077: Beginning Algebra w/ALEKS
  MATH 0990: Statway 1
• 76 - 120 | Placement into MATH 0080: Intermediate Algebra or MATH 0077: Beginning Algebra w/ALEKS
  MATH 0075: Applied Intermediate Algebra

COLLEGE LEVEL MATH 167
Score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year.

Score and College Level Math Placement

• 20 - 49 | See Elementary Algebra for placement
• 50 - 85 | Placement into MATH 1110: College Algebra
  MATH 1116: College Algebra w/ALEKS
  MATH 1119: Precalculus 1
  MATH 1140: Intro Statistics MATH | 1160: Mathematical Ideas MATH 1165: Mathematics for Teachers
• 86 - 102 | Placement into MATH 1120: Precalculus 2 MATH 1125: Accelerated Precalculus
• 103 - 120 | Placement into MATH 1180: Calculus 1

ESOL Listening/Speaking courses need to be taken in together with ESOL Reading/Writing courses.

ESOL READING SKILLS 229
Score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar.

Score and Reading Placement

• 20 - 74 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 75 - 96 | Placement into ESOL 0034: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 1 ESOL 0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 2
• 97 - 109 | Placement into ESOL 0042: Reading 4
• 110 - 120 | Placement into ESOL 0052: Reading 5 or READ 0200: Reading 2 (auto branching to Reading Comp test)

Placement into READ 1300 determined by Reading Comp test.

ESOL WRITING 512 (Lang Use & Sentence Meaning)
Score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar.

Score and Writing Placement

• 13 - 46.4 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 46.5 - 59.4 | Placement into ESOL 0034: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 1 ESOL 0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 2
• 59.5 - 68.4 | Placement into ESOL 0041: Writing 4
• 68.5 - 77 | Placement into ESOL 0051: Writing 5 or ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition

Placement into ENGL 1110 determined by placement into READ 1300.

ESOL LISTENING 232
Score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar.

Score and Listening/Speaking Placement

• 20 - 67 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 68 - 77 | Placement into ESOL 0034/0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate
• 78 - 86 | Placement into ESOL 0043: Academic Listening and Speaking 4
• 87 - 120 | EXEMPT: No Listening/Speaking Class Needed

Students are limited to 2 tests during a testing term and a total of three times in 12 months. This includes tests submitted to Minneapolis College for placement.

Term I: February through August | Term II: September through January

Scores and placements on this document are subject to change.