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 Accuplacer

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.

English 2

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