4.4.1 Placement Testing

Policy Tracking	Date
Approved
Revised	May 5, 2021
Reviewed

Students entering a diploma or degree program take placement tests to indicate which level of reading, math, and English is appropriate. Testing is not used for admissions purposes except in the Associate Degree Nursing program and the Surgical Technology program. All students applying for those programs must take the tests and complete any developmental work prior to admission with the exception of students already holding bachelor degrees. Test scores should be used to direct students into courses which will correct deficiencies in the three areas tested. Test scores may be used as indicators of students' abilities, but tests are not used as the sole indicator of whether or not a particular student is capable of being successful in a curriculum.
Retesting: A student wishing to retake theNCCCS approved placement test is allowedonelifetimeretest attempt for each tier of the test. Students requesting a retest in a particular tier will be charged a fee for each tier in which a retest is desired. Fees are set annually by the College Board of Trustees. Once the student has paid for the retest, he or she may receive a retest during a regularly scheduled test session. Students will be placed in a course according to the better of the two test scores. Students are not allowed to retest to attempt to place out of a developmental class in which they are currently enrolled after the add/drop period has ended.
If the question arises during the registration period and time for retesting is not available before registration closes, the student should register for the class indicated by the test scores and make immediate arrangements for retesting so that the class may be changed if necessary.
Advising and Counseling: During the advising or counseling process, some time should be devoted to the effect of developmental course work on the student's program. One or two courses can usually be worked in without lengthening the program unduly, but additional courses indicate deficiencies in basic skills that will require time to correct.
Students are either exempted from or placed into developmental courses based on cut-off scores determined by the North Carolina Community Colleges Developmental English/Reading and Math Redesign committees and approved by the North Carolina Community College Board of Trustees. Cut-off scores are evaluated on an annual basis.
Test scores are considered valid for a period oftenyears. If the student has not started their developmental coursework they should start with the transition courses.

Students may waive the placement testing requirements under the following conditions:
1. Documentation of acceptable SAT or ACT scoresas outlined in the Placement Testing Guide. SAT and ACT examinations must have been taken within the lasttenyears.
2. Results of placement tests taken at another North Carolina Community College System institution, which have been taken within the preceding ten years and meet Blue Ridge Community College scores, or equivalent, will also waive placement testing.
3. Transfer credit (grade “C” or better) received from a regionally accredited institution for college-transferrable reading, math, and English courses will be accepted in lieu of placement testing. Development level courses may be considered for transfer credit if taken at a North Carolina Community College within the last three years. The student must submit an official transcript to receive transfer credit and to officially waive the need for placement testing. A maximum of 75% of the total semester credit hours in any program will be accepted in transfer.
4. Students who have graduated from an United States-based high school, and who have an unweighted HS GPA of 2.80 orhigher, will be waived from placement testing. Students with an unweighted HS GPA of 2.20-2.799 may enroll in a gateway course with a mandatory co-requisite. Students with an unweighted HS GPA less than 2.20 must enroll in a one-semester transition course. Students with an unweighted HS GPA less than 2.80 may choose to take the NROC placement test to attempt to exempt the mandatory transition or co-requisite course(s).
5. Students who have completed an Associate’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution may be exempted from placement testing. The student must submit an official transcript to receive the waiver for placement testing.
6. For certificate programs without developmental prerequisites, testing will be waived. For certificate programs that have developmental prerequisites and/or courses with developmental prerequisites, placement testing is required. , unless the testing is waived based on one of the above conditions.