CCC Placement Tests

​New students and former students without placement scores on file are required to take a placement test before registering for classes. Students who have previously taken the placement test but whose placement scores are one or more years old are required to re-take the placement test.              

Since the results of your placement test(s) will determine which course you are eligible to register for, you are encouraged to take the placement test(s) as soon as possible.            

Prior to taking the placement test(s) new students must apply for admission and receive: a student ID number, CCC username and password to log-in to my.ccc.edu – the student portal. This information is sent to new students to the email address provided in the online application.                 

How do I prepare for the placement test(s)?

You are strongly encouraged to review placement test preparation materials, accessible through the links to the right under ‘Other Resources.’              

How do I take my placement test(s)

To take the CCC placement exams, you must visit one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago locations.  Please log into your student portal at my.ccc.edu to review testing center locations and hours.   

Do I need any materials to take the placement test(s)?

In order to ensure that you are able to take the test comfortably and without interruption, you should keep these things handy: ink pens, pencils, paper, a dictionary and your username and password for the student portal. ​​​​You will need bring your student ID number and your photo ID to the campus Testing Center.          

Do I have to take the placement test(s)?

In order to register for classes, you must have completed placement test(s) or been granted a test waiver. You may not be required to take the placement test if you are:               

  • A transfer student who has earned a grade of “C” or better in college-level English and/or math or if you have previously earned an Associate’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university. You must submit an official transcript verifying successful completion.
  • A student who has completed an Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate credit (IB) examination with results that would grant credit for college-level English and/or math. You must submit an official record of your test score. For more information visit the CCC websites for AP, CLEP, or IB credits.
  • A high school graduate with a copy of your ACT with a minimum score of 21 or SAT of 540* in English and 530 in Math. ACT and SAT scores are valid for a period of four (4) years. You may obtain a copy of your ACT or SAT test scores by contacting your high school advisor. You can also contact ACT directly at (319)337-1000 and SAT at (866)756-7346.

​​*Students who score 480 or above but under 540 on the SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing or who score 19 or above but under a 21 on the ACT English will be required to take the CCC Reading to Write (RTW) as part of the enrollment process but will be able to take college-level courses. You will want to meet with a College Advisor as part of your enrollment process to identify the set of courses that will be best for you.​​​​

To ensure proper academic placement, first-time credit students and students without valid placement assessment results on file are required to complete a placement exam or obtain a placement test waiver, if eligible, prior to registration.

Since the results of Math and English placement assessments can determine course enrollment eligibility, students are encouraged to take the placement assessments as soon as possible.

Prior to taking the placement test(s) new students must apply for admission and receive: a student ID number, CCC username and password to log-in to https://my.ccc.edu – the student portal. This information is sent to new students to the email address they indicated when completing the online application.

How to Prepare

Prior to completing the placement assessments, students are strongly encouraged to review placement assessment preparation materials, accessible through the links to the right under ‘Other Resources.’

Taking my placement assessments

To take the CCC placement exams, students may visit one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago locations:

Testing Resources Centers

Do I need any materials to take the placement assessment(s)?

In order to ensure that students are able to take the placement assessments comfortably and without interruption, students should keep these things handy: ink pens, pencils, paper, and their username and password for the student portal. Students will need to bring their student ID number and a photo ID to the campus Testing Center. Be prepared to follow all of the rules of the Testing Center. Be aware that use of smartphones or disrupting the testing environment during testing will not be permitted.

Do placement assessment scores expire?

English – Read-to-Write (RTW):

  • RTW scores are valid for 2 years.

  • Students who have not enrolled in English courses may elect to retake the RTW if 1 year has lapsed.

  • Students who participate in approved non-credit workshops or Level Up may be able to retake RTW sooner than one year’s time.

  • Early College students can take RTW once per City College semester – twice per year.

