Assessment Services

    Santa Rosa Campus, (707) 527-4661, Plover Hall, Room 531
    Petaluma Campus, (707) 778-3908, Jacobs Hall, PC 109

English, Math, or Chemistry Placement Testing Information

If you are interested in taking an English, math or chemistry course at SRJC, you are required to take a placement test prior to registering for the class. The results of your placement test will help determine which college course is appropriate for your current skill level. Multiple measures are also considered when determining course placement.

You are exempt from taking the placement test in a subject area (math, chemistry, or English) if you fulfill one or more of the following:

1. Have taken a course at a post secondary accredited institution in that subject area. (The course will determine placement.)
2. Have earned a High School AP score of 3 or higher in the subject area (contact Admissions and Records.)
3. Have a valid and current (within the last 3 years) SRJC placement test result in the subject area.

After receiving a course placement, you may enroll in that course or a lower course level. In addition, your course placement information may be helpful to you if you are interested in taking other courses at SRJC.

• Application to SRJC is required
• Photo I.D. is required (i.e. drivers license, passport)
• Know your SRJC Student I.D. number
• All testing materials provided
• Study Guides available online and at Assessment Services Centers

Santa Rosa and Petaluma Campuses Placement Testing Scheduling Options

Appointments and drop-in scheduling options available. We recommend you arrive early as latecomers will not be admitted after the test begins and seating is limited. Please, check the Placement Testing Schedule for dates, times, room locations and scheduling options.

An application to SRJC is required prior to taking the placement test. Please bring your photo I.D., and know your SRJC Student I.D. number. There is no fee to take the test and test results will be available online in two business days. All testing materials will be provided on the day of the test.

Assessment Services will accept placement test results from other two-year colleges for evaluation. Test results must be within three years. Submit an application to SRJC and fax your official placement test result to Assessment Services at (707) 524-1638.

Contact Assessment Services for more information regarding Placement Tests, GED (General Educational Development), placement testing at high schools, and having a distance learning exam proctored. Assessment Services also offers the Wonderlic/Ability to Benefit test (ATB). Students, who are interested in receiving financial aid, must take the Wonderlic/ATB test if they do not have a high school diploma or GED. To make an appointment to take the Wonderlic/ATB test, please contact one of the above Assessment Services Centers.

High School Advanced Placement Exams

If you have taken the High School Advanced Placement exams and your test scores are 3 or higher, you are exempt from taking the placement test. Complete a Prerequisite Equivalency Form and submit it to Admissions and Records. You are strongly encouraged to consult with a counselor about SRJC specific provisions for AP credit.

Special Accommodations

If you have a verifiable disability and require special accommodations for the placement or Wonderlic/ATB tests, please contact the Disability Resources Department at the Santa Rosa Campus at (707) 527-4278, or at the Petaluma Campus at (707) 778-2430.

Placement Test Study Guides and Test Schedules

For your information, study guides and placement test schedules are available at the Assessment Services Centers on both campuses. You may also find printable copies online at www.santarosa.edu/assessment/. Other study guides for the IADT and PCDT math placement tests are also located on the Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project Web site at http://mdtp.ucsd.edu/. Placement tests are offered throughout the year.

SANTA ROSA CAMPUS TESTING SCHEDULE

Appointments and drop-in scheduling options available. We recommend you arrive early as latecomers will not be admitted after the test begins and seating is limited. Please, check the following placement testing schedule for dates, times, room location and scheduling options. All testing is held in Plove Hall, Room 530.

