BASIC SKILLS PLACEMENT TESTING
Students who are pursuing a degree at Finger Lakes (plus any other students who wish to register for ENG 101*) must take our Basic Skills Placement tests which consist of
- a reading comprehension test,
- a standardized test of writing skills.
and in some cases,
- a writing sample. (The writing sample is offered to students when the reading and writing test results do not clearly indicate an appropriate placement).
In addition, students pursuing degrees that are math/science intensive take an
- algebraic skills test;
and those enrolling in either Music or Music Recording degree programs take a
- music theory test.
Foreign language placement testing.
Students who wish to enroll in a foreign language course, please note: students with no previous study of Spanish/French may register for the 101 course. Students who have studied Spanish or French before must take the foreign language placement exam. That exam is available at the FLCC library, and students may take it during regular library hours. For more information, please contact Barb Kruger at (585) 394-3500, ext. 7309. (Students with previous study in Spanish or French may be eligible for advanced standing and could earn an additional three credits in Spanish or French by virtue of the previous experience).
The outcome of these tests, along with a review of each student’s academic background, results in specific course placement.
English Placement
Students will be placed into
- GST 102 College Composition, or
- ENG 101 Freshman English, or
- ENG 104 Honors English
and may be placed into
- GST 121 or 122 Effective Reading
- GST 116 College Study Skills
- GST 101 First Year Senior or
- other combinations of courses intended to help the student succeed.
Full time students should take the specified courses in their first semester. Part time students should complete the courses in their first two semesters.
*Freshman English Pre-requisite
According to the Language Arts and Philosophy Department pre-requisite, prior to enrolling in ENG 101 Freshman English, students must either
- achieve a placement into ENG 101 Freshman English as a result of the basic skills placement tests, or
- successfully complete GST 102 with a grade of C or better.
Consequently, students who are placed into GST 102 College Composition will not be permitted to register for ENG 101 Freshman English.
Exemption Criteria
Students are exempt from basic skills placement testing if they are high school graduates and
- have previously received an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or
- have successfully completed (C- or better) a college course equivalent to FLCC’s ENG 101 or,
- have received AP (Advanced Placement) credit for ENG 101 with a score of 3 or more, or
- are re-entry students who previously completed ENG 101 and/or the basic skills tests at FLCC.
Math Placement
Students who are pursuing math/science intensive majors take an
- algebraic skills test
to help determine the most appropriate math placement for the student. The following chart presents possible math placements:
| Test Score | Placement |
|---|---|
| 0 – 7 | GST 142 Fundamentals of Math & Algebra – carries general elective credit, not math credit |
| 8 – 14 | MAT 145 College Algebra OR MAT 121 Statistics I (depending upon degree requirements) |
| 15 – 19 | MAT 152 Pre-Calculus |
| 20 – 25 | MAT 271 Calculus |
Please note: scores on the algebraic skills test provide a guideline only for math placement. They should not be construed as the sole factor in determining appropriate placement. Additional factors considered are the student’s high school transcript, requirements of the student’s chosen degree program, the student’s direct input and other guidelines provided by the Mathematics Department.
Music Placement
The music theory test is given to Music and Music Recording students in order to determine if they have enough music background to succeed in Music Theory I (MUS 106). Students who do not take MUS 106 during their first semester should be made aware that they will be unable to complete their program within four semesters.
| Test Score | Placement |
|---|---|
| 13+ | MUS 106 Music Theory I |
| *12 or below | MUS 105 Basic Musicianship |
*Students whose test scores f all in this range are in the Pre-Recording class and will be attending FLCC for a minimum of 5 semesters (2 1/2 years).