English and Mathematics Placement
Undergraduate students are placed into English and mathematics courses in accordance with the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education course placement policy 413 and procedure 413.1. The intent of placement is to ensure students are appropriately placed based on their demonstrated readiness.
English Placement for U.S. Students, Canadian Students, and U.S. Permanent Residents
As part of NDSU's general education requirements, all students must successfully earn credit for ENGL 110 and ENGL 120 or their equivalents. To help you get started in the right English course, we use a variety of placement methods.
-
Multiple Placement Scores: If you have scores from more than one approved English placement exam, we'll always use the score that gives you the highest placement.
-
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: If you are an eligible student with a disability and require reasonable accommodations to take a placement test, please contact the NDSU Center for Accessibility and Disability Services. You'll need to submit your disability documentation at least two weeks before you plan to take the test. They will review your documentation and let you know if more information is needed to determine your eligibility. You can send your request and documentation to:
NDSU Center for Accessibility and Disability Services Dept. 2860 P.O. Box 6050 Fargo, ND 58108-6050 (701) 231-8463
-
NDSU English Placement Survey: If you haven't submitted scores from any of the approved English placement examinations (listed in the table below), you'll need to take the NDSU English Placement Survey. If you have questions about the survey, please contact NDSU One Stop.
-
Challenging Your Placement: If you have existing placement scores but want to try and place into a higher English course, you may choose to take the NDSU English Placement Survey. Keep in mind that ENGL 120 is the highest English course you can place into through this method.
-
Developmental English (ASC 85): If your placement indicates that you need to take ASC 85 (developmental English), you'll register for this course through a collaborative student registration process with North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS). You can purchase textbooks for ASC 85 at the NDSU bookstore.
-
Earning ENGL 110 Credit:
- Once you successfully complete ENGL 120 with a grade of 'C' or higher, you'll be awarded 3 placement credits for ENGL 110.
- If you transfer ENGL 120 to NDSU with a grade of 'C' or higher, you will also be awarded 3 placement credits for ENGL 110.
-
Transferring ENGL 110 with a Non-Passing Grade: If you've transferred in ENGL 110 but received a non-passing grade, you have the option to take the NDSU English Placement Survey.
-
MELAB Scores: Students with a MELAB score should contact the IELP coordinator for specific information regarding English placement.
NDSU English Placement Survey Scoring Guide Score Range 1-8: ASC 085
Score Range 9-10: ASC 085 OR English 112 (choice; English 110 if 112 not offered)
Score Range 11-12: ASC 085 OR English 110 (choice)
Score Range 13-16: English 112 (110 if 112 not offered)
Score Range 17-20: English 110
Score Range 21-24: English 112 or 122 (choice; English 110 or 120 if not offered)
Score Range 25-28: English 110 or 120 (choice)
Score Range 29-34: English 122 (120 if 122 not offered)
Score Range 35-40: English 120
Score Range 41-42: English 122 OR Course Challenge (choice; English 120 if 122 not offered)
Score Range 43-44: English 120 OR Course Challenge (choice)
The table below lists exam scores and corresponding English course placement at NDSU:
English ACT Subtest Score | SAT Writing | ACT Aspire | Smarter Balanced 11/12 Grade(ELA) | Accuplacer WritePlacer Test Score | Accuplacer Next-Generation Writing | MyFoundationsLab Pearson (CREAM CLEM & Others) | NDSU Course Placement |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 or lower | Evidence-based reading & writing: 470 or lower | 425 or lower | 2 or lower | 4 or lower | 249 or lower | 69% or lower | English Placement Survey |
14-17 | Evidence-based reading & writing: 480 | 426 or higher | 3 or higher | 5 | 250-255 | 70% or higher | ENGL 110 |
18 or higher | Evidence-based reading & writing: 480 | - | - | 6-8 | 256 or higher | - | ENGL 120 |
English Placement for International Students
- International students living in a country where the primary language is English are not required to present test scores for placement. Even if they have test scores, they should take the placement survey on Blackboard to determine which English course to take.
- Students who are required to begin in LANG 109 must successfully complete the course with a 'C' grade or higher before they may enroll in ENGL 112 or equivalent.
- ENGL 112 and 122 are special sections of College Composition equivalent to ENGL 110 and 120, respectively. International students who are multilingual are encouraged to enroll in ENGL 112 or 122, but they may enroll in ENGL 110 or 120 if ENGL 112 or 122 is not available.
- All degree-seeking students are required to successfully earn credit for ENGL 112 and 122 (or 110 and 120) or equivalent as part of the NDSU general education requirements.
- For students who have multiple exam scores, the highest placement may be used. International students who meet the threshold for ENGL 112 based on exam scores (see table below) should take the English placement survey in Blackboard to determine their course placement (ENGL 112 or 122, or equivalent).