DATE	DAY	ENGLISH Start Time	MATH or CHEM Start Time	Appointment or Drop-In and Room Location
Nov 18	Wed	1:00 PM or 5:30 PM	3:15 PM or 7:30 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Nov 19	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Nov 21	Sat	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Nov 23	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Nov 24	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 1	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 2	Wed	1:00 PM or 5:30 PM	3:15 PM or 7:30 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 3	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Dec 5	Sat	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 7	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 8	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 9	Wed	1:00 PM or 5:30 PM	3:15 PM or 7:30 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 10	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Dec 12	Sat	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 14	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 15	Tue	8:15 AM or 1:00 PM	10:15 AM or 3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 16	Wed	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Dec 17	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 5	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 6	Wed	1:00 PM or 5:30 PM	3:15 PM or 7:30 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 7	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 9	Sat	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 11	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 12	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 13	Wed	8:15 AM or 5:30 PM	10:15 AM or 7:30 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 14	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 19	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Jan 20	Wed	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Jan 21	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In
Jan 25	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Appointment
Jan 28	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Plover Hall 530 Drop-In

PETALUMA CAMPUS TESTING SCHEDULE

Appointments and drop-in scheduling options available. We recommend you arrive early as latecomers will not be admitted after the test begins. Please check the following placement testing schedule for dates, times, room locations and scheduling options. All testing is in Jacobs Hall, Room PC128.

DATE	DAY	ENGLISH Start Time	MATH or CHEM Start Time	Appointment or Drop-In and Room Location
Nov 21	Sat	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Nov 23	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Nov 24	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Drop-In
Dec 1	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Drop-In
Dec 8	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Drop-In
Dec 10	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Dec 14	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Dec 17	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Dec 19	Sat	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Jan 4	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Jan 5	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Drop-In
Jan 7	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Jan 9	Sat	8:15 AM	10:15 AM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Jan 11	Mon	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Appointment
Jan 12	Tue	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Drop-In
Jan 14	Thu	1:00 PM	3:15 PM	Jacobs Hall PC128 Drop-In

The English Placement Test comprises a 45-minute writing sample and a 50-minute multiple choice question test. Please allow an additional 15 minutes for instruction. The multiple choice test is comprised of 65 questions administered in two separate components: 1) Reading Comprehension, and 2) Sentence Structure and Grammar. Reading and writing skills are assessed and the combined scores including other multiple measures determine English course placement.

Writing Sample Essay Instructions 

Writing Sample
The English Placement Test begins with an essay assignment. You will have 45 minutes to plan and write your essay on the topic specified at the time of the test. Do not write on a topic other than the one specified; an essay on a topic of your own choice is not acceptable. The topic will be on some issue of general interest, drawing on your critical reading and academic writing skills.   You should have enough time to read and analyze the assigned topic carefully and to organize your thoughts before you begin writing. You may make notes in the space provided in the essay booklet.

Scoring Your Essay
The SRJC English faculty who evaluate your essay will expect you to write a well-organized essay, one in which you develop your ideas clearly and logically. Sentence and paragraph structure, usage, and grammar also contribute to your final essay score. Each essay is read and scored holistically by two different faculty members using a scoring guide that helps to define degrees of writing proficiency. The two readers' scores are combined to give your reported score, which will fall between 2 (low) and 12 (high). A score of 0 is given to essays not written on the assigned topic.  

Remember
The readers will be looking for the following:

1. Addresses the topic and responds to all aspects of the task.
2. Demonstrates a critical understanding of the passage in developing a response.
3. Reveals some depth of thinking.
4. Coherently organized and developed, with a main idea supported by appropriate reasons, examples and details.
5. Command of sentence structure and language.
6. Grammatical accuracy.

Math Placement Test

There are five different Math Placement Tests to choose from; each is a different level of math. You must choose one of these five tests that are most appropriate for your current math skill level. To help you decide the appropriate test for you, consider the following:

• How long ago did you take a math course?
• What level was it?
• What grade did you receive?

Additional criteria for choosing a test and a complete listing of Math Placement Test cut-off scores is available for download (PDF: 91KB).

