Placement Testing

Placement testing provides an accurate and timely assessment of a student’s academic proficiency levels, which help determine the most appropriate courses in English, reading, and math. Placement test scores will indicate whether or not a student needs any or all of the pre-curriculum math and/or English modules.

  • Typically, placement test scores are valid for five calendar years after the year the student tested. However, they can be accepted up to 10 years if scores are available in a student record or paper format.
  • Placement tests do not give credit for course work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Placement tests may be waived for applicants under the following conditions:

  • High School graduation less than 10 years ago.
  • ACT or SAT scores that are less than 10 years old.
  • College level English or Math at another institution that is accepted by this College.
  • Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Other placement scores that have been taken within the last 10 years and have a crosswalk.

 Most placement test scores are currently valid for five years: however, we will accept them up to 10 years if scores are available in a student record or paper format.

Please read the Assessment Center Policies to ensure you are in compliance while testing.

Assessment Center Policies

  • A Photo ID is required for identification.
  • Cell phones should be powered off; not on silent or vibrate.
  • No food is permitted in the testing area.
  • No drinks are permitted in the testing area.
  • Test takers are not permitted to wear hats or sunglasses.
  • Children are not allowed in the testing area.

You will be advised of additional test procedures upon your arrival at the Assessment Center.

Lockers

Prior to beginning any test you will be provided with a locker. All personal property; cell phones, hats, purses, book bags, etc. must be stored in the provided locker.

Restroom Breaks During Test

  • Faculty tests – no breaks permitted unless authorized on the instructor form.
  • Correspondence testing – no breaks permitted unless authorized on the proctor form.
  • Placement test – breaks are allowed.
  • TEAS test – one authorized break; others are allowed but are included within test time.

Please note that any violations of the above policies will result in the test being stopped and the faculty member notified of an incomplete test.

RISE Placement Test – English

There are two RISE English placement tests; Tier 1 and Tier 2. Students must earn a score of 70 or higher on each test to advance to the next level. That is, if a student earns a 70 or 70% or higher on Tier 1, then he/she will move on Tier 2. If the student does not earn a score of 70 or higher on Tier 1, then he/she cannot take Tier 2.

Student performance on each RISE English test corresponds with the RISE tiers that are used for placement into college-level courses with or without co-requisite support.

Students may take the RISE English placement test a maximum of two times (one original and one retest).

RISE Placement Test – Math

There are three RISE math placement tests. Students must earn a 70 or 70% on each test to advance to the next. That is, if a student earns a 70 or higher on Test 1, then he/she can take Test 2. If the student earns a 69 or lower on Test 2, then he/she cannot take Test 3. The same applies to movement between Tier 2 to Tier 3

Student performance on each RISE math test corresponds with the RISE tiers that are used for placement into college-level courses with or without co-requisite support.

Students may take the RISE math placement test a maximum of two times (one original and one retest) in a 10-year period.

All individuals desiring to take a placement test must have a completed application for admission on file with GTCC.

If you contact Admissions remotely via email, by phone, or in person, regarding placement testing the Admissions office will email the Assessment Center to provide name, student id, student email address and which test or tests you, as the applicant, must take.

Once the Assessment Center has received a placement testing email the applicant will be contacted to identify how they want to take the placement test, in person (face-to-face) or remotely.

For in person or face-to-face placement testing

  • A valid photo ID is required for testing (GTCC student ID, driver’s license, military ID, or passport). A photo or photocopy of your ID is not acceptable.
  • Student provided calculators and dictionaries are not allowed during placement tests. The Assessment Center will provide a calculator and formula sheet for the RISE Math Placement Test.
  • The Assessment Center will provide pencils and scratch paper.

Upon completion of the placement tests, students will receive their test results and will be directed to meet with a student success professional to discuss the results and next steps.

