Click here for Frequently Asked Questions on Early StartAssessment of Academic Preparation and Placement
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The CSU requires that all entering freshmen students be evaluated in terms of their preparation to complete first-year courses in written communication and mathematics/quantitative reasoning. This evaluation will utilize the broadest set of multiple measures including high school grades as well as performance scores on standardized exams such as the ACT or SAT. This evaluation of academic readiness is not a condition for admission to the CSU, but it is an important step for determining the best course placement for entering students.
Successful completion of general education (GE) written communication and mathematics/quantitative reasoning courses in the first year of CSU enrollment establishes a foundation for continuous learning. Unless the requirements have been completed, freshmen shall enroll in GE written communication and mathematics/quantitative reasoning courses appropriate to each student’s major and skill level, as demonstrated by applicable systemwide standards utilized in the review of academic preparation.
Students whose skill assessments indicate academic support will be needed for successful completion of GE in written communication or mathematics/quantitative courses shall enroll in appropriate college-level, baccalaureate credit-bearing courses that strengthen skills development to facilitate achieving the appropriate general education student learning outcomes. Supportive course models may include, among others, co-requisite approaches, supplemental instruction or “stretch” formats that extend a course beyond one academic term. In these approaches, instructional content considered pre-baccalaureate may carry a maximum of one unit and shall be offered concurrently with a college-level, baccalaureate credit-bearing course.
Multiple Measures Assessment for General Education Written Communication
Based on the systemwide assessment standards for GE written communication below, freshmen shall enroll in appropriate GE written communication courses during their first academic year unless the requirement has been fulfilled.
Students who have met the following requirements have fulfilled the GE Written Communication requirement in preparation for advanced courses:
- A score of 3 or above on either the Language and Composition examination or the Composition and Literature examination of the College Board Scholastic Advanced Placement Program
- Completion and transfer to the CSU of the credits for a college course that satisfies the CSU GE requirement in written composition, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C- or better
Students who have met the following requirements are ready to enroll in a course that meets the GE Written Communication requirement :
- A result of ‘Standard Exceeded: Ready for CSU or participating CCC college level coursework in English’ earned on the CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP) exam
- A score of 550 or higher on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the new SAT Reasoning Test sponsored by the College Board
- A score of 500 or higher on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the old SAT Reasoning Test sponsored by the College Board
- A score of 22 or above on the ACT English test
- Completion of an approved 12th grade, year-long, English course with a grade of C- or better AND a score of 510–540 on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the new SAT Reasoning Test or a score of 460-490 on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the old SAT Reasoning Test
- Completion of an approved 12th grade, year-long, English course with a grade of C- or better AND a score of 19-21 on the Act English test
- A result of ‘Standard Met: Conditionally Ready for CSU or participating CCC college-level coursework in English’ on the CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP) exam AND completion of an approved 12th grade, year-long, English course with a grade of C- or better
- Achievement of a weighted high school GPA ≥ 3.3 OR a weighted high school GPA ≥ 3.0 and completion of an approved 12th grade, year-long, English course (AP, IB, ERWC) or Honors English or more than 5 years of high school English
Students who have met the following requirements are ready to enroll in a course that meets the GE Written Communication requirement and includes supported instruction :
- Completion of 4+ years of standard college preparatory high school English courses AND a score of 510-540 on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the new SAT Reasoning Test or a score of 460-490 on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section of the old SAT Reasoning Test or a score of 19-21 on the ACT English test
- Achievement of a weighted high school GPA ≥ 3.0 and 4 years of standard college preparatory high school English courses
Students who have met the following requirements are required to participate in the Early Start Program and are ready to enroll in a course that meets the GE Written Communication requirement and includes supported instruction :
- A score less than 510 on the Evidence Based Reading Writing section of the new SAT Reasoning Test or a score less than 460 on the old SAT Reasoning Test AND achievement of a weighted high school grade point average of ≤ 3.0
- A score less than 19 on the ACT English test and the achievement of a weighted high school GPA of ≤ 3.0
Multiple Measures Assessment for General Education Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
Based on the systemwide assessment standards for GE mathematics/quantitative reasoning below, freshmen shall enroll in appropriate general education mathematics/quantitative reasoning courses during their first academic year unless the requirement has been fulfilled.