- Students who are advised to enroll in ENGL 122, will be awarded placement credit (3) for ENGL 112 upon completion of ENGL 122 with a 'C' grade or higher.
- For students who have multiple exam scores, the highest placement may be used.
Exam Type | LANG 109: Language Use in Writing ESL II | ENGL 112: ESL College Composition I | ENGL 122: ESL College Composition II |
---|---|---|---|
TOEFL iBT | 70 or lower | 71 or higher | English Placement Survey |
IELTS (Overall) | 5.5 or lower | 6.0 or higher | English Placement Survey |
Duolingo English Exam | 99 or lower | 100 or higher | English Placement Survey |
SAT Evidence-based reading & writing | 400 or lower | 410 or higher | English Placement Survey |
ACT English Subscore | 13 or lower | 14 or higher | English Placement Survey |
NDSU Math Placement Procedures
To ensure you start in the right math course, North Dakota State University (NDSU) uses a variety of approved placement examinations. Here's what you need to know about determining your math placement:
-
Multiple Scores: If you have scores from more than one approved exam, we'll use the score that gives you the highest placement.
-
Students with Disabilities: If you're an eligible student with a disability and need accommodations for a placement test, please contact the NDSU Center for Accessibility and Disability Services at least two weeks before you plan to take the test. You'll need to submit disability documentation for review. You can reach them at: NDSU Center for Accessibility and Disability Services Dept. 2860 P.O. Box 6050 Fargo, ND 58108-6050 (701) 231-8463
-
First-Year Students: All incoming first-year students will complete a Math Placement Survey to determine their initial course placement. If you wish to challenge this placement, you can take the NDSU Pearson Placement Exam.
-
Transfer & Returning Students: If you're a transfer student or an NDSU student returning after an absence, you must take the NDSU Pearson Placement Exam to determine your course placement.
-
Challenging Your Placement:
- If you've already met the minimum score for any approved placement exam, but want to try and place into a course above MATH 103 or MATH 104, you can choose to take the NDSU Pearson Placement Exam.
- If you don't meet the minimum score on any approved placement exam, you'll initially place into MATH 98. However, you can opt to take the NDSU Pearson Placement Exam to attempt to place into a higher course.
-
Important Note for Pearson Placement Exam: We strongly recommend completing the NDSU Pearson Placement Exam before enrolling in MATH 98, MATH 103, or MATH 104. If you take the Pearson Placement Exam after enrolling in one of these courses and your placement changes, you must drop the course by the no-record drop deadline for the new placement to be valid.
-
Retake Option: You have one opportunity to retake the NDSU Pearson Placement Exam. This retake must be completed before the last day to add classes in Campus Connection.
-
Questions: For any questions regarding the NDSU Pearson Placement Exam, please contact NDSU One Stop.
NDSU Math Placement Survey Scoring Guide
Score Range 10-14: Math 98
Score Range 20-24: Math 103, Math 104, or Math 105
Score Range 30-35: Math 104, Math 105, Math 144, or Math 146
Score Range 40-44: Math 103 or Math 104
Score Range 50-54: Math 165
Score Range 60-64: Math 166:
Score Range 70-74: Math 259 or Math 265
Score Range 100-109: Take NDSU Math Pearson Test
The table below identifies NDSU approved placement examinations and minimum exam scores for placement into MATH 103 or Math 104:
Test | Test Component | Minimum Score |
---|---|---|
ACT | Math Subtest | 21 |
SAT | MATH | 530 |
SAT (prior to 2/05/2016) | Math + Reading | 990 |
Accuplacer Next-Generation | Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics | 255 |
Accuplacer Next-Generation | Advanced Algebra Functions | 237 |
ACT Aspire | Math Subtest | 431 |
ALEKS | Mathematics PPL | 46 |
MyFoundationsLab Pearson (CREAM, CLEM & Others) | Math | 70% |
EdReady (NROC) | Math Placement | 75 |
MAA Maplesoft | Algebra | 12 |
Smarter Balanced | Grade 11-12 Math | 3 |
The Table below identifies NDSU Pearson Placement exam scores and corresponding Math course placement at NDSU:
Pearson | Course Placement |
---|---|
Intermediate Algebra < 70% | Math 098 |
Intermediate Algebra ≥ 70% | Math 103 or Math 104 |
Algebra < 60% | Math 103 or Math 104 |
Algebra ≥ 60% AND Trigonometry < 65% | Math 105 or Math 144* or Math 146 |
Algebra ≥ 65% AND Trigonometry 40%-64.9% | Math 165 with Math 105 |
Algebra ≥ 65% AND Trigonometry ≥ 65% | Math 165 |
*Math 144: Mathematics for Business is only available for College of Business majors.