Placement Policies

Placement Policies

Western Colorado University English and math placement policies conform to the Statewide Remedial Education Policy of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE).

Placement test information and schedule coming soon.

English Placement

The English Program at Western uses a combination of ACT scores, SAT scores and placement tests to assess incoming students. Students must demonstrate entry-level abilities in English before registering for university-level English courses as follows:

Students must demonstrate entry-level abilities in English during their first thirty (30) credits of attendance at Western. Proficiency must be demonstrated in both reading and writing.

One of the following measures of entry-level reading ability:

1. ACT Reading score or 17 of above
2. SAT Critical Reading score of 430 or above
3. Pass the Accuplacer Reading Comprehension test with a score of 80 or above
4. English 099 Basic Writing (grade of Satisfactory)

One of the following measures of entry-level writing ability:

1. ACT English score or 18 of above
2. SAT Critical Reading score of 440 or above
3. Pass the Accuplacer Sentence Skills test with a score of 95 or above
4. English 099 Basic Writing (grade of Satisfactory)

The following students are assumed to have met this entry-level requirement:

1. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree (post-BA students).
2. Students who have earned an A.A. or A.S. degree at a Colorado community college within the past 10 years.
3. Students who have transferred a college-level writing course from another post-secondary institution.
4. Students who have an AP English Language and Composition or AP English Literature and Composition score of three (3) or higher.

English 099 Basic Writing is offered through the Extended Studies program at Western. This course is graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Additional fees are charged to take this course.

English Placement Tests  

The Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Test and the Accuplacer Sentence Skills Test are administered during all summer orientation sessions. Additional testing opportunities are available through the academic year.

Math Placement

The Mathematics Program at Western uses a combination of ACT scores, SAT scores and a placement test to assess incoming students. Students must demonstrate entry-level mathematical abilities before registering for college-level mathematics courses as follows:

Students must demonstrate entry-level abilities in mathematics during their first thirty (30) credits of attendance at Western. This requirement can be met by fulfilling one of the following:

1. ACT Math score of 19 or above
2. SAT Math score of 460 or above
3. Pass the Accuplacer Elementary Algebra test with a score of 85 or above
4. Math 099 Basic Algebra Review (grade of Satisfactory)

The following students are assumed to have met this entry-level requirement:

1. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree (post-B.A. students).
2. Students who have earned an A.A. or A.S. degree at a Colorado community college within the past 10 years.
3. Students who have transferred a college-level mathematics course from another post-secondary institution.
4. Students who have AP Calculus scores of 3 or higher.

Math 099 Basic Algebra Review is offered through the Extended Studies program at Western.

This course is graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Additional fees are charged to take this course.

Mathematics Placement Tests

The Accuplacer Elementary Algebra Test and the Accuplacer College-Level Mathematics Test are administered during all summer orientation sessions. Additional testing opportunities are available through the academic year.