Middlesex Community College

Course Placement with Multiple Measures

At MCC, we use multiple measures for course placement. Course placement is designed to maximize student outcomes by determining student readiness for college-level coursework.  Students can be placed into college-level course work based on previous college course work, SAT scores, ACT Scores, high school GPA, GED or HiSet Scores. Students new to MCC that cannot place with any other measure can place into courses using guided self placement.

• Transfer Credit:
  • Students that have taken college level English or math courses should submit official transcripts for determination.
  • Students that have taken advanced placement (AP) or CLEP exams or have other evidence of prior learning should submit necessary information to have credit awarded.
  • College transcripts should be sent to registrar@middlesex.mass.edu.

• SAT Scores:
  • Students with a 500 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section within the last three years are eligible for ENG101- English Composition I. Students with a 600 on the math section in the last three years are eligible to take MAT290-Calculus I. Please request CollegeBoard to have your scores sent.
  • SAT scores should be sent to placement@middlesex.mass.edu.

• ACT Scores:
  • Students with a score of 22 or higher on the English Language Arts section within the last three years are eligible for ENG101- English Composition I. Students with a score of 22 or higher on the math section within the last three years are eligible for college level math. Students wishing to take MAT290-Calculus I will need to take the ACCUPLACER.
  • ACT scores should be sent to placement@middlesex.mass.edu.

• High School Grade Point Average (GPA):
  • Students that have graduated high school with a 2.7 GPA or higher within the last ten years are eligible for ENG101- English Composition I..
  • Students that have graduated high school with a 2.7 GPA or higher within the last three years are eligible for most entry-level college math up to MAT195- Precalculus & Trigonometry for Engineering and Science.
  • Students meeting the GPA criteria will be eligible for MAT 196 – Accelerated Precalculus & Trigonometry for Engineering and Science if they have passed Algebra 2 with a grade of B+ or better.
  • Students meeting the GPA criteria will be eligible for MAT290-Calculus I if they have passed Trigonometry and Precalculus or equivalent with a grade of B or better.
  • Students wishing to take MAT290-Calculus I that do not meet the required high school prerequisite math courses may need to take the math ACCUPLACER only.
  • High school transcripts should be sent to admissions@middlesex.mass.edu.

• HiSet or GED Scores:
  • Students that have taken the GED with a 165 or above with in the last three years are eligible for ENG101- English Composition I.
  • Students that have taken the HiSet with a score of 15 or above are eligible for ENG101- English Composition I.
  • Students with HiSet and GED as their sole measure for placement must place into math using guided self-placement.
  • HiSet and GED scores should be sent to placement@middlesex.mass.edu.

If a student does not meet any of the criteria above, incoming students must use guided self-placement.

English Self-Placement Guide

Read and work through the Self-Placement Guide found here.  At the end of your evaluation you will determine your English Course Placement.

English Self-Placement Form - use this form to submit your English Course Placement so it can be recorded. Save a copy for yourself.

Mathematics Self-Placement Guide

Read and work through the Self-Placement Guide found here. At the end of your evaluation you will determine your Math Course Placement.

Math Self-Placement Form - use this form to submit your Math Course Placement so it can be recorded. Save a copy for yourself.

Current students, those that need to retest, or students looking to place into MAT290-Calculus I without qualifying SAT scores must register for the ACCUPLACER exam.