Placement Policy
The college uses multiple measures to determine student placement in English and Mathematics classes. Student placement will be determined by:
- High School GPA and/or specific course grades in English (completed within 5 years prior to enrolling in first semester at NCC)
- High School GPA and/or specific course grades in Mathematics (completed within 2 years before enrolling in the first semester at NCC)
- Previous college degrees or college-level courses in English or Mathematics as outlined below
- Advanced Placement test scores
- NCC Mathematics or English Placement test results
If students do not submit evidence from which the college can determine placement, students will be directed to take college placement tests.
Based upon review of transcripts or other evidence, students may be placed into developmental pre-college courses. Students wishing to challenge such decisions may take college placement tests to earn scores for higher-level course placement. Students who place into developmental pre-college courses can retest once before starting those courses. Students may not take the test while enrolled in a developmental pre-college course.
If students need developmental pre-college work, they must begin that work in their first semester and continue until the requirements are complete. Developmental pre-college coursework does not count towards graduation requirements.
Degree-seeking students must have placement determined before registering for courses.
Students pursuing a Specialized Diploma or Certificate should seek guidance from an advisor regarding placement.
Guest/Visiting/non matriculated students are exempt from placement; however, must still meet individual course prerequisites.
Based on evidence of course work and/or testing, students may be referred to the ESL department for additional testing and placement.
Based on evidence of testing, students may be referred to non-credit options for developing reading and writing skills before entering credit courses.
Requests for accommodated testing must be submitted through the Accessibility Resource Center.
Placement Guidelines: English
- Must be a graduate from an accredited high school (within 5 years prior to enrolling in first semester at NCC) with a GPA of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent) in a college preparatory curriculum
- Score of 500 or higher on both the SAT Writing and Critical Reading exams (2005 to March 2016)
- Score of 560 or higher on the new SAT Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing exam (March 2016 and beyond)
- Evidence of a score of 21 or higher on the ACT English Exam
- Completion of Introduction to Academic Literacy (ACLS 050) with a grade of R1
- Competence as determined by the English placement test
- Completion of Proficiency in English as a Second Language Specialized Diploma
- Completion of satisfactory ESL program portfolio
- Score of at least 79 on the TOEFL iBT exam, or 550 on the TOEFL paper-based test, and a score of 105 or higher on the Duolingo English Test.
- Score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS and a score of 105 or higher on the Duolingo English Test
Writing Skills Workshop (ENGL027) Linked to English I (ENGL101):
- Placement into Writing Skills Workshop and English I only as determined by the English placement test or completion of ACLS 050 with a grade of R2, or review of ESL program portfolio
Introduction to Academic Literacy (ACLS050):
- Placement as determined by the English placement test
- Faculty recommendation after review of ESL program portfolio ·
- Must also register for COLS 150 College Seminar: Applied Strategies for Academic Success in the same semester.
English as a Second Language:
- English language competence as determined by ESL department
Placement Guidelines: Mathematics
Prealgebra (MATH 020):
- Open enrollment; no placement or pre-requisites needed
Elementary Algebra (MATH 022):
- Competence as determined by the mathematics placement test
- Completion of MATH 020 at NCC with a C or better
Intermediate Algebra (MATH 026), Elementary and Intermediate Algebra Combined (MATH 028)
- Competence as determined by the mathematics placement test
- Completion of required developmental courses with a C or better at NCC
- High School Algebra II with a “B” or better or Algebra III with a “C” or better.
- Last math course completed at high school, with a GPA of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent)
Technical Mathematics (MATH103):
- Competence as determined by the mathematics placement test
- Completion of MATH 020 at NCC with a “C” or better
Foundations of Mathematics I (MATH 118), Foundations of Mathematics II (MATH 119), Natures of Mathematics (MATH 120), Introductory Statistics (MATH 150):
- Competence as determined by the mathematics placement test
- Completion of MATH 022 with a “C” or better
- High School Algebra II with a “B” or better or Algebra III with a “C” or better.
- Last math course completed at high school, with a GPA of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent)
College Algebra (MATH 140), Trigonometry (MATH 145), Pre-Calculus (MATH 160), Applied Calculus (MATH 165), Calculus I (MATH 180):
- Competence determined by previous mathematics coursework
- Refer to prerequisites in each course description
For all other MATH courses, refer to course prerequisites in each course description.
Effective: Spring 2025