COMPASS Placement Test Policy

Entering students who enroll in associate degree or certificate programs and who enroll for more than four credit hours per semester will be assessed for initial placement in English and Mathamatics courses.  To view a listing of COMPASS dates, please click here.

English Placement Criteria

If a student makes 20 or above in English on the ACT Test or 470 or above on the SAT I writing test component and enrolls within three years of high school graduation, the student will be placed in ENG 101 – English Composition I. If the ACT Test score is 25 or above or the SAT writing score is 550 or above and the student enrolls within three years of high school graduation, the student will be considered for placement in ENG 101H – Honors English Composition I. This determination will be based upon the highest scores and space available in the class. The ACT OR SAT SCORES MUST BE ON FILE IN THE STUDENT RECORDS OFFICE AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION.

Students who have scored below 20 in English on the ACT Test or below 470 on the SAT I verbal test component or those students who have not taken the ACT or SAT tests will be assessed with the COMPASS computerized assessment instrument and placed at the appropriate level as indicated by the assessment instrument. Scores are valid for three years from the date of the original or re-test assessment. A STUDENT MAY RETAKE THE PLACEMENT TEST ONE TIME AT A COST OF $8.00. The COMPASS cutoff scores listed below will be used to determine appropriate placement in English classes.

Students who score 0 – 37 will be placed in ENG 092 – Basic English I. A student who places in ENG 092 may not take an upper level English course until all deficiencies are remediated.
Students who score 38 – 69 will be placed in ENG 093 – Basic English II. A student who places in ENG 093 may not take an upper level English course until all deficiencies are remediated.
Students who score 38 –100 and whose programs require COM 100 as their terminal English course will be placed in COM 100.
Students who score 70 –100 will be placed in ENG 101 – English Composition I.
Students who score 94 – 100 will be considered for placement in ENG 101H – Honors English Composition I. This determination will be based upon the highest scores and space available in the class.

Students who have proper documentation on file in the Student Records Office and who fit into one or more of the following categories may be exempt from taking the placement test:

• Students who have an associate’s degree or higher;

• Students who transfer degree-creditable, college level English courses with a grade of “C” or better;

• Senior citizens, auditing students and non-award-seeking majors who are taking classes for avocational reasons only;

• Students in short certificate programs having no English requirements; and

• Students who within the last three years have completed required developmental course work at another Alabama College System institution.

Mathematics Placement Criteria

The following chart states the cutoff scores on the COMPASS Placement Test used for mathematics placement. (Note: These cutoff scores are periodically reevaluated and adjusted as needed.)