As of the Fall 2021 semester, most NOVA students will not be required to take placement tests to determine placement for English and Math courses.* Students’ eligibility for course enrollment is based on their high school grade point average (GPA) and their standardized test scores (i.e. SAT, ACT, or GED):
- A student’s high school GPA is valid for 5 years after the date of high school graduation.
- Students who completed 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.
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 HS GPA without HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 154 + MDE 54 |
2.0-2.99 HS GPA with HS Algebra 2 |
| MTH 154 |
3.0 or higher HS GPA 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 60 |
| GED-Math |
155-164 |
MTH 111 , MTH 133 , MTH 154 + MDE 54 , MDE 60 |
| GED-Math |
154 or below |
MDE 10 |
* Students may contact mathplacement@nvcc.edu with any questions about math placement.
English Course Placement
SAT/ACT/GED Scores for Math 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 . |
| 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 . |
| ACT, Subject Area Tests English and Reading |
14 or below |
EDE 10 . ESL students may take ESL 41 , ESL 42 , CST 100 . |
| GED-English |
165 or above |
ENG 111 . ESL students may take ENG 111 . |
What is the ESL Placement Assessment?
This assessment has four parts and should take less than two hours to complete:
- Reading Comprehension section with questions about multiple short reading passages.
- Listening Comprehension section with questions about multiple short listening 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 Placemnt 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.
|