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Placement Assessments

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Effective Date: Fall 2026
Last Reviewed: Spring 2026
Last Revised: Fall 2022
Next Review: Fall 2035

Policy Statement

Kent State University uses ACT, SAT, GED, high school GPA and/or placement assessment(s) to determine appropriate course placement in mathematics, English, foreign language and critical reading strategies. Any required placement assessments must be completed before a student registers for classes in order to ensure student readiness and correct course placement. Any student required to attend a campus-specific orientation program (e.g., Destination Kent State) will be required to complete all appropriate assessments prior to the orientation program.

Students who earn college credit before enrolling at Kent State may be exempt from taking some or all placement assessments. Students must submit their college transcripts — including College Credit Plus and dual enrollment credit, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and military transcript(s) — for review and consideration of transfer credits in order to be exempt from taking some or all placement assessments.

Most assessments are accessible online. Students will be provided with information about assessments that are required and how to access the assessment, either by e-mail, "My Lists" Checklist or some other form of communication.

Time Limits

ACT, SAT, ALEKS mathematics and Accuplacer scores are accepted for two years from the date of the assessment and can be used for placement in mathematics, English and critical reading strategies. Placement assessment scores for foreign language provided through WebCape can be used for one year from the date of assessment.

Reason for Policy

A university placement policy ensures that students begin their coursework at a level that matches their current knowledge and skills, which supports academic success and persistence. A clear placement policy also promotes equity and consistency by applying uniform standards across students and modalities, while allowing for multiple measures (e.g., test scores, prior coursework, GPA) to account for diverse educational backgrounds.

Procedures

There are no procedures associated with this policy.

Forms/Instructions

There are no forms associated with this policy.

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the purpose of placement assessments?
    Placement assessments are designed to help your academic advisor determine which courses will provide the best opportunity for your success. Placement assessment scores will not be used to determine admission to Kent State University or to any academic program, nor are the results a part of your permanent record.
  2. What courses require placement?
    Kent State University currently requires students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in English writing, mathematics, foreign language and reading (the latter for regional campus students only). You can demonstrate your knowledge and skills through ACT or SAT scores, high school GPA and/or specialized placement assessments (e.g., ALEKS). If you do not have a high school GPA or ACT/ SAT scores, you will be asked to complete an alternative assessment.
  3. I've taken the ACT several times, as well as the SAT. Which score will be used for placement?
    The highest ACT or SAT score, as well as your high school GPA, will be used for placement.
  4. How will I know what specific placement assessments to complete?
    You should log in to FlashLine and view your My Lists tab (top right corner) to view your required placement assessments on the Next Steps checklist.

Definitions

Advanced Placement (AP): A program through the College Board that awards college credit based on college-level high school courses and tests administered through the high schools.

ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces): A web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what students knows and do not know in a course. ALEKS then instructs students on the topics they are most ready to learn. As students work through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses them to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage, and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions. Students who show a high level of mastery of an ALEKS course will be successful in the actual course they are taking. (Source: www.aleks.com)

College Credit Plus (CCP): Ohio's dual-enrollment program that allows students in grades 7-12 to earn high school and college credit simultaneously.

Destination Kent State: A three-part orientation program designed for first-year students to familiarize them with Kent State University. The program provides new students with the tools necessary to enjoy a successful journey to graduation.

International Baccalaureate (IB): A two-year program for ages 16–19 that allows students to earn college credit for demonstrating academic mastery among six subject areas.

Related Information

Revision History

Amended Fall 2026: Revised policy updates “critical and core reading strategies” to “critical reading strategies.” This policy is removed from the University Readiness Standards policy to become a separate listing.

Amended Fall 2022: Revised policy adds high school GPA as placement criterion; removes general chemistry from placement areas as well as all chemistry ALEKS assessment language. Time limits now apply only to ACT
SAT, ALEKS mathematics, Accuplacer and WebCape.

Amended Fall 2017: Revised policy updates validity rