English Placement
What Is听English听Placement?
The goal of听English placement is to make sure that you take the right English course for your goals and starting point at 色中色.
Programs or courses may also have pre-requisites, so it鈥檚 important that you register for the right class for you.
We have a variety of ways to help you figure out which class suits your needs. There are many options and we are here to help!
What Assessment Path is Best听For听You?
Where are you coming from?
| Running Start | Completed High School in the Last 10 Years | Previous Seattle Central Course Work | Obtained a GED | No Prior College | Placement from Another School in the Last 3 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement |
| Smarter Balanced | Transcript Evaluation | GED Transcript | College Success Test | Placement Reciprocity | |
| Transcript Evaluation | Smarter Balanced | ESL | Transcript Evaluation | 听 | Transfer of Placement Scores |
| 听 | ACT, SAT or AP | Adult Basic Education | 听 | 听 | 听 |
| 听 | Bridge to College | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
| 听 | 12th Grade Language Arts | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
| 听 | College Success Test | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
| 听 | TOEFL/IELTS | 听 | 听 | 听 | 听 |
Directed Self-Placement
We believe students know themselves best and the Directed Self-Placement process gives you the power to make an informed decision about which English course you choose. Directed Self-Placement is a short survey in which you answer a series of questions, look at readings and student writing samples, and determine for yourself which class works for you right now. 色中色 on visas F, M, or J should contact the International Program for placement. 听
What does it make me eligible for?
ESL 098/099; ABE 062; English 105; English 098; English 099 I 101 (combined); English 101 听
Can I take a practice test?
No, there is no practice test because this is not a 鈥渢est.鈥 You take the survey and determine the English course that is best for you. 听
What do I do now?
You can use The Testing Center will upload your results the following business day
High School Transcripts
Your High School Transcript can be used in a variety of ways to place you into English classes.
Cumulative GPA
You can use your overall cumulative High School GPA to place into English classes. You may use either your Senior year mid-point cumulative GPA (12th听grade semester 1) or your final cumulative GPA upon High School graduation (12th grade semester 2).
What does it make me eligible for?
If you听have a GPA of 2.0-2.4, you are eligible to take听English听听099/101.听This course is 10 credits and you earn college credit for English 101 upon completion.
If you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, you are eligible to take English 101. This course is 5 credits and you earn college credit for English 101 upon completion.
What do I do now?
Take your High School Transcript听to the Testing Office.
Smarter Balanced
Many High School students take the听Smarter Balanced听exam to find out which English or Math classes they qualify for.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a Smarter Balanced score of 3 or 4, you are eligible to take English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your听 exam results听to the Testing Office.
Bridge to College
Some High School students take a course that makes them eligible for English 101 even if other scores do not qualify them.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a 鈥淏鈥 or better in a听Bridge听to College听Course听you are eligible to take English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your High School Transcript听to the Admissions Department.
GED
The听听is a four-part test. You may use your score in Reasoning and Language Arts to place into English 101. You may take the GED at 色中色 or local correctional institutions.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a Reasoning and Language Arts score of 145 鈥 164, you are eligible for English 099 / 101.
If you have a Reasoning and Language Arts score of 165 or higher, you are eligible for English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your听听to the Testing Office.
ACT
The听ACT Test听is taken at designated ACT Centers and there are costs associated with it.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have an ACT Test score of 19 or higher in English and Reading, you are eligible for English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your official ACT score to the Testing Office. (www.act.org. College code 4475.)
SAT
The听SAT Test听is taken at designated SAT Centers and there are costs associated with it.听
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a score of 510 or above in SAT Evidenced Based Reading and Writing,听you are eligible for English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your official听SAT score to the Testing Office. (. College code 4033.)
AP
Some High School students take AP classes, otherwise called Advanced Placement classes.听听
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a score of 4 or 5 for an听AP class听in English, you will receive credit for English 101 and be eligible for English 102.
What do I do now?
Have your official AP score听.
12th听Grade Language Arts
Washington State 12th听graders take 2 semesters of Language Arts. You can use your grade to place into English classes. You may use either your Language Arts grade from Semester 1 or Semester 2.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a听鈥淐鈥 grade or better, you are eligible to take听English听 099/101. This course is 10 credits and you earn college credit for English 101 upon completion.
If you have a听"B鈥 grade or better, you are eligible to take English 101. This course is 5 credits and you earn college credit for English 101 upon completion.
What do I do now?
Take your High School Transcript to the Admissions Department.
College Success Test
The College Success Test is an English placement test for ESL/English for non-native speakers.
- LOCATION: Proctored, and taken in the Testing Office
- TEST TIMES: Walk - in, no appointments needed: Please check schedule: can vary by quarter.
- COST & ID: $20, and Photo ID is required
- TIME LIMIT: None, test can be paused and saved for up to 30 days. (International 色中色: please check听program听requirements.)
- FORMAT: Computerized 3 multiple-choice sections (20 questions each) 1 short essay
- MATERIALS: Scratch paper, pencils.
- RETAKE: One retake is allowed within 2 years of first test, at any time. No waiting听period.
- International 色中色: please check听program听policy.
- VALID FOR: No expiration.
- SCORING: Immediate, scores (0 - 20) for each multiple-choice section: Listening, Writing, Reading
What does it make me eligible for?
**This test does NOT place听you听into English听101.**
听 The test will only place you into ESL courses, including transitional.( International 色中色: please check with听program听for scoring rules.)
What do I do now?
Check the听current test schedule, then walk-in to the center to take the test.
TOEFL
The听TOEFL听(Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an American English based placement test that measures English proficiency for non-native speakers.
The exam is online and is taken on a computer听at ETS-authorized test centers. This test not given in Seattle Central鈥檚 Testing Office. The exam contains four components:
- Reading - 60-80 minutes
- Listening - 60-90 minutes
- Speaking - 20 minutes
- The speaking portion is through the computer
- Writing - 50 minutes
- The writing portion is typed
What does it make me eligible for?
This test is used to demonstrate听 for placement听in English classes. English proficiency determines where you begin your studies at Seattle Central. Test scores are valid for two years.
What do I do now?
Have your official TOEFL score听 (Institution Code: 4741) and contact your program.
Reciprocity Policy
Placement Reciprocity is a statewide agreement that allows for the following:
Entering students who have qualified for a specific level of pre-college math, English, or reading, either through course completion or local skills assessment, at one Washington CTC, may have the course placement level honored at another Washington CTC if the student so requests, even if the courses may not be exact equivalents.
Entering students who qualify for entry into college鈥搇evel math, English, or reading, either through course completion or local skills assessment, will be considered to have met the entry college鈥搇evel standard at every community and technical college.
色中色 requesting reciprocity must initiate the process within one year of their initial placement assessment.
If you have questions about Placement Reciprocity, Admissions and Registration staff members are happy to assist you. You may download the Placement Reciprocity form.
- Information about how to send an听official 听to Seattle Central
- Information about how to send an听official IB score report听to Seattle Central
International Credits
色中色 who wish to transfer credits from colleges and universities located outside the United States will need to have their transcripts evaluated by an independent international听credentials听evaluation agency. We recommend you use the services of one of the following organizations.
If applicable, be sure to select course鈥揵y鈥揷ourse evaluations. Those who are here studying on an F1 Visa must contact the International Programs office for information about transfer credit evaluations.
Recommended Credentials Evaluation Agencies听
Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc.听
P.O. Box 6908 Beverly Hills, CA 90212听
p: 310.275.3530 f: 310.275.3528听acei@acei1.com听|听听
American Education Research Corporation听
P.O. Box 996, West Covina, CA 91793鈥0996听
p: 626.3389.4404 f: 626.339.9081听听
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.听
PO Box 514070 Milwaukee, WI 53203鈥3470听
p: 414.289.3400 f: 414.289.3411听eval@ece.org听|听听
Foundation for International Services, Inc.听
505 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 101, Edmonds, WA 98020听
p: 425.248.2255 f: 425.248.2262听听
International Consultants of Delaware听
PO Box 8629 Philadelphia, PA 19101鈥8626听
p: 215.222.8454 ext. 603 f: 215.349.0026听听
Josef听Silny听& Associates, Inc.听
7101 SW 102 Avenue Miami, FL 33173听
p: 305.273.1616 f: 305.273.1338 fax translations: 305.273.1984听info@jsilny.com听|听听
Official Transcript听
An official transcript includes the Registrar's signature, the Seattle Central seal, and the date it was issued. An official transcript is delivered in a sealed envelope, which should not be opened by anyone except the addressee. It is a legal document. There is a fee of $7.50 for each official copy, effective summer quarter 2016.听
Unofficial听Transcript
An unofficial transcript is the student's academic record without signature, seal, date, or sealed envelope. There is no fee. A student may obtain an unofficial transcript by following the same procedure as for requesting an official transcript, set forth below. The student can also obtain the unofficial transcript through听.
Requesting Transcripts
Request an听official transcript听when you send it to another academic institution; a government agency; a bank; an employer; or you need legal proof of your academic record. Request an听unofficial transcript听when a legal document is not necessary, such as for your personal files.
You can access and download your听听are free. Learn more about how to request your听official transcripts.