Course Placement

First-time college students establish course placement using the following:

• High School Grade Point Average (GPA): If you graduated in the past 10 years and submitted your high school grade point average (GPA) in your application for admission and/or requested ACT, SAT, MCA scores to be sent, you’ll receive course placement by email. 
• ACT, SAT scores within the past 5 years. Many students take ACT exams in the 10th and 11th grade. To learn how to submit scores, visit How to Send My Scores webpage.
• Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) scores in reading and math within the last 5 years. To learn how to submit scores, visit the Send Your Score Report webpage.

Are you transferring?

Great! Transfer students who have completed college-level coursework at a regionally accredited college or university may have already satisfied course placement requirements. Just send your official transcripts and visit the transfer student course placement webpage.

Minneapolis College uses several methods to establish course placement. The college will honor the highest valid course placement on file.

Minneapolis College does not require the ACCUPLACER exam for course placement.  However, students may request to take the exam as an alternative option.  

ACCUPLACER test scores are valid for the following time periods:

• Math test scores are valid for 2 years
• ESOL test scores are valid for 3 years
• Reading and Writing scores do not expire.

A student with a valid course placement may request a re-revaluation of current course placements utilizing the following metrics:

• A high school GPA within the past 10 years.
• ACT, SAT, or MCA scores within the past 5 years.
• Previous College Credit.
• AP, CLEP, and IB.

If you would like to have your placement levels re-evaluated, please complete and submit the Course Placement Evaluation Form. 

Visiting students must meet the course prerequisites and placement requirements. Many visiting students are exempt based on previous completed college coursework. 

To learn more about registering, visit the Visiting Students Registration webpage.

Minneapolis College uses alternative methods to establish course placement. The college will honor the highest valid course placement on file.

Minneapolis College does not require the ACCUPLACER exam for course placement.  However, students may request to take the exam as an alternative option.  

The college will honor the highest valid course placement on file using the following metrics: 

• ACT, SAT scores within the past 5 years. Many students take ACT exams in the 10th and 11th grade. To learn how to submit scores, visit the How to Send My Scores webpage.
• Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) scores in reading and math within the last 5 years. To learn how to submit scores, visit the Send Your Score Report webpage.
• Current High School Grade Point Average (GPA)   If you submitted your high school grade point average (GPA) in your application for admission and/or requested ACT, SAT, MCA scores to be sent, you’ll receive course placement by email.

English/Writing Placement

English 1110: College Composition

• High school GPA within the past 10 years of 2.6 or higher
• ACT English: 18 or higher 
• ACT English: 16 or higher AND High School GPA 2.5 or higher 
• SAT Writing: 480 or higher
• SAT Writing: 440 or higher AND High School GPA of 2.5 or higher

English 0900: Accelerated Fundamentals of Composition

• High School GPA of 2.1 to 2.59

English 0900: Fundamentals of Composition

• High School GPA of 0.01 to 2.09

Reading Placement

Reading 1300: Critical Reading or Academic Texts

• High school GPA within the past 10 years of 2.6 or higher
• ACT Reading: 21 or higher
• SAT Writing: 480 or higher
• SAT Writing: 440 or higher AND High School GPA of 2.5 or higher
• MCA Read 1047

Read 0200: Reading 2

• High school GPA within the past 10 years of 2.1 or higher

Read 0100: Reading 1 

• High GPA 0.01 - 2.0.

Math Placement

Math 1180

• ACT Math 27 or higher. 

Math 1125

• ACT Math 25 or higher

Math 1110/1119 *

• High School GPA within the last 10 years: 2.8 or higher and completion of Algebra II in high school
• ACT Math: 22 or higher
• ACT Math: 20 or higher AND High School GPA of 2.7 or higher
• SAT Math: 530 or higher.
• SAT Math 520 or higher AND High School GPA of 2.7 of higher
• MCA 1158 or higher
• MCA 1152 and High School GPA of 2.7 or higher
• * Students who meet the MATH 1110/1119 criteria are encouraged to review the Guided Self Placement Guide for Math (below).

Math 0080 or Math 1140

• High School GPA within the last 10 years: 2.7 or higher

Math 0070/0075/1001

• High School GPA within the last 10 years: 2.2 or higher 

Math 0005/0006

• 0.01 to 2.19 within the last 10 years are eligible to complete Guided-Self Placement into Math Review 1 or Math Review 2 (below) 

Instructions:

This guide is to provide placement to students for whom English is their first language, and either have a GED or do not have a high school GPA, ACT, SAT, MCA or completed college credits from another institution.

1. Review the course guidance below.
2. After you have selected the placement levels that best match your current skills, please complete and submit this Guided Self-Placement Form for English, Reading, and Math.  A Placement Advisor will email you within 2 business days with your approved placements.
3. Upon receiving your placements, you will be ready to register!

READ 0100 and ENGL 0900 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 0100 and ENGL 0900 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I’m not sure if college is a good fit for me, but I want to explore the possibilities.
• I have not been in school for a while.
• School at every level has been a struggle for me.
• I have a lot of challenges in my life and I need extra support and time to pass my courses.
• I think I will need a lot of extra support with reading and writing.
• I cannot remember ever reading an entire book and I do not read for fun.
• Many times, I have a hard time fully understanding what I have read.
• I often find myself not knowing or understanding words I read or hear spoken by others.
• I have not used a computer much and am not familiar with word processing, Desire2Learn, storing documents, or using the internet for schoolwork.
• English is not my first language, and I need to look up the definitions to many words when reading school material.
• English is not my first language. Although I can read texts in English, I have trouble understanding and following oral directions.

READ 0200 and ENGA 0900 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 0200 and ENGA 0900 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I would benefit from a basic review of reading, vocabulary, and technical skills and the essay writing process for college classes and could use extra support.
• I sometimes read full-length books (fiction or nonfiction) or magazines or newspapers for pleasure.
• When I have an assignment to read 50 pages of text in two days, I would find it challenging to finish the assignment.
• I have a limited understanding of prefixes, roots, and suffixes when encountering unfamiliar vocabulary.
• I am familiar with word processing but need a little extra support to be successful.
• I feel somewhat uncomfortable using computers and online learning platforms, such as D2L (Desire2Learn), and I need support to be proficient.
• Although my English writing skills are rusty, I am highly motivated to do well.
• English is not my first language. I feel comfortable reading texts in English, but I need a little extra support when I try to understand and follow oral directions.

READ 1300 and ENGL 1110 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 1300 and ENGL 1110 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I have successfully read and understood books for leisure purposes.
• I can read four or five textbook chapters in a week and understand the text.
• I am comfortable reading newspaper or magazine articles.
• I can read a 300-page, nonfiction text in three weeks.
• I am willing to consider others’ points of view and open my mind to new possibilities.
• I would like to increase my vocabulary. I already have a basic understanding of prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
• I am familiar with terms such as thesis statement, topic sentence, critical reading, argument, analysis, and synthesis.
• English is not my first language, but I feel comfortable reading textbooks and writing essays in English.
• I can summarize an author’s message.
• I am comfortable using a computer and use Microsoft Word on a regular basis.
• I am comfortable working in an on-line environment and have reliable access to a computer and the Internet.
• I have written reports or essays of 2-3 pages for professional or educational purposes.

Instructions:

This guide is to provide placement to students for which English is not their first language.

1. Review the course guidance below.
2. After you have selected placements levels that best match your current skills, please complete and submit the Guided Self-Placement Form for English as a Second Language and Math.  You will receive an email within 2 business days with your approved placements.
3. Upon receiving your placements, you will be ready to register!

ESOL 0034 and ESOL 0035 (Integrated Skills-Listening, Speaking, Reading, & Writing) Placement

You should choose placement of ESOL 0034 and ESOL 0035 if most of the statements describe you:

• I can speak English on familiar topics, but people don’t always understand me when I speak.
• I can understand English when someone speaks slowly, but I have difficulty understanding when someone speaks English quickly.
• I know a lot of basic English words, but I don’t know a lot of academic English vocabulary.
• I can write complete sentences in English.
• I can write sentences that follow the Subject-Verb-Object pattern, but I do not feel comfortable writing longer, more complex sentences. 
• I know how to talk about the present and the past and grammar words like “noun” and “verb”, but I do not understand English grammar terms like “subject” and “present progressive/continuous”.  
• I know what a paragraph is, but I don’t know how to write essays with more than one paragraph.
• I am comfortable using a computer for school.
• I know some basic rules for English grammar, but I’m not sure I follow them when I write and speak.
• I know the basic rules for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, but I’m not sure if I follow them when I write.
• I can understand what I read in ESL textbooks, but I can’t understand longer stories, essays, and textbook chapters.
• I can read stories, directions, and short articles in English, but my reading speed is very slow.

ESOL 0041(writing) and ESOL 0042 (reading) Placement

You should choose placement of ESOL 0041 and ESOL 0042 if most of the statements describe you:

• I can write short essays in English, but I don’t know how to write longer essays with different organizational patterns of writing in English.
• People can understand my writing, but my grammar is not always correct.
• I communicate well with everyday English, but my academic language use is limited.
• I understand the basic rules of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, but I’m not sure if I can always apply them to my writing.
• I can understand parts of short academic stories, articles, essays, and textbook chapters, but I struggle if they are longer.
• I can read slowly, but it takes me a long time to read longer readings.
• I still have trouble understanding and explaining the main ideas of stories, articles, essays, textbook chapters, and videos.
• I know the basics of Microsoft Word, but I need to improve my computer knowledge and skills.
• I could use some help understanding and following oral directions.
• I can speak English easily, but people sometimes have difficulty understanding what I am trying to say.
• I can understand English on familiar topics, but I sometimes have trouble understanding unfamiliar topics.
• I can watch TV/movies/videos and listen to music in English, but I don’t always understand everything.
• I sometimes do not have the vocabulary I need to express my ideas and feelings in English.
• I’m not sure how to summarize what I read or hear in English very well.

ESOL 0051(writing) and ESOL 0052 (reading) Placement

You should choose placement of ESOL 0051 and ESOL 0052 if most of the statements describe you:

• I can write 1-2-page essays, but I struggle to organize longer essays.
• I have some experience writing different kinds of essays (e.g. comparison, argumentative, narrative) but would like practice writing longer essays in different genres.
• I can use advanced grammar structures, and I want to learn more academic grammar.
• I don’t know how to connect readings to my essays.
• I am confident writing with a computer, and I want to learn more advanced Word processing tools.
• I can identify and fix many issues in my writing and speaking, but I need more strategies for editing on my own.
• I feel confident understanding shorter academic nonfiction articles, textbook chapters, essays, etc. but struggle if they are longer or more complicated.
• I can use academic reading strategies for a variety of readings.
• I can use various vocabulary skills to understand and remember new words, but still need to improve my academic vocabulary.
• I don’t know what it means to analyze a reading or video.
• I can understand and explain the main ideas of stories, articles, essays, and textbook chapters, but I struggle if the readings are more difficult.
• I have trouble comparing different readings.
• I know how to write basic outlines, but I want to improve my organization skills for outlining essays and oral presentations.
• I can take notes while listening to lectures in English, but I need more practice.
• I can talk about myself in front of the class, but I need to work on academic presentations.

READ 1300 and ENGL 1110 Placement

You should choose a placement of READ 1300 and ENGL 1110 if most of the following statements describe you:

• I have successfully read and understood books for leisure purposes.
• I can read four or five textbook chapters in a week and understand the text.
• I am comfortable reading newspaper or magazine articles.
• I can read a 300-page, nonfiction text in three weeks.
• I am willing to consider others’ points of view and open my mind to new possibilities.
• I would like to increase my vocabulary. I already have a basic understanding of prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
• I am familiar with terms such as thesis statement, topic sentence, critical reading, argument, analysis, and synthesis.
• English is not my first language, but I feel comfortable reading textbooks and writing essays in English.
• I can summarize an author’s message.
• I am comfortable using a computer and use Microsoft Word on a regular basis.
• I am comfortable working in an on-line environment and have reliable access to a computer and the Internet.
• I have written reports or essays of 2-3 pages for professional or educational purposes.

