Placement

English Language Requirement

Students are required to demonstrate a specified level of English proficiency in order to enroll in most College credit courses. Regardless of course selection and unless a student has demonstrated English proficiency through previous standardized testing, all students will be required to take an English placement test prior to registering for the 16th credit.

Students who do not speak English as their primary language will take a placement test to assess their readiness for college-level English. This test is different from the test for native speakers of English because it places students into special English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, which address the needs of ESL students.

See “Placement Test Alternatives,” which follows.

Placement Testing

NOVA administers tests to assess an individual’s college readiness and placement in certain courses. Such tests are intended to assist students in selecting courses and designing an academic program in which they will most likely be successful. These tests are administered through the Testing Center at each campus. Students are encouraged to take placement tests in English and mathematics before enrolling in classes.

Prior to testing, students must have submitted an Application for Admission to the College.

Students with scores on any required placement test that are below the specified minimums must complete prescribed developmental studies or English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s). The course(s) required will be determined by the student’s scores. These requirements apply to all campuses and NOVA Online, unless specifically waived by the responsible academic dean.

The following students must take an English placement test, unless they are enrolling in one of the courses listed under “Placement Test Alternatives”:

• students who have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of less than 2.00 after the completion of 9 semester hours at NOVA;
• students who are transferring to NOVA with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 (regardless of the number of hours completed);
• students who plan to enroll in dual enrollment classes; and
• students who entered NOVA in the Fall 2002 semester or later, regardless of the GPA, prior to registering for the 16th credit.

A math placement test is required to enroll in college-level math classes, unless the student meets exemptions as outlined in the following section.

Placement Test Alternatives

English Placement Test Alternatives

Students who have taken the SAT, ACT, GED, or TOEFL IBT within the last five years may be considered eligible for ENG 111 ; or, ENG 111  co-enrolled with ENF 3 ; without having to take the Virginia Placement Test for English.

• Students with a minimum score of 480 on the English Evidence Based Reading/Writing SAT are eligible for ENG 111  (applies only to SATs taken after March 2016).
• Students with a score between 460 and 479 on the English Evidence Based Reading/Writing SAT are eligible for ENG 111  co-enrolled with ENF 3  (applies only to SATs taken after March 2016).
• Students with a minimum score of 500 on both the Critical Reading and Writing portions of the SAT taken before March 2016 are eligible for ENG 111 .
• Students with a minimum score of 18 on both the English and Reading ACT are eligible for ENG 111 .
• Students with a score between 15 and 17 on both the English and Reading ACT are eligible for ENG 111  co-enrolled with ENF 3 .
• Students with a GED English score of 165 or above are eligible for ENG 111 .
• Students with a score of 95 or higher on the TOEFL IBT are eligible for ENG 111  
• Under certain circumstances, new students (starting in Summer or Fall 2018) who have graduated from high school within the last 5 years may be considered eligible for ENG 111  or ENG 111  co-enrolled with ENF 3 .
  • With a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, these students may be eligible for ENG 111 .
  • With a high school GPA of 2.7-2.9, these students are eligible for ENG 111  co-enrolled with ENF 3 .

In addition, the following students may be eligible for credit for ENG 111  and may not need to take the placement test:

• students with a satisfactory score on AP, IB, Cambridge Advanced Level, or CLEP exams.

Many courses require placement into ENG 111  as a prerequisite.

Math Placement Test Alternatives

Students who have taken the SAT, ACT, or GED within the last five years may be considered eligible for certain Math courses without having to take the Virginia Placement Test for Math.

• Students with a score between 510 and 529 on the SAT Math, or, a score between 19 and 21 on the ACT Math; are eligible for: MTH 111 , MTH 133 , and MTH 154 .
• Students with a score of 530 or above on the SAT Math, or, a score of 22 or above on the ACT Math; are eligible for: MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 , MTH 161 , and MTH 167 . These students are also eligible to take the calculus-only VPT to determine if placement in MTH 245 , MTH 261 , or MTH 263  is appropriate.
• Students with a GED Math score between 155 and 164 are eligible for MTH 111  and MTH 133 .
• Students with a GED Math score of 165 or above are eligible for MTH 111 , MTH 133 , and MTH 154 .
• Math placement based on high school transcript is dependent on both GPA and math courses taken in high school. Students should meet with an advisor to determine this placement.
  • Students with a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and have taken Algebra I are eligible for MTH 111  and MTH 133 .
  • Students with a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and have taken Algebra II are eligible for MTH 111 , MTH 133  and MTH 154 .
  • Students with a high school GPA of 2.7 - 2.9 and have taken Algebra II are eligible for MTH 154  with MCR 4 .
  • Students with a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and an algebra intensive course are eligible for MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 , MTH 161 , and MTH 167 .
  • Students with a high school GPA of 2.7 - 2.9 and an algebra intensive course are eligible for MTH 161  with MCR 6 .
  • Algebra intensive courses include Trigonometry, Math Analysis, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Algebra III, Discrete Mathematics, Probability and Statistics, and AP Statistics. An advisor can help you determine if the math class you took in high school are “algebra intensive.”

Once a student has started an ENF, ENG, ESL, MTT or MTH class, the student cannot be reevaluated for placement based on SAT, ACT, or GED scores; or high school transcript.

A placement test may still be required, dependent on the mathematics requirements in the student’s academic plan.

Duration of Test Score Validity and Test Retakes

Virginia Placement Test for English scores are valid for five (5) years from the date of the test. Students who take the English placement test and who do not enroll in a developmental English course are allowed to take one retest within 12 months. Students who attempt a developmental English course will be ineligible for a retest. Exceptions to this retest policy may be made on a case-by-case basis in accordance with established College procedures.

Accuplacer English as a Second Language (ESL) scores are valid for 12 months. Students scoring less than 225 on the Accuplacer will be allowed one (1) retake anytime within 12 months. Students who place in to Level 2 or above on their first attempt must wait 12 months to attempt the test a second time.

Virginia Placement Test for Math scores are valid for five (5) years from the date of the test. Students who take the placement test and who do not enroll in a developmental or college level math course are allowed one (1) retest within the twelve (12) months following their original test date. Students who enroll in a developmental or college level math course after their first test attempt will be ineligible for a retest. Academic deans may grant exceptions to this policy on a case-by-case basis.

Dual Enrollment Students

In order to be admitted to dual enrollment classes, all students must demonstrate college readiness by meeting the following placement or scoring criteria:

Alternatives to all testing requirements are stated previously under “Placement Text Alternatives.”

Testing Centers

A government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, is required at the Testing Center to take the tests. Students will not be permitted to take backpacks, coats, or other personal effects into the Testing Center.

For information about testing or testing accommodations, contact a campus Testing Center, Student Services Center, or visit www.nvcc.edu/testing.

NOVA Online students may use any of the NOVA campus Testing Centers. Some placement testing for NOVA Online students may be arranged to be administered outside the Northern Virginia region. Contact NOVA Online registration at elireg@nvcc.edu or call 703-323-3368 for more information.