Placement tests determine a student’s reading, writing, and mathematics skills to ensure students are successful in the courses they choose. All placement tests allow students to retest and/or work up to a higher-level course.
Who needs to take placement tests?
New FVCC students who are:
High school graduates (within the last two years):
If you took the ACT and have access to your scores, you may not be required to take the placements. Bring your scores to the advising meeting.
Math: If you scored below 18 on the math section or earned below a 3.0 GPA, we recommend taking the math placement before your advisor meeting. See Math Placement below.
Writing/Reading: If you earned below 18 on the English section or 7 on the writing section, you will need to take the reading or writing placements. See Reading & Writing Placement below.
High school graduates (out of high school for more than two years) need to take placements
Transfer students without previous math, and/or reading and writing courses need to take placements
Running Start students wishing to enroll in FVCC courses need to take placements
Where do I find my scores?
You will find your results on your Student Portal. On the top menu bar, click on “student resources” and then select “advising portal”. In the advising portal, you select “placement” from the left-hand menu bar.
If you have any questions, need an advising appointment, or need testing accommodations due to disability to complete the placement tests, please call (406) 756-3880.
Math Placement
Do I need to take the math placement?
Yes
New FVCC students who have been out of high school for more than two years
Transfer students without previous college math courses
Running Start students wishing to enroll in FVCC courses
Maybe
If you graduated from high school within the last two years, you may be eligible to register for math courses without taking the math placement test. Review the criteria for direct placement in FVCC math courses.
No
If you are transferring to FVCC with college credit for math, and/or you earned AP or IB credit for math, you will not be required to take the math placement.
How do I take the math placement?
Instructions for taking the Math Placement Exam
Step 1: Register to take the Math Placement on your Student Portal
click "student resources"
click "advising portal"
click "placement"
click "register for math placement"
Registration for math placements are processed Monday-Friday. You will need to wait 24 hours until you can access the Math Placement on EdReady.
Step 2: Accessing the Math Placement:
An email will be sent to you with login instructions - you need this email to access the math placement
What do my scores mean, and how do I improve them?
You will find your results on your Student Portal. On the left hand menu bar, click on “admissions status” and then select “placement.” Each score has a score guide connected. We recommend discussing your scores with your Academic Advisor and/or email placement@fvcc.edu if you have additional questions.
After you complete the initial diagnostic, you now have the option to level up and increase your math placement up to two levels by working through the Study Path in the EdReady MT program. This can be achieved through completing the tests on specific topics or entire units within the EdReady MT Study Path. As you prepare for these tests, the EdReady MT program has many instructional tools built in, including videos, worked examples and practice problems, to help prepare you for these tests. Your Study Path work must be complete by the third week of the fall or spring semester. After the third week of the fall or spring semester, the placement and Study Path will reset.
Reading & Writing Placement
Do I need to take the Reading & Writing Placement?
Yes
New FVCC students without ACT scores
Transfer students without previous college writing courses
Running Start students wishing to enroll in FVCC courses
Maybe
If you took the ACT test in the last two years, you may not need to take the Reading & Writing Placement. The following ACT scores enable you to directly enter college level courses and skip the Reading & Writing Placement:
7 or higher on the ACT Writing all other years, or
18 or higher on the ACT English
No
If you are transferring to FVCC with college credit for writing, and/or you earned AP or IB credit for English, Language or Literature test scores, you will not be required to take the Reading & Writing Placement.
How do I take the Reading & Writing Placement?
The Reading & Writing Placement is available online. You are permitted one attempt at the Reading & Writing Placement each semester. If you need a second attempt, please contact placement@fvcc.edu.
Instructions for taking the Reading & Writing Placement
Step 1: Register to take the Reading & Writing Placement on your Student Portal.
Click “student resources”
Click "advising portal"
Click “placement"
Click “register for reading and writing placement”
You will need to wait 2-3 hours until you can access the Reading & Writing Placement on Eagle Online
Step 2: Accessing the Reading & Writing Placement:
Log in using your Student Portal username + '@fvcc.edu' and password
Click on "Reading and Writing Placement"
Click on “writing placement”
Give yourself approximately one hour to write a short essay response to the prompt provided.
You must complete the Writing Placement once you begin, but you have unlimited time.
Click on “reading placement”
You will then read short essays and answer 25 multiple choice questions.
Chemistry Placement
Do I need to take the chemistry placement?
Yes
New FVCC students who have been out of high school for more than two years and want to take chemistry at FVCC
Transfer students without previous college chemistry who want to take chemistry at FVCC
Running Start students wishing to enroll in FVCC chemistry courses
Maybe
If you graduated from high school within the last two years, you may be eligible to register for chemistry courses without taking the chemistry placement test. Review the criteria for direct placement into FVCC chemistry courses.
No
If you are transferring to FVCC with college credit for chemistry, and/or you earned AP or IB credit for chemistry, you will not be required to take the chemistry placement.
Please note:
The chemistry placement is optional, and only intended for students who want to take chemistry courses. Chemistry courses are not required for all degree programs.
If you wish to try to place into a higher level chemistry course, you can log into your ALEKS account from home and work through more topics using “learning mode”.
You have until the last day to add a class in the upcoming semester (or 18 weeks, whichever comes first) from the date and time you register in ALEKS for the chemistry placement test to work on these topics.
Please note: The chemistry placement is optional, and only intended for students who want to take chemistry courses. Chemistry courses are not required for all degree programs.
