As of the Fall 2021 semester, most NOVA students will not be required to take placement tests to determine placement for entry level English and Math courses.* Students’ eligibility for course enrollment is based on their U.S. high school grade point average (GPA) or their standardized test scores (i.e. SAT, ACT, or GED). Students should complete the direct enrollment/self-informed placement survey to determine placement.
- A student’s U.S. high school GPA is valid for 5 years after the date of high school graduation.
- Students who completed U.S. high school 6 or more years before applying to NOVA may select courses through informed self-placement. Students may consult the Informed Self Placement Advising Survey to help decide which classes to take.
- SAT, ACT, and GED test scores are valid for 5 years after the date of the test.
*The Virginia Placement Test (VPT) is still required for students who will receive veterans benefits. Students who have not completed high school or a GED, including dual enrollment students, will also be able to take the VPT under certain circumstances. Students whose primary language is not English should take the ESL assessment.
Math Course Placement*
| Course |
Minimum Placement Requirement |
| MDE 10 |
1.99 or lower HS GPA |
| MDE 60 |
2.0 or higher HS GPA without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 111, MTH 133 |
2.0 or higher HS GPA with or without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 154 + MDE 54 |
2.0-2.99 HS GPA with or without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 154 |
3.0 or higher HS GPA with or without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 161 + MDE 61 |
2.0-2.99 HS GPA with HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 161 |
3.0 or higher HS GPA with HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 167 |
3.0 or higher HS GPA with HS Algebra 2 |
SAT/ACT/GED Scores for Math Placement
| Test |
If you scored… |
You may enroll in… |
| SAT-Math |
500 or above |
MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 , MTH 161 , MTH 167 |
| SAT-MTH |
470-490 |
MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 , MTH 161 + MDE 61 |
| ACT-Subject Area Test Math |
18 or above |
MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 , MTH 161 , MTH 167 |
| ACT-Subject Area Test Math |
17 |
MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 , MTH 161 + MDE 61 |
| GED-Math |
165 or above |
MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 , MTH 161 + MDE 61 |
| GED-Math |
155-164 |
MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 + MDE 54 , MDE 60 |
| GED-Math |
154 or below |
MDE 10 |
* The math course you take depends on your academic goals and program of study. Visit the Math Discipline website for more information.
Placement into Higher-Level Math
- Recent high school graduates (students who graduated from high school within the last 5 years) may be placed into certain higher-level math courses based on their high school coursework. The student must provide a copy of their high school transcript for consideration. A minimum GPA of 3.0 with at least Algebra II is required for consideration for placement into higher level math courses. Placement into higher-level math courses is determine by the table below.
| High School Course |
MTH 162 |
MTH 245 |
MTH 261 |
MTH 263 |
| Math Analysis |
A or B in Honors Course |
A or B |
A or B in Honors Course |
N/A |
| PreCalculus without Trigonometry |
N/A |
A or B |
N/A |
N/A |
| PreCalculus with Trigonometry |
A or B in Honors Course |
A or B |
A or B in Honors Course |
N/A |
| Algebra III |
A or B |
A or B |
A or B |
N/A |
| Calculus |
A or B |
A or B |
A or B |
A or B |
| AP Calculus AB or BC |
A or B |
A or B |
A or B |
A or B |
| IB Math - Analysis and Approaches- Higher Level |
A or B |
A or B |
A or B |
A or B |
| Probability and Statistics |
N/A |
A or B |
N/A |
N/A |
| AP Statistics |
N/A |
A or B |
N/A |
N/A |
| Discrete Math |
N/A |
A or B |
N/A |
N/A |
- Recent high school graduates who have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have taken at least Algebra II, but do not meet the grade criteria in the table above, may take the “Calculus only” portion of the VPT (CVPT) to determine placement into MTH 162 , MTH 245 , MTH 261 , or MTH 263 . Contact NOVATesting@nvcc.edu.
- Non-traditional students (students who graduated from high school more than 5 years ago) without college credit or with college coursework not analogous to NOVA course prerequisites, and recent high school graduates with international transcripts are permitted to take the CVPT to determine placement into MTH 162 , MTH 245 , MTH 261 , or MTH 263 . Contact NOVATesting@nvcc.edu.
- Students who have already attempted a math course at NOVA are not permitted to take the CVPT to determine placement.
- Students with college credit may be placed into higher level math using prior college coursework, per VCCS Policy 6.4.0.2. A grade of C- or higher is acceptable for placement, although NOVA credit will not be awarded.
- Students enrolled in the prerequisite at another college or university may be permitted to enroll in a higher-level math course for the subsequent semester. Students may need to provide documentation that they have earned the required grade, per the prerequisite standards for the course, to avoid being dropped from the course.
English Course Placement
| Course |
Minimum Placement Requirement |
| EDE 10 . ESL students may take the ESL assessment for guidance |
1.99 or lower HS GPA |
| ENG 111 + EDE 11 . ESL students may take ENG 111 with ESL 95 |
2.0-2.99 HS GPA |
| ENG 111 |
3.0+ HS GPA |
| ENG 115 |
2.0+ HS GPA |
SAT/ACT/GED Scores for English Placement
| Test |
If you scored… |
You may enroll in… |
| SAT-ERW, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing |
480 or above |
ENG 111 |
| SAT-ERW, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing |
400-470 |
ENG 111 + EDE 11 . ESL students may take ENG 111 with ESL 95 |
| ACT, Subject Area Tests English and Reading |
18 or above |
ENG 111 |
| ACT, Subject Area Tests English and Reading |
15-17 |
ENG 111 + EDE 11 . ESL students may take ENG 111 with ESL 95 |
| ACT, Subject Area Tests English and Reading |
14 or below |
EDE 10 . ESL students may take the ESL placement assessment. |
| GED-English |
165 or above |
ENG 111 . ESL students may take ENG 111 with ESL 95 |
| GED-English |
164 or below |
EDE 10 |
TOEFL/IELTS/DuoLingo/Oxford ELLT Scores for English Placement
International students who do not have the above scores will need to complete the ESL placement assessment. Students with scores lower than those listed above may contact ESL@nvcc.edu for additional guidance.
What is the ESL Placement Assessment?
This assessment has three parts and should take less than two hours to complete:
- Reading Comprehension section with questions about multiple short reading passages.
- Reading Response section with a short reading to which you will write a response.
- Writing Response section with an open question to which you will write a response.
How do I take the ESL Placement Assessment?
- Contact the Testing Center at NOVATesting@nvcc.edu to take the assessment.
- You can take this assessment only once, so be sure you take it at a time you can do your best.
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