Placement Testing Policy
To determine student readiness for college level coursework, a Composition Placement Test (CPT), a COMPASS® Reading Test (CRT), and a COMPASS® Math Test (CMT) are required of all students unless there is an automatic placement or exemption due to ACT/SAT scores. Students receiving AP credit or who have transfer coursework may not need placement testing. The guidelines used by YSU to determine testing requirements are as follows:
ACT/SAT Math, Composition and Reading Placement Guidelines:
Math:
ACT Math Test* subscore
SAT Math Test* subscore
YSU Placement
Comment
0-21
520 and below
Compass Math test required
22-26
520-600
College Algebra/Pre-Calculus math placement. Math course determined by major—see Advisor.
Math, science and engineering majors must take Compass Math test (to attempt Calculus placement).
27-36
610 and above
Math 1570/1571 (Applied Calculus & Calculus)
No Math test required. Students interested in placing into 1585H (honors Calculus) should have completed high school calculus and are encouraged to take the COMPASS Math test.
English
ACT English*
test subscore
SAT Writing*
test subscore
YSU placement
Comment
0-13
360 and below
English 1539
(developmental)
Students may take the course indicated, or they may opt to take the Composition Placement Test (CPT). Taking the CPT may permit them to bypass the developmental course. CPT scores will be used in combination with ACT/SAT scores to determine placement.
14-17
370-420
English 1540
(developmental)
18-36
430-800
English 1550
No CPT required. Students interested in placing into 1550H (honors) may take the CPT.
Reading
ACT Reading* Test subscore
SAT Reading* Test subscore
YSU Placement
0-20
440 and below
Compass Reading test required
21-36
450-800
No testing required
*Use ACT or SAT score to determine placement
Composition Placement Test and COMPASS Reading Test
A student who has not been placed through ACT/SAT scores, or is not required to take the ACT/SAT test, may be required take the COMPASS Reading Test (CRT) and/or Composition Placement Test (CPT). No student is permitted to register for a second semester of classes without having taken the tests, except those students placed into English classes for non-native speakers and those with approved transfer credit. Students placing into RSS 1510 or English 1539 or English 1540 must complete the specified coursework within their first 36 semester hours. Otherwise, the student will be limited to enrolling for those classes alone until they are successfully completed.
Conditionally admitted students placing into RSS 1510B must take that course in their first semester. Conditionally admitted students placing into RSS 1510A, English 1539, or English 1540 must take these courses within their first 20 semester hours.
Please Note: If you are directed to enroll in English 1539 or English 1540 and/or RSS 1510A or 1510B, you must do so. You may not withdraw from these courses unless you are making a complete withdrawal from the University.
None of the above-named mandatory courses may be taken more than twice without the approval of your dean. Should you not successfully complete any of these courses within two attempts or you withdraw from them twice, you will be disenrolled from the University.
Please note credit hours from ENGL 1539, ENGL 1540, RSS 1510A and RSS 1510B will not count toward a degree.
COMPASS Math Test
A student who has not been placed through ACT/SAT scores or is not required to take the ACT/SAT test must take the COMPASS Math Test (CMT) unless they have approved AP Math credit or sufficient transfer coursework. Students will be placed into appropriate mathematics courses based on their ACT/SAT scores or the COMPASS Math Test (CMT). For more information regarding math coursework, visit the Department of Mathematics and Statistics’ website at http://web.ysu.edu/stem/math. For a sample math placement test, visit http://www.act.org/compass/sample/math.html.
Please note credit hours from MATH 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503 and 1504 will not count toward a degree.
Testing Center • Meshel Hall Room 242 • Phone: 330.941.1343
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