Scheduling Your Face-to-Face Placement Test 

  1. Register for an appointment
  2. Select Jamestown, Greensboro, or High Point campus. 
  3. Choose Face-2-Face Placement Test from the drop-down list. 
  4. Select the date on which you want to test. 
  5. Select the time you wish to test. 
  6. Enter your full name and email address. 
  7. After reading the guidelines and policies, click on the checkbox indicating you agree.  
  8. Enter your phone number in the needed information. 
  9. Click the green Add to Cart button. 
  10. To finalize the transaction, you must click the green Complete Registration button. 

You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your appointment.

You will also receive a reminder email 24 hours before your test.  

Scheduling Your Remotely Proctored Placement Test

  1. Register for an appointment
  2. Select Jamestown Campus.
  3. For choose an exam, you will want to select which test you are going to take (Ex. Remote Placement Test - Math Tier 1 or Tier 1 Retest).
  4. Read the exam description to ensure you are selecting the correct test.
  5. Choose the date you want to test.
  6. Choose the 8:30 am time slot. (This means your test is available any time after 8:30 am. You are not required to test at 8:30 am.)
  7. Enter the required information.
  8. After reading the guidelines and Assessment Center policies, click on the check box indicating you agree.
  9. Add your GTCC student ID number and your phone number.
  10. Click the green ADD TO CART button.
  11. To finalize the transaction, you must click the green COMPLETE REGISTRATION button. 

You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your appointment.

You will also receive a reminder email 24 hours before your test.

Scheduling Your Face-to-Face Placement Test 

  1. Register for an appointment
  2. Select Jamestown, Greensboro, or High Point campus. 
  3. Choose Face-2-Face Placement Test from the drop-down list. 
  4. Select the date on which you want to test. 
  5. Select the time you wish to test. 
  6. Enter your full name and email address. 
  7. After reading the guidelines and policies, click on the checkbox indicating you agree.  
  8. Enter your phone number in the needed information. 
  9. Click the green Add to Cart button. 
  10. To finalize the transaction, you must click the green Complete Registration button. 

You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your appointment.

You will also receive a reminder email 24 hours before your test.  

Scheduling Your Remotely Proctored Placement Test

  1. Register for an appointment
  2. Select Jamestown Campus.
  3. For choose an exam, you will want to select which test you are going to take (Ex. Remote Placement Test - Math Tier 1 or Tier 1 Retest).
  4. Read the exam description to ensure you are selecting the correct test.
  5. Choose the date you want to test.
  6. Choose the 8:30 am time slot. (This means your test is available any time after 8:30 am. You are not required to test at 8:30 am.)
  7. Enter the required information.
  8. After reading the guidelines and Assessment Center policies, click on the check box indicating you agree.
  9. Add your GTCC student ID number and your phone number.
  10. Click the green ADD TO CART button.
  11. To finalize the transaction, you must click the green COMPLETE REGISTRATION button. 

You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your appointment.

You will also receive a reminder email 24 hours before your test.

Creating a Student Account for RISE Placement Testing

If you are taking a placement test, either remotely or face-to-face, you must have created your EdReady account before you start to test. Using your GTCC email address is required!

  1. Visit the EdReady page
  2. Click the Get Started button.
  3. Type in the required information – YOU MUST USE YOUR GTCC EMAIL.
  4. Click on Sign Up for EdReady.
  5. Check your GTCC email for an account activation email from EdReady.
  6. Activate your EdReady account from the link in the email. Now you’re ready to start your placement testing at the Assessment Center in the AT building, Room 220.

* Ignore the Goal Key prompt; the Assessment Center will input that information on the day of your test.

GTCC Retest Policy

An applicant who scores less than 69 on a tier test requires the tester to contact a Student Success Advisor to determine if retesting is in the best interest of the applicant. With RISE placement testing an applicant is allowed one original test for each tier in English and math and one retest for each tier. Test scores are good for 10 years.

If the student has already begun the Developmental Education sequence, they may not retest and must complete the sequence appropriate for their program of study.

