Testing and Placement
Placement testing is required at Western Piedmont to determine course placement. The College’s series of placement tests measures skill levels in reading, writing, and mathematics. Advisors discuss the test results with students in order to plan the most efficient route to each individual’s educational goal. Generally, students may take the placement test only once. However, retesting is possible under certain circumstances. Questions regarding the retesting policy should be directed to the Coordinator of Career Counseling and Placement Testing.
Test results indicate whether students need special preparation before credit coursework is attempted. Some programs have requirements that vary from those of the general college and should be explained by a counselor or academic advisor. Test accommodations may be available to students with documented disabilities. Students requiring special test accommodations must make arrangements in advance of their scheduled test date through the Office of Disability Services.
Students in a degree or diploma program whose COMPASS Writing Score is 19 or below or whose COMPASS Reading Score is 41 or below must enroll in a Basic Reading and Writing Skills Course. Upon successful completion of this basic skills course, these students will enroll in DRE 096 followed by DRE 097 followed by DRE 098. A COMPASS Writing Score between 20-37 or a COMPASS Reading Score between 42-60 places students in the DRE 096, DRE 097, and DRE 098 sequence. Students whose COMPASS Writing Score is between 38-59 or whose COMPASS Reading Score is between 61-70 must enroll in DRE 097 followed by DRE 098. Students whose COMPASS Writing Score is between 60-69 or whose COMPASS Reading Score is between 71-80 will enroll in DRE 098. Students whose COMPASS Writing Score is 70 or above and whose COMPASS Reading Score is 81 or above are exempt from developmental reading and English coursework.
Students who score 29 or below on the ASSET Numerical Skills Placement Test or 26 or below on the COMPASS Prealgebra Placement Test are required to complete the Basic Math Skills course offered through the Basic Skills Program. Satisfactory completion of the Basic Math Skills course is the prerequisite for DMA 010.
Students who score 29 or below on the ASSET Numerical Skills Placement Test or 26 or below on the COMPASS Prealgebra Placement Test are required to complete the Basic Math Skills course offered through the Basic Skills Program. Satisfactory completion of the Basic Math Skills course is the prerequisite for DMA 010.
Students whose ASSET numerical score is between 30 and 40 or whose COMPASS prealgebra score is between 27 and 46 must complete the following courses: DMA 010 and DMA 020 and DMA 030. Students who score 41 or above on the numerical portion of the ASSET test or 47 or above on the prealgebra portion of the COMPASS test are exempt from taking DMA 010 and DMA 020 and DMA 030.
The ASSET Elementary Algebra Placement Test or the COMPASS Algebra Placement Test is given to students whose program of study requires an algebra course or the use of algebra skills. Students who score between 23-40 on the ASSET Test or between 0-45 on the COMPASS Test must complete DMA 040 and DMA 050. Students who score 41 or above on the ASSET Test or 46 or above on the COMPASS Test are exempt from DMA 040 and DMA 050.
Students whose program of study requires more advanced algebra skills must also take the ASSET Intermediate Algebra Placement Test or the COMPASS Algebra Placement Test. Students whose ASSET intermediate algebra score is between 23-40 or whose COMPASS algebra score is between 46-65 must complete DMA 060 and DMA 070 and DMA 080. Students who score 41 or above on the ASSET Intermediate Algebra test or 66 or above on the COMPASS Algebra Test are exempt from DMA 060 and DMA 070 and DMA 080.
Students who place into DRE 096, or DMA 010, or DMA 020, or DMA 030 are required to enroll in a mandatory corequisite - ACA 090, Study Skills. This course can also benefit students who need to develop their college preparedness skills. These developmental courses should be completed as early as possible in a student’s program of study.
Students who score 500 or better on the Critical Reading section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) will be exempt from WPCC’s Reading Placement Test. Students who score 500 or above on the SAT Writing section will be exempt from the Writing Placement Test. A SAT Math score of 520 or better will exempt students from the Numerical Skills and Algebra Placement Tests.
Students who score 20 or better on the English section of the American College Test (ACT) will be exempt from the Writing Placement Test. Students who score 20 or better on the Reading section of the ACT will be exempt from the Reading Placement Test. A score of 10 or better on the ACT Algebra/Coordinate Geometry subsection will exempt students from the Numerical Skills and Algebra Placement Tests.
ASSET Placement Test, COMPASS Placement Test, SAT, ACT scores and developmental courses are not valid if more than seven years old as of the first day of the term students plan to enroll. Students who hold an Associate Degree or higher may be exempt from WPCC’s placement testing. Students who have successfully completed ENG 111 with a grade of “C” or better may be exempt from the reading and writing sections of the placement test. Exemption from the numerical, elementary algebra or intermediate algebra sections of the placement test is dependent on the major a student is pursuing. Questions regarding exemptions for the placement test should be directed to the Director of Enrollment Management. To receive an exemption, students must submit an official copy of their previous college transcripts.
NOTE: Changes may occur in both test instruments and course placement scores when determined by WPCC to be beneficial to the overall educational program.