Students who have met the following requirements have fulfilled the GE Math/Quantitative Reasoning requirement and are permitted to enroll in the next level of math :
- A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Calculus AB or Calculus BC tests
- A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Statistics test
- A score of 4 or above on the International Baccalaureate Mathematics Higher Level (HL)
- A score of 50 or above on the College Board College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Calculus, College Algebra, College Algebra-Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, or Trigonometry
- Completion and transfer to the CSU of the credits for a college course that satisfies the CSU General Education requirement in mathematics/quantitative reasoning, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C- or better
Students who are STEM majors who have met the following requirements are ready to enroll in a course that meets the GE Math/Quantitative Reasoning requirement :
- A result of ‘Standard Exceeded: Ready for CSU or participating CCC college-level coursework in mathematics’ on the CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP) exam
- A score of 570 or above on the mathematics section of the new SAT Reasoning Test
- A score of 550 or above on the mathematics section of the old SAT Reasoning Test
- A score of 550 or above on the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics (level 1 or level 2)
- A score of 23 or above on the ACT Mathematics test
- Completion of a 12th grade mathematics course beyond algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better and a score of 520-560 on the new SAT mathematics test or a score of 490-540 on the old SAT mathematics test
- Completion of a 12th grade mathematics course beyond algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better and a score of 20-22 on the ACT Mathematics test
- A result of ‘Standard Met: Conditionally Ready for CSU or participating CCC college-level coursework in mathematics’ on the CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP) exam AND completion of a 12th grade mathematics course with a grade of C- or better
- Achievement of a weighted high school GPA ≥ 3.7
- Achievement of a weighted high school mathematics GPA ≥ 3.5 and 5+ years of mathematics or quantitative reasoning courses
- Achievement of a weighted high school mathematics GPA ≥ 3.5 and completion of an approved senior year course
Students who are non-STEM majors who have met the following requirements are ready to enroll in a course that meets the GE Math/Quantitative Reasoning requirement :
- A result of 'Standard Exceeded: Ready for CSU or participating CCC college-level coursework in mathematics' on the CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP) exam
- A score of 570 or above on the mathematics section of the new SAT Reasoning Test
- A score of 550 or above on the mathematics section of the old SAT Reasoning Test
- A score of 550 or above on the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics (level 1 or level 2)
- A score of 23 or above on the ACT Mathematics test
- Completion of a 12th grade mathematics course beyond algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better and a score of 520-560 on the new SAT mathematics test or a score of 490-540 on the old SAT mathematics test
- Completion of a 12th grade mathematics course beyond algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better and a score of 20-22 on the ACT Mathematics test
- A result of 'Standard Met: Conditionally Ready for CSU or participating CCC college-level coursework in mathematics' on the CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP) exam AND completion of a 12th grade mathematics course with a grade of C- or better
- A result of 'Standard Met: Conditionally Ready for CSU or participating CCC college-level coursework in mathematics' on the CAASPP Early Assessment Program (EAP exam) and 4 years of mathematics or quantitative reasoning courses
- Achievement of a weighted high school GPA ≥ 3.7
- Achievement of a weighted high school GPA ≥ 3.5 and 4+ years of mathematics or quantitative reasoning courses
- Achievement of a weighted high school mathematics GPA ≥ 3.0 and completion of 5+ years of mathematics or quantitative reasoning courses
- Achievement of a weighted high school mathematics GPA ≥3.0 and completion of an approved senior year course
Students who are STEM majors who have met the following requirements are ready to enroll in a course that meets the GE Math/Quantitative Reasoning requirement and includes supported instruction :
- Achievement of a weighted high school mathematics GPA ≥ 3.3
Students who are non-STEM majors who have met the following requirements are ready to enroll in a course that meets the GE Math/Quantitative Reasoning requirement and includes supported instruction :
- Achievement of a weighted high school mathematics GPA ≥ 3.3
- Achievement of a weighted high school GPA ≥ 3.0
Students who who have met the following requirements are required to participate in the Early Start Program and are ready to enroll in a course that meets the GE Math/Quantitative REasoning requirement and includes supported instruction:
STEM Majors:
- A score less than 520 on the mathematics section of the new SAT Reasoning test or a score less than 490 on the mathematics section of the old SAT Reasoning test AND a weighted high school mathematics GPA < 3.3
- A score less than 20 on the ACT Mathematics test AND a weighted high school mathematics GPA < 3.3
Non-STEM Majors:
- A score less than 520 on the mathematics section of the new SAT Reasoning test or a score less than 490 on the mathematics section of the old SAT Reasoning test AND a weighted high school GPA < 3.0 or high school mathematics GPA < 3.3
- A score less than 20 on the ACT Mathematics test AND a weighted high school GPA < 3.0 or high school mathematics GPA < 3.3
