DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES -  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 Developmental Studies placement according to ACT scores. An ACT score that is less than 19 in the subject areas of reading, writing, or math will require placement in DSP 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

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.

All students will be permitted one opportunity to challenge their initial placement results on the placement tests used by Columbia State for purposes 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.

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.)

Columbia State Community College is a Tennessee Board of Regents Institution and is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer committed to the education of a nonracially identifiable student body.