Placement & Testing Interpretation Guide

You may or may not need to take a placement test with JJC. On this page, you'll find resources to (1) see which placement testing scores you'll need to enroll in specific JJC courses and (2) see what other placement measures JJC accepts.

If You Take the JJC Placement Test (ALEKS or Accuplacer)...

See what scores you need on your placement test in order to take certain classes.

Reading

Accuplacer Next Generation Reading

In order to take this class...Your Accuplacer score must be...
ENG 020222-229
ENG 021230-245
ENG 101
ENG 130		246-300
Contact DAEL200-221

Writing

Accuplacer WriterPlacer

In order to take this class...Your Accuplacer score must be...
ENG 0980-3 (also requires a Next Gen Reading score of 222+)
ENG 0994
ENG 101
ENG 130		5-8

Math

ALEKS

In order to take this class..Your ALEKS score must be...
MATH 0900-13 (also requires Next Gen Reading score of 222+ or ESL Reading score of 66+)
MATH 094
BMAT 101
TMAT 107		14-26
MATH 095
MATH 098
TMAT 108		27-39
MATH 119
MATH 123
MATH 127
MATH 128		40-100
MATH 131
MATH 138		46-100
MATH 14254-100
MATH 137
MATH 139
MATH 150
MATH 153		61-100
MATH 17076-100

  • At-a-Glance Info About Placement Tests

    About Placement Tests

    • Free to JJC students
    • Available for a fee for non-JJC students
    • Offered remotely and in-person
    • You are welcome to "walk in" to take a placement test without an appointment. Please note Testing Services hours.

    Placement testing...

    • Requires that you present a valid, current photo ID
    • Scores are subject to change


    More About Placement Testing

    About Accuplacer

    • Valid for 48 months
    • Scores from other institutions may be submitted to Testing Services
    • Computer based and untimed
    • Accuplacer is used for placement into courses with English and geometry score prereqs

    Testing includes:

    • English (reading and writing)
    • ESL (for non-native speakers)
    • Geometry (scores do not expire)
    • Math (JJC accepts official Accuplacer Next Generation Math reports from other institutions)

    About ALEKS

    • Valid for 24 months
    • Scores from other institutions may be submitted to Testing Services
    • Computer based and untimed
    • ALEKS is used for placement into courses with math score prereqs

    Testing includes:

    • Math (excluding geometry)

When Is Placement Testing Needed/Not Needed?

Depending on your ACT/SAT/PSAT score or high school GPA, placement testing may not be needed. See what scores you need for each subject area in order to skip placement testing, below. High school transcripts must be submitted to the Admissions Office.

English

If you want to take...ACT English must be...SAT EBRW must be...HS GPA
must be...		PSAT (10th/11th grade only) must be...

PSAT scores only valid through Summer 2023.
ENG 099*
ENG 021*		18 or higher
Temporary placement measure through Summer 2023.		460 or higher
Temporary placement measure through Summer 2023.		N/AN/A
ENG 10119 or higher480 or higher3.0 unweighted / cumulative480 or higher
ENG 13019 or higher480 or higherN/AN/A

*Developmental English courses. Temporary placement measure through Summer 2023.

Important

ACT/SAT scores and high school GPA are only valid for 48 months. PSAT scores are only valid for 24 months.

Math

If you want to take...ACT Math must be...SAT EBRW must be...HS GPA must be...PSAT (10th/11th grade only) must be...

PSAT scores only valid through Summer 2023.
MATH 098*19 or higher460 or higherN/AN/A
MATH 11922 or higher530 or higher3.0 unweighted / cumulativeN/A
MATH 123
MATH 127
MATH 128		22 or higher530 or higher3.0 unweighted / cumulative510 or higher
MATH 131
MATH 138		22 or higher530 or higher3.0 unweighted / cumulative530 or higher
MATH 14223 or higher590 or higherN/A590 or higher
MATH 150
MATH 153		28 or higher
Only valid through summer 2023.		660 or higher
Only valid through summer 2023.		N/AN/A
MATH 17028 or higher
Only valid through summer 2023.		660 or higher
Only valid through summer 2023.		N/A660 or higher
To Meet Geometry Requirements (and place out of MATH 095)22 or higher530 or higherN/AN/A

*Developmental Math course.