Math Assessment – ALEKS:

  • Aleks placement scores expire after 1 year if the student has not enrolled in a math course appropriate to their placement within that time. Once a student enrolls in a pre-requisite course, the student must complete math courses sequentially, unless enrolled in a special program or granted departmental consent to skip a pre-requisite course.

  • Students are limited to a single ALEKS math assessment per year. An ALEKS math assessment provides for up to 5 attempts with required time in the learning module between attempts.

Do I have to take the placement assessment(s)?

In order to register for English or Math classes, or classes that require English or Math course eligibility as a prerequisite, students must have either the completed the respective placement exam or been granted a placement waiver.

In addition, students may not be required to take the placement assessment if they are eligible for any of the following waiver options:

  • Transitional Math and/or English courses,
  • TRANWV:
    • English – Placement measure valid for 3 years
    • Math – Placement measure valid for 18 months

City Colleges of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools collaborate on Transitional coursework in Math and English. Students who pass these classes are able to go directly into college-level coursework in their pathway, without having to complete the placement assessment or verify scores.

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 ?Schools with one-semester, double-period courses 

A, B, C or D

 A, B, or C One semester grade must be A, B or C

CPS Students must submit an official high school transcript verifying successful completion.

  • For CPS students, Transitional Math and/or English final grades information may be sent from CPS to CCC if the student agreed to the CPS Transcript Authorization via the CCC Admissions Application or through the CCC Student Portal.

Transfer Student Placement Test Waivers, TSTWV: Placement measures do not expire

A transfer student who has earned a grade of “C” or better in college-level English and/or math

  • Students must submit an official transcript verifying successful completion.

-or-

A student has previously earned an Associate’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

  • Students must submit an official transcript verifying successful completion.

Developmental Education, DEVWV:

English – Placement measure valid for 3 years

Math – Placement measure valid for 18 months

Students may not be required to take placement assessments if they have completed English and/or Math developmental coursework from approved accredited colleges and universities.

    • Students must submit an official transcript verifying successful completion.

High School GPA Placement, HS GPA PPL:

  • English – Placement measure valid for 3 years
  • Math – Placement measure valid for 18 months
  • Students may not be required to take placement assessments if they have a cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or above from their completed 7th or final semester. Students must submit an official high school transcript verifying successful completion.
    • For CPS students, transcript GPA information may be sent from CPS to CCC if student agreed to the CPS Transcript Authorization via the CCC Admissions Application or through the CCC Student Portal.
  • GPA requirements are based on an unweighted 4.00 scale. If a GPA is submitted based on a different scale, it will be converted.

SAT, SAT 2

  • Placement measure valid for 4 years
  • Expiration is from date of exam – Not date of receipt
  • 480+ English 101
  • 530+ College-level math
  • Request SAT Scores

ACT, ACT

  • Placement measure valid for 4 years

Expiration is from date of exam – Not date of receipt19= English 10121+ College-level math Request ACT Scores

CLEP | Advanced Placement Exam | International Baccalaureate, CLEP, AP and IB

  • Placement measures do not expire
  • A student who has completed an Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate credit (IB) examination with results that would grant credit for college-level English and/or math. Students must submit an official record of their test score. For more information visit the CCC websites for AP, CLEP, or IB credits
  • Request CLEP Scores
  • Request AP Scores
  • Request IB Scores

GED, GED

  • Placement measure valid for 1 year

Expiration is from date of exam Score of 155+ Math Score of 165+ English

 

HISET,HiSET

  • Placement measure valid for 1 year
  • Expiration is from date of exam
  • Score of Writing (16+) 
  • Reading (16+) 
  • Essay (5+) 
  • Score of Math 11

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Test Accommodations for students with disabilities are given in a manner consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes offering and administering the test in a time, place, and manner that is accessible, including the provision of appropriate modifications and auxiliary aids and services.

To receive placement testing accommodations please contact the ACCESS Center at your college.

Access Center Offices

For additional CCC Placement Assessment information, please review the CCC Academic and Student Policy manual.