To access all the Math courses for self placement, visit the

Guided Self Placement for Math webpage

Students who meet the MATH 1110/1119 criteria based on HS GPA or standardized test scores are encouraged to review the Guided Self Placement Guide for Math. 

If students believe a higher level of math (MATH 1120 or 1180) is appropriate for their current skillset, they may submit a Guided Self Placement Guide Request Form for English, Read, and Math for review. 

Students should select READ 1300 and ENGL 1110, and either MATH 1120 or 1180.

Minneapolis College does not require the ACCUPLACER exam for course placement.  However, students may request to take the exam as an alternative option.  

Students can elect to take the ACCUPLACER exam either in person or virtually.  Those choosing the online option will receive a voucher that will allow them to test remotely with a virtual proctor through MEAZURE Learning's ProctorU platform.  

ACCUPLACER exam scores are one criteria Minneapolis College uses to determine course placement. Testing includes Reading, Writing, Math, and English as a Second Language.

Cut scores determine placements within our course and program curriculum. Scores are made visible at the top of the student degree audit report.

READING
(reading and writing placements do not expire)

The reading test provides placements for reading and writing
Score and Reading placements

• Up to 209 | Needs Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 210 - 236 | Placement into READ 0100: Reading 1 and ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition
• 237 - 249 | Placement into READ 0200: Reading 2 and ENGL 0900/ ENGA 0900: Fundamentals of Composition
• 250 + | Placement into READ 1300: Critical Reading of Academic Texts and ENGL 1110: College Composition

ARITHMETIC
(score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Score and Arithmetic placements

• 200 - 229 | Placement into MATH 0005: Math Review 1
• 230 - 259 | Placement into MATH 0006: Math Review 2
• 260 + | Placement into MATH 0070: Introductory Algebra Placement into MATH 0075: Applied Intermediate Algebra Placement into MATH 0077: Beginning Algebra w/ALEKS Placement into MATH 1001: Math for Liberal Arts

ADVANCED ALGEBRA AND FUNCTIONS
(score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Scores and Algebra placements

• Up to 229 | See Arithmetic test for placement
• 230 - 249 | Placement into MATH 0080: Intermediate Algebra
  Placement into MATH 1001: Math for Liberal Arts
  Placement into MATH 1140: Into to Statistics
• 250 - 271 | Placement into MATH 1110: College Algebra
  Placement into MATH 1119: Precalculus 1
  Placement into MATH 1165: Mathematics for Teachers
• 272 - 284 | Placement into MATH 1120: Precalculus 2
  Placement into MATH 1125: Accelerated Precalculus
• 285 + | Placement into MATH 1180: Calculus 1

ESOL Listening/Speaking courses need to be taken in together with ESOL Reading/Writing courses.
ESOL tests are selected for students based on answers to background questions prior to the tests. New students start with the ESOL reading tests, progress to the writing then Listening and Speaking.

Students may be placed in the ESOL sequence or branched to the Next Generation Reading (Comprehension test).

ESOL READING
(score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Scores and ESOL Reading placements

• 20 - 74 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 75 - 96 | Placement into ESOL 0034/0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 1 & 2
  Students should register and complete 34 prior to registering for 0035.
• 97 - 109 | Placement into ESOL 0042: Writing 4
  Students should register for both courses together or complete 0041 prior to taking 0042.
• 110 - 120 | Placement into ESOL 0052: Reading 5 or READ 0200: Reading 2
  Placement into ESOL 0051: Writing 5 or ENGL 0900: Fundamental of Composition

ESOL WRITING
(score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Writing Placement is based on Language Usage score times .31 plus Sentence Meaning score times .33 to create the composite score.

Composite scores and ESOL Writing placements

• 13 - 46.4 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 46.5 - 59.4 | Placement into ESOL 0034/0035: Integrated Skills High- Intermediate 1 & 2
• 59.5 - 68.4 | Placement into ESOL 0041: Writing 4
• 68.5 - 77 | Placement into ESOL 0051: Writing 5 or ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition

ESOL LISTENING/SPEAKING 
(score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar year)

Scores and ESOL Listening/Speaking placements

• 20 - 67 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 68 - 77 | Placement into ESOL 0034/0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 1 & 2
• 78 - 86 | Placement into ESOL 0043: Academic Listening and Speaking 4
• 87 - 120 | EXEMPT: No Listening/Speaking Class Needed

Students are limited to two (2) tests during a testing term and a total of three (3) times in 12 months.

