We recommend that students complete the ESL Placement Assessment by DECEMBER 1. The deadline for SPRING 2025 is DECEMBER 19. This will allow for enough time for assessment evaluation and course registration.
ESL Placement Assessment
If English is not the first language you learned, then answer these questions to see if you need to take the ESL Placement Assessment.
- Have you had at least eight (8) years of K-12 school in the U.S.? If you can answer YES to this question, complete this form.
- Do you have college-level English transfer credit, or have you earned a degree from a U.S. college or university?
- Do you have a TOEFL score of at least 79 with 20 in both the reading and writing portions in the last two years?
- Do you have an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band in the last two years?
- Do you have an ACT English score of 18 or above or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 480 or above?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is YES, then you do not need to take the ESL placement test. You will need to provide assessment information for Writing, Reading, and Math.
If the answer to all of these questions is NO, then you need to take the ESL placement test to be sure you have a successful start to your college education.
Appointments are required for placement assessments. Schedule your ESL Placement Assessment
Practice is the Best Preparation
As with any test, the more you prepare and study for your placement tests, the better you will do.
Your placement tests are among the most important tests you will take in college. Your scores will determine whether you will be required to take developmental courses, or additional English training/tutoring before you can register for classes.
It’s important to understand that, while developmental courses are critical for some students, they do not count toward your degree. Testing out of developmental courses will allow you to begin your first semester in courses that apply toward your major, saving you time and money!
Click the links below to take practice assessments. This is an important step because it will help you get an idea of what the assessment is like, and what your score might be if you took the assessment today. These links will also provide a review of material to help you achieve your best score.
- Accuplacer Sample Questions for Students
- Accuplacer Sample Questions (Los Medanos College)
- Free Accuplacer Practice Tests
Taking the Assessment
Assessment Format
The ESL Placement Assessment gauges your ability to write and comprehend the English language. You should plan for at least three hours to complete the assessment. The assessment has two parts:
Part 1: Composition Writing Sample
- You will have a time limit of one hour.
- You will be given three writing topics. You will choose one of them to write about.
- You should write as much as you can and as well as you can.
- You are not allowed to use a dictionary on any part of the test.
Part 2: English Comprehension
- There is no time limit on this part of the assessment, but most students complete this portion in two hours or less.
- The questions will be multiple choice and the assessment will be taken on a computer.
- There are three sections:
- Language Use (20 questions) - measures your proficiency in using correct grammar in English sentences.
- Sentence Meaning (20 questions) - measures how well you understand the meaning of sentences in English.
- Reading Skills (20 questions) - measures your ability to read English through the comprehension of short passages.
Test-Taking Tips and Information
Before the Test
- Use the practice assessments to prepare. Remember, preparing well will help you score higher and ensure you are placed in the correct courses.
- Know your Columbus State Username and Password. If need assistance, our IT Help Desk can support you. This article provides information on discovering your Username and Password.
- Get plenty of rest and eat well before your appointment. This will help you concentrate during your assessment.
Test Day
- Remember to bring photo identification and your Username and Password to the testing location. You will not be able to test without them. Examples of valid photo identification include a current Cougar (Student) ID card, state-issued ID, passport, work/school ID, or other legitimate ID bearing a photo and full name.
- Allow Enough Time. If possible, we recommend scheduling your appointment for earlier in the day. The latest appointments for ESL Assessments will be three hours before we close, but an earlier appointment will give you ample time so you do not have to rush.
- Review information about parking on campus. Visitor Parking FAQs.
- Cell phones and electronic devices (including calculators, photo/video capturing devices, Fitbits, calculator watches, smart watches, Google glasses, etc.) are not permitted in our testing locations when taking an assessment. If you choose not to leave these items at home, you will be asked to turn them off and store the items underneath the testing station or in a locker (where applicable).
- Hats and hoodies should not be worn during your assessment. Columbus State understands that there are many reasons why head coverings are worn, and we want to respect your individual needs. When preparing for your assessment in one of our testing centers or when testing virtually, we will need to confirm that you are not using earbuds and that your eyes are visible to our proctors. As we work to uphold academic integrity, we will work with you individually to find a solution. Please feel free to reach out to us with questions.
- Except for students testing for College Credit Plus purposes, no children under the age of 14 are allowed in any Columbus State testing location. As a matter of safety and proper testing environment, if an unattended child is discovered while an assessment is in progress, the examinee will be required to end testing and leave the testing location immediately.
During the Test
- Ask if you don’t understand. Make sure you understand the instructions for each part of the test. Ask if you are not clear on anything.
- Read Carefully. Read each question, text, and problem carefully. Make sure you understand what the question is asking. If there are several steps in the question, be sure you answer all of them.
- For Multiple Choice Questions:
- Think of an answer before you look at the answers. This way, the choices on the assessment won't confuse you.
- Read all the answer choices. Decide what answers you know are not correct. Then, choose the best correct answer.
- Answer every question. If you are not sure, you should make a guess. Choose an answer, but don't keep changing your response. Usually, your first choice is the best one.
- If you have a problem or question during the assessment, raise your hand to ask the proctor for help. Proctors cannot answer specific assessment questions for you, but they can help you with other types of problems.
After the Test
- Our Languages and Communication Department will review your assessment. Review typically takes 5-7 days.
- Your results and next steps will be sent to your Columbus State Student Email. Access your email here: cscc.edu/email.
If you have questions, please send them to esl@cscc.edu.