Initial Course Placement for New Students

You are encouraged to submit all ACT, SAT, and/or placement test scores (less than 5 years old), as well as any prior college transcripts (regardless of age), to the Office of Admissions prior to Advising and Registration. The Placement Worksheet will guide you in determining your current placement in English, Reading, and Math. You are also encouraged to speak with an advisor who can review your test scores and prior college credits (if applicable) to determine the appropriate coursework for your first semester of classes and whether ACCUPLACER placement testing is recommended.

If you have not taken the ACT, SAT, ACCUPLACER, or other approved placement test within the past five (5) years, and you do not have any prior college credits, go to www.volstate.edu/testing to schedule an appointment to take the ACCUPLACER placement test. Free preparation for the ACCUPLACER test is available through the Vol State Learning Commons, as well as on the ACCUPLACER website. If you prefer not to test, and would like to enroll in Learning Support courses (which provide academic support for the college-level courses taken at the same time), contact the Office of Advising for assistance.

The following table lists the test scores and college credits required for placement at college-level, without the need for Learning Support. Information about Learning Support is provided below the table.

Requirements for College-Level Placement

*A high school GPA of 3.6 or higher (less than 5 years ago) will also place a student at college-level and waive all Learning Support courses.

Learning Support Courses

If your test scores are below those listed on the table above, and you do not have prior college credits which waive Learning Support, you will enroll in one or more of the Learning Support Reading, Writing, and/or Math courses listed below, which provide additional academic support for the college-level courses you will take at the same time.

• Learning Support Reading
  • READ 0810 + ENGL 1010 -OR- PSYC 1030
• Learning Support Writing (English)
  • ENGL 0810 + ENGL 1010
• Learning Support Math – One of the options below will be recommended, depending upon the math requirements of your program of study.
  • Degree programs that require only MATH 1010 or MATH 1530
    • MATH 0101 + MATH 1010 -or-
    • MATH 0153 + MATH 1530
  • Degree programs that include coursework with MATH 0105, MATH 1005, or MATH 1130 as a pre-requisite
    • MATH 0105 + MATH 1005