Testing Services

ACT/SAT and Compass: A Course Placement Guideline

1. Beginning Freshmen degree seeking students (under 21 years of age) are required to have valid ACT or SAT scores on file to be admitted. Students 21 and over are required to take the Compass exam if they do not have valid (within 3 years) ACT or SAT scores. Remember though that some selective admission programs do require an ACT or SAT score.
2. Scores for ACT, SAT or Compass will be used to determine eligibility for college level courses and do not determine admission to the college. The following are the minimum ACT or SAT scores needed for placement into college level courses:

   ACT Reading of 19 or SAT Composite of 900
   ACT Math of 19 of SAT Math 460
   ACT English 19 or SAT Verbal 460

3. Students may "challenge" their initial placement scores by taking the relevant portions of the Compass exam. Compass test scores then replace the ACT or SAT score and the same, higher, or lower course placement.

Note: Challenges of existing scores cost $20.00 (for all or part of the exam)

Compass registration

Detailed course placement guideline from TBR

E-mail: testingservices@columbiastate.edu

Web Address:  www.columbiastate.edu/testingservices

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.