Mission Statement

Placement and Assessment provides services for placement testing, placement testing waivers, some accommodated testing, credit by examination (CLEP), and Prior Learning Assessment for all RCC students to support them in the achievement of their educational goals.

Rockland Community College uses Multiple Measures to determine students English and math placement. Incoming students will be assessed based on the following criteria:

Math Placement

  • Math placements will be determined based on one of the following: students’ high school math courses, Algebra II Regents scores, SAT scores, or ACT scores and placed in the appropriate mathematics course.

English Placement

  • English placements will be determined based on one of the following: students’ high school GPA, English Regents scores, SAT scores, or ACT score.
  • EFL/ESL students who have attended U.S. high school for less than 2 years MIGHT NOT get exempt with their H.S. scores, and “is more likely” to be recommended to take Accuplacer exams for suitable placements.

If you have not done so already, please request that your high school send your high school transcripts to Admissions.

Students with College, AP or CLEP Credits

  • Students who have earned a C or better in a college-level English or math course or who have AP or CLEP credits in math or English may submit an official college transcript or AP/CLEP score report for consideration to Records.

Ability to Benefit Testing

If applying for federal or state financial aid you may be required to prove “ability to benefit” (ATB) through applicable sections of the Accuplacer® assessment tests even if you would otherwise be exempt.

Foreign High school diploma holders and HSE (formerly GED) applicants must take the Placement test and test for ATB purposes.

Multiple Measures Criteria

Official copies of test scores must be submitted to Admissions. Incoming students will be assessed based on the following criteria:

English

Students will be placed into ENG 10100/09800 with the below scores:

  • High School GPA below 74 will receive a placement of ENG 10100/09800;
  • GED Exam Results: GED scores below *164 for Reasoning Through Language Arts will receive a placement of ENG 10100/09800;
  • TASC Exam Results: TASC exam scores below *580 for Language Arts Reading and below *560 for Language Arts Writing will receive a placement of ENG 10100/09800

Students will be placed into ENG 10110 with the below scores:

  • SAT Critical Reading score of 480 or higher or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section score of 480 or higher;
  • ACT English score of 20 or higher;
  • NY State English Regents score of 75 or higher;
  • High School GPA 75 or higher; you will receive a placement of ENG 10110;
  • GED Test: GED scores of *165 and above for Reasoning Through Language Arts will receive a placement of ENG 10110;
  • TASC Exam Results: TASC exam scores for Language Arts Reading- *580 and above & Language Arts Writing *560 and above will receive a placement of ENG 10110

Math

Students will be placed into MAT 10300-MAT 13400 with the below scores:

  • Final grade of 75 or above in a high school Geometry course or Regents Exam Grade;
  • Final grade between 65-74 in a high school Algebra II course or Regents Exam Grade;
  • GED Math TASC Exam Score (560 or higher);
  • GED Math 165 or higher

Students will be placed into MAT 10300-MAT 13500 with the below scores:

  • Final grade of 75 or above in a high school Algebra II or Regents Exam Grade;
  • Final grade between 65-74 in a high school Pre-Calculus course

Students will be placed into MAT 10300-MAT 20300 with the below scores:

  • SAT: Math score of 570 or above;
  • ACT: Math score of 23 or above;
  • Final grade of 75 or above in a high school Pre-Calculus course;
  • Final grade of 75 or above in a high school Calculus course

If there are no placement results, students are placed into MAT 10010/04810 or MAT 10110/04910 OR they can take the Accuplacer Placement Test.
** STEM and Business MAT 10110/04910, Non-STEM MAT 10010/04810**

Prior College-Level Learning Credits are given for college-level learning acquired as a result of work experience, volunteer work or community service. Please note that these credits are not necessarily transferable to other colleges and universities. Students are strongly advised to meet with the program advisor at their transfer institution.

FAQS ABOUT PRIOR COLLEGE-LEVEL LEARNING CREDITS

  • They depend on which degree or certificate the student is pursuing at RCC
  • Considered part of the maximum allowable number of transfer credits
  • May not exceed half the number of credits required for the Concentration/Core emphasis for all students except those entering with an Automotive Service Excellence Certification A1-A8
  • Student must be currently enrolled in credit-bearing courses at RCC and complete the semester before any Prior Learning credits will be granted

PROCEDURE FOR RECEIVING PRIOR LEARNING CREDITS:

  • The student may be asked to take a departmental challenge examination.
  • The student may be asked to submit a portfolio (e.g. art, photography, etc.).
  • Credits are assessed and approved by the Faculty Evaluator, approved by the Department Chair, reviewed by the Director of Placement and Assessment, and approved by the Provost or Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Downloadable RCC Multiple Measures ESL/ESA Test Scores Chart

RCC Multiple Measures ESL/ESA Test Scores

Updated on July 13, 2023


RCC Accuplacer Reading

Boces: Below 220 (Below 30)
ESL 048/049: 221-227 (31-40)
ESL 057/058: 228-233 (41-50)
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: 234-237 (51-56)
ESL 099: 241 – 300 (68 or higher)
ENG 098/101N: 241 – 300 (68 or higher)
ENG 101N: 241 – 300 (68 or higher)


RCC Accuplacer Essay

Boces: 1
ESL 048/049: 2, 3, 4
ESL 057/058: 4, 5, 6
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: 4, 5, 6
ESL 099: 5
ENG 098/101N: *6
ENG 101N: 7-8


TOEFL PBT (Paper Based)

ESL 048/049: Below 420
ESL 057/058: 420
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: 450
ESL 099: 475
ENG 098/101N: 500
ENG 101N: 500


TOEFL iBT (Internet Based)

ESL 048/049: Below 35
ESL 057/058: 35
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: 45
ESL 099: 55
ENG 098/101N: 65
ENG 101N: 65


IELTS

ESL 048/049: Below 4.5
ESL 057/058: 4.5
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: 5.0
ESL 099: 5.5
ENG 098/101N: 6.0
ENG 101N: 6.0


DET *Revised*

ESL 048/049: Below 70
ESL 057/058: 70
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: 80
ESL 099: 90
ENG 098/101N: 100
ENG 101N: 100


EF International Language Prep Courses:

Boces: A1
ESL 048/049: A2
ESL 057/058: B1
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: B2
ESL 099: C1 / C2
ENG 098/101N: D1 /D2


NGL OPT Reading:

Boces: 0-18
ESL 048/049: 19-25
ESL 057/058: 26-32
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: 33-39
ESL 099: 40-46
ENG 098/101N: 47-50


NGL OPT Writing:

Boces: 0-1
ESL 048/049: 2-3
ESL 057/058: 4-5
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: 6-7
ESL 099: 8-9
ENG 098/101N: 10


ESA Courses

Boces: ESA 30200
ESL 048/049: ESA 30100
ESL 057/058: ESA 40200
ESL 060* (Visa Sponsor/I-20: ESA 40100
ESL 099: ESA 50200 / ESA 50100
ENG 098/101N: ESA 60200 / ESA 60100