For Face-to-Face Retest of Placement Test

  1. Meet with an adviser in the Student Success Center to obtain their signed permission (pink card) to retake the placement test.
  2. Review the resource material.
  3. Schedule your face-to-face placement testing appointment via RegisterBlast.
  4. On the day of your test, go to the Assessment Center with certificate and signed testing card (pink card).

Scheduling Your Face-to-Face Placement Test

To begin go to RegisterBlast.

  1. Select Jamestown Campus.
  2. Choose Face-to-Face Placement Test from the drop-down list.
  3. Select the date on which you want to test.
  4. Select the time you wish to test.
  5. Next, enter your Full Name and email address.
  6. After reading the guidelines and policies, click on the check box.
  7. Enter your phone number in the needed information.
  8. Click the green Add to Cart button.
  9. To finalize the transaction, you must click the green Complete Registration option.

You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your appointment.

You will also receive a reminder email 24 hours before your test.

For Remote Retest of Placement Test

  1. In some cases Assessment Center staff are able to offer the individual a retest. However, they will also direct the individual to the available resource material to review before taking the retest.
  2. If the Assessment Center staff are unable to offer a retest, the individual will be referred to Student Success for further assistance. During this conversation the individual and Student Success will determine the best course of action for the student. If a retest is approved, the Student Success professional will email the Assessment Center notifying them to proceed with retest. Student Success will also direct the individual to available resource material for review.
  3. Schedule your remote placement testing appointment

Scheduling Your Remote Placement Test

To begin go to RegisterBlast.

  1. Select Jamestown Campus.
  2. Choose the appropriate test Remote Placement Test – English Tier 1 or Tier 1 Retest from the drop-down list.
  3. Read the exam description.
  4. Select the date on which you want to test.
  5. Select 8:30 am.
  6. Next, enter your full name and email address.
  7. After reading the guidelines and policies, click on the check box.
  8. Enter your phone number in the needed information.
  9. Click the green Add to Cart button.
  10. To finalize the transaction, you must click the green Complete registration option.

You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your appointment.

You will also receive a reminder email 24 hours before your test.

Applicants may qualify for appropriate testing accommodations (such as, separate room; extended time; Closed Circuit TV (CCTV); audio tape; large print; reader; interpreter; scribe) on the basis of a documented disability. Applicants with an obvious disability may not need to submit documentation in order to receive appropriate testing accommodations.

Procedures For Accessing Placement Test Accommodations

  1. Admissions staff should refer applicants who request testing accommodations to disAbility Access Services.
  2. Documentation will be requested.  A disAbility Access Services counselor will review documentation to determine appropriate accommodations.
  3. A disAbility Access Services counselor will complete a Placement Test Accommodations Referral Form and give it to the applicant. Applicants must contact the Assessment Center and make an appointment to reserve a separate room for testing if one is needed. The disAbility Access Services counselor will coordinate interpreter, scribe or reader accommodations.
  4. Applicants must present the Placement Test Accommodations Referral Form at the time of testing. No testing accommodations will be made without a completed Referral Form.
  5. Assessment Center staff will refer the applicant back to the disAbility Access Services counselor upon test completion for advising.
  6. The Assessment Center staff will maintain a file of all Placement Test Accommodations Referral Forms. All records will remain confidential.

Please complete the Transcript Request form, indicating on the form that the placement test scores are to be included in the request and to which school. The form can be found in the Student Success area or the Assessment Center. The individual will then pay the $5.00 fee at the Cashier’s office. After that the form and receipt are turned into the Records Office. Staff there will ensure the request is completed in a timely manner.

There is no charge if you are a GTCC student or are applying to attend GTCC. There is a $5.00 charge if you will not be a GTCC student and need your scores sent to another institution.

RISE placement test tiers take approximately 50 minutes to complete. As always, some students finish quicker and some take longer to complete the test.

GTCC allows you to retest once on the placement test.

You will need to talk with an advisor to receive authorization to retest.

Placement Test review resources can be found on our placement test preparation page.