Important

ACT/SAT scores and high school GPA are only valid for 48 months. PSAT scores are only valid for 24 months.

  • More About Using GPA for English & Math Placement

    JJC evaluates all official high school transcripts using unweighted/cumulative GPA. GPAs will not be retroactively evaluated using past semesters.

    If you are planning on using your high school GPA:

    • Provide an official transcript with:
      1. Seven to eight consecutive semesters and unweighted/cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Only total unweighted/cumulative GPA will be accepted. Semester or yearly GPA will not be accepted.
      2. Successful completion (C or better) in English and/or math in all semesters
    • High school transcripts must be sent to the Admissions Office. Ask your high school to email these records to admissions@jjc.edu or mail them to:
      • Attn: Admissions
      • 1215 Houbolt Road
      • Joliet, IL 60431


    If you submit your high school GPA, please note that it will be shown on your JJC student record as:

    • GPAE (English) / GPAM (Math) / Meets = 999 / Does Not Meet = 111

Other Ways to See if You Need Placement Testing

It's not just your ACT/SAT/PSAT score or GPA that you can use to see if you need placement testing. AP, GED/HiSET, Transition Math and other scores may be able to help you get into the classes you need for your first semester.

  • AP (Advanced Placement)

    Submit your AP scores to the JJC Academic Credentials Office.

    JJC will award credit based on AP exam scores. Students should order their official score reports from College Board and have them sent directly to the Academic Credentials Office.

    More Information

  • GED & HiSET Scores

    GED

    • Valid for 48 months
    • Submit score to JJC Admissions Office
    If you want to take...Your GED score must be...
    ENG 101
    ENG 130    		Language Arts score: 165 or higher
    MATH 119
    MATH 123
    MATH 127
    MATH 128
    MATH 131
    MATH 138
    MATH 142    		Math score: 165 or higher

    HiSET

    • Valid for 48 months
    • Submit score to JJC Admissions Office
    If you want to take...Your HiSET score must be...
    ENG 021Reading score: 15 or higher
    ENG 099Writing score: 15 or higher
    ENG 101
    ENG 130    		Reading score: 15 or higher
    AND
    Writing score: 15 or higher
    MATH 119
    MATH 123
    MATH 127
    MATH 128
    MATH 131
    MATH 138
    MATH 142    		Math score:15 or higher

  • Transition Math

    Transition Math

    • Valid for 18 months from the date of high school graduation that appears on transcript
    • Submit score to JJC Admissions Office

    If students successfully completed a STEM Pathway (portability code TM001) class in high school, they can place into the following JJC classes:

    • MATH 119 - Technical Math
    • MATH 123 - Math for Elementary Teachers I*
    • MATH 127 - Math for General Education
    • MATH 128 - Elementary Statistics
    • MATH 131 - College Algebra*
    • MATH 138 - Pre-Calculus I

    *These courses also have a geometry prerequisite.

    If students successfully completed a Quantitative Literacy and Statistics Pathway (portability code TM002) class in high school, they can place into the following JJC classes:

    • MATH 119 - Technical Math,
    • MATH 127 - Math for General Education
    • MATH 128 - Elementary Statistics

    If students successfully completed a Technical Math Pathway (portability code TM003) class in high school, they can place into the following JJC class:

    • MATH 119 - Technical Math

  • PARCC

    PARCC

    • Valid for 48 months
    • Should be submitted to JJC Admissions Office
    If you want to take...Your PARCC score must be...
    ENG 101
    ENG 130    		English Language Arts/Literacy score: 4 or higher
    MATH 119
    MATH 123
    MATH 127
    MATH 128
    MATH 131
    MATH 138
    MATH 142    		Algebra II score: 4 or higher

  • TASC

    TASC

    • Valid for 48 months
    • Should be submitted to JJC Admissions Office
    If you want to take...Your TASC score must be...
    ENG 021Language Arts Reading score: 580 or higher
    ENG 099Language Arts Writing score: 560 or higher
    AND
    Essay score of 6 or higher
    ENG 101
    ENG 130    		Language Arts Reading score: 580 or higher
    Language Arts Writing score: 560 or higher
    AND
    Essay score of 6 or higher
    MATH 119
    MATH 123
    MATH 127
    MATH 128
    MATH 131
    MATH 138
    MATH 142    		Math score of 560 or higher