Learning Support Placement

Learning Support -  PLACEMENT

The Tennessee Board of Regents Academic Assessment and Placement Program is designed to help you succeed in college studies. All students seeking credit must meet mandatory assessment and placement requirements prior to registering for courses with placement requirements. 

  • Degree-seeking students less than 21 years of age will be assessed for Learning Support placement according to ACT scores. An ACT score that is less than 19 in the subject areas of math and reading or less than 18 in English will require placement in Learning Support or further assessment.
  • Degree-seeking students 21 years of age or older (who are not required to submit ACT scores) may submit valid ACT/SAT scores and will be placed accordingly or may be required to complete assessment tests in reading, writing, and math.
  • Transfer students without college level English composition credit will be assessed in writing based on a valid ACT score or other appropriate assessment test.
  • Students without college level (exceeds the competencies assumed in high school algebra II) mathematics credit will be assessed in mathematics based on a valid ACT score or other appropriate assessment test.
  • Non-degree-seeking students without college level English composition will be assessed in writing prior to enrolling in college level English or any course with English as a prerequisite.
  • Non-degree-seeking students without college level mathematics credit will be assessed in mathematics prior to enrollment in college level math or any course with math as a prerequisite.
  • Students who change to degree-seeking status will be screened under guidelines for degree-seeking students.
  • Students entering with the GED credential must complete tests in reading, writing, and math, or they may present a valid ACT score.
  • International students may submit valid ACT/SAT scores then follow appropriate guidelines or must complete assessment in reading, writing, and math.
  • All students eligible for Columbia State Learning Support courses will be permitted one opportunity to challenge their initial placement results on the placement tests used by Columbia State for the purpose of placement into college-level classes.  
  • Students may challenge the scores by taking a Columbia State administered placement test (currently the computer-generated COMPASS exam or, as needed, the pencil and paper version ASSET). 
  • The challenge exam cannot be completed on the same day as the initial placement testing.  Fees for challenging placement are the responsibility of the student.  Placement will be based on the best scores from all valid placement instruments. 
  • Students whose initial placement is below that required to enter Learning Support courses will be provided with information/resources to assist in remediating in the necessary discipline(s) in order that upon challenging their placement (currently the computer-generated COMPASS exam or, as needed, the pencil and paper version ASSET), they may be eligible for required Learning Support courses.  Note: Students initially ineligible for Learning Support courses may only challenge their initial placement with the COMPASS (or ASSET) twice, with a minimum of thirty days between each testing.
  • Once students begin classes in a Learning Support discipline, they are no longer eligible to challenge placement in that discipline unless the institution requires that they retest.

Guidelines for Placement Test Screening
High School Graduates (students under 21) with Valid ACT Scores:
(Must have been taken within 3 years of the first class day of the term for which the student is enrolling.)

COMPOSITE

Places Into

26+

College Level Courses

ENGLISH 0-12
ENGLISH 13-17

Ineligible for Columbia State Writing Classes
ENGL 0800  Learning Support Writing I

18+

College Level English

READING 0-12
READING 13-18

Ineligible for Columbia State Reading Classes
READ 0800 Learning Support Reading I

19+

No Learning Support Reading required

MATH 0-12
Math 13-18

Ineligible for Columbia State Math Classes
MATH 0800 Learning Support Mathematics I

19+

College Level Mathematics

 

Compass Placement Testing  is a battery of standardized tests used by many TBR Institutions as a measure of proficiency in the Basic Academic Competencies needed by an entering college student. The battery includes tests in writing, reading comprehension, and mathematics.
 

COMPASS PLacement
Course Score
READ 0800  61-82
College Level  83-99
MATH 0800  17-37
College Level  38-99
ENGL 0800  36-76
College Level  77-99


  
   







 

SAT PLACEMENT
Course Score
READ 0800 Verbal
360-450
College Level Verbal
460-800
MATH 0800 280-450
College Level 460-800
ENGL 0800 Verbal
340-440
College Level 450-800




Students without Valid ACT/SAT Scores

  • Students under 21 whose scores are more than three years old must take the placement test.
  • Students over 21 who do not have valid ACT/SAT Scores must take Reading, Writing, and Math tests.* Although these students are not required to submit ACT scores, those who elect to present valid scores will be screened for placement assessment according to the criteria applied to students under 21.

GED Recipients

GED Recipients under 21 must submit ACT/SAT scores. All GED Recipients over 21 and/or without valid ACT scores must take the Reading , Writing, and Math tests.

Transfer Students

Students with…

…are exempt from

Any approved general education college level semester hours earned and posted

Reading assessment

English composition credit earned and posted

Writing & Reading assessment

Literature credit earned and posted

Writing & Reading Assessment

College level Writing credit earned and posted

Writing & Reading Assessment

English Proficiency Met

Writing Assessment

College algebra credit earned and posted

Math & Reading Assessment

College level algebra-based math credit earned and posted

Math & Reading Assessment

Math Proficiency Met

Math Assessment