The five Math Placement Tests are listed below, along with the Math course placements.
Computational (COMP) CSKLS 368A, 370, 371, 372, or 100
Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test (ARDT) MATH 150A or 151
Elementary Algebra Diagnostic Test (EADT) MATH 150A, 151, or 155
Intermediate Algebra Diagnostic Test (IADT) MATH 155, 9, 10, 15, 16, 25, 27 or 58
Pre-Calculus Diagnostic Test (PCDT) MATH 25, 27, 58, 8A or 1A

The COMP placement test is recommended for most Fire Science and Health Science programs. Math 155 satisfies the SRJC Math requirement for an Associate Degree. All SRJC courses 1 to 49 are UC transferable, and 1 to 99 are CSU transferable. You may not use a calculator during the math Placement Test. You are given 45 minutes to take the test you chose except for the highest test level, (Pre-Calculus) for which you receive 1 hour. Please allow an additional 15 minutes for test instruction.

Chemistry Placement Test

The Chemistry course placement is determined by a single chemistry test. This test determines course placement within either CHEM 1A or 4A. To enroll in CHEM 42 the placement test is recommended, but not required. The prerequisite for the above Chemistry courses is Math 155. This placement test is comprised of 44 multiple-choice questions. A scientific calculator is permitted during this test, one will be provided, and a periodic table is included in the test booklet. A complete listing of Chemistry Placement Test cut-off scores is available for download (PDF: 58KB).

Algebra Competency Exam (ACE)

This is not a placement test. The Intermediate Algebra Competency Exam (ACE) is offered to students new to Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) who need to fulfill the SRJC math requirement for an Associate Degree. The ACE is a 29 question exam with a time limit of 2 hours and 45 minutes. The test covers topics from intermediate algebra. Non-graphics calculators are provided, but graphing calculators are not allowed. Please be advised that this exam is not transferable, and it is not part of the math course sequence. Students will be allowed to attempt the exam twice per term. In the event that a student does not pass the exam on the first attempt, a personalized study plan and review material will be provided within the online testing program to assist in preparation for the second attempt. This student plan will be available for 16 weeks. The ACE is not a Placement Test. In addition, the ACE does not apply to the SRJC math course sequence, and it is not transferable.

Graduation Math Competency Exam (GMCT)

This is not a placement test. The Math Competency Exam is offered to students ready to graduate and who have not fulfilled the SRJC Math requirement for the A.A./A.S. degree. A score of 24 out of 40 is required to pass this exam. Students who do not achieve a passing score will be allowed to retest in the following Fall, Spring, or Summer term. Students who are currently enrolled in an SRJC course may drop-in to the College Skills Department for tutoring and instruction. The GMCT is not a Placement Test. In addition, the GMCT does not apply to the SRJC math course sequence, and it is not transferable. To make an appointment or for more information contact Assessment & GED Services at (707) 527-4661.

Catalog rights determine which math competency exam a student may complete.

Placement Test Results

Placement test results will be available in two business days from which you tested through Web Link. In addition, a profile letter will be mailed to you indicating your course placement including a breakdown of your scores and further information to help you ensure your academic success. After receiving your course placement, you may enroll in that course or any course below the one in which you were placed. Your placement test results are valid for 3 years.

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), Assessment Services cannot give out test results over the phone, nor can we give your test results to another individual or agency unless we have written permission from you on record. A Release of Information Authorization Form is available for download. (PDF: 29KB) Fax your Release of Information Authorization Form to (707) 524-1638.

Placement Test Retake and Challenge Policies, and Test Score Longevity

You may take the placement test twice per term. If you do not agree with your placement test results you have the option to retake the placement test once per term, or Challenge your placement test result. To challenge your English, Math or Chemistry Placement Test result contact Admissions and Records at (707) 527-4685 (Santa Rosa Campus) or (707) 778-2415 (Petaluma Campus.)

Please be advised that after two weeks of being enrolled in the math course sequence you may not retake a placement test.

Placement Test results are valid for 3 years.

Questions or comments about this page may be sent to Parveen Nasseem at pnasseem@santarosa.edu.