Term I: February through August | Term II: September through January
This includes tests submitted to Minneapolis College for placement.

Scores and placements on this webpage are subject to change.

The following scores are used to determine course placements in READ, ENGL & MATH.

READING & WRITING (READING COMPREHENSION) 163
Score Range and Placement:

• 20 - 37 | Need Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 38 - 59 | Placement into READ 0100: Reading 1 and ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition
• 60 - 77 | Placement into READ 0200: Reading 2 and ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition
• 78 - 120 | Placement into READ 1300: Critical Reading of Academic Texts and ENGL 1110: College Composition

ARITHMETIC 165
Score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year.

Score Range and Arithmetic Placement:

• 20 - 24 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 25 - 38 | Placement into MATH 0005: Math Review 1
• 39 - 49 | Placement into MATH 0006: Math Review 2
• 50 - 120 | Placement into MATH 0070: Introductory Algebra
  MATH 0077: Beginning Algebra w/ALEKS
  MATH 0990: Statway 1

ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA 166
Score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year.

Score and Elementary Algebra Placement

• 20 - 45 | See Arithmetic score for placement
• 46 - 75 | Placement into MATH 0070: Introductory Algebra MATH 0077: Beginning Algebra w/ALEKS
  MATH 0990: Statway 1
• 76 - 120 | Placement into MATH 0080: Intermediate Algebra or MATH 0077: Beginning Algebra w/ALEKS
  MATH 0075: Applied Intermediate Algebra

COLLEGE LEVEL MATH 167
Score valid for 2 years, inclusive of the current calendar year.

Score and College Level Math Placement

• 20 - 49 | See Elementary Algebra for placement
• 50 - 85 | Placement into MATH 1110: College Algebra
  MATH 1116: College Algebra w/ALEKS
  MATH 1119: Precalculus 1
  MATH 1140: Intro Statistics MATH | 1160: Mathematical Ideas MATH 1165: Mathematics for Teachers
• 86 - 102 | Placement into MATH 1120: Precalculus 2 MATH 1125: Accelerated Precalculus
• 103 - 120 | Placement into MATH 1180: Calculus 1

ESOL Listening/Speaking courses need to be taken in together with ESOL Reading/Writing courses.

ESOL READING SKILLS 229
Score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar.

Score and Reading Placement

• 20 - 74 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 75 - 96 | Placement into ESOL 0034: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 1 ESOL 0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 2
• 97 - 109 | Placement into ESOL 0042: Reading 4
• 110 - 120 | Placement into ESOL 0052: Reading 5 or READ 0200: Reading 2 (auto branching to Reading Comp test)

Placement into READ 1300 determined by Reading Comp test.

ESOL WRITING 512 (Lang Use & Sentence Meaning)
Score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar.

Score and Writing Placement

• 13 - 46.4 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 46.5 - 59.4 | Placement into ESOL 0034: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 1 ESOL 0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate 2
• 59.5 - 68.4 | Placement into ESOL 0041: Writing 4
• 68.5 - 77 | Placement into ESOL 0051: Writing 5 or ENGL 0900: Fundamentals of Composition

Placement into ENGL 1110 determined by placement into READ 1300.

ESOL LISTENING 232
Score valid for 3 years, inclusive of the current calendar.

Score and Listening/Speaking Placement

• 20 - 67 | Placement into Community Adult Education Classes (Off Campus)
• 68 - 77 | Placement into ESOL 0034/0035: Integrated Skills High-Intermediate
• 78 - 86 | Placement into ESOL 0043: Academic Listening and Speaking 4
• 87 - 120 | EXEMPT: No Listening/Speaking Class Needed

Students are limited to 2 tests during a testing term and a total of three times in 12 months. This includes tests submitted to Minneapolis College for placement.

Term I: February through August | Term II: September through January

Scores and placements on this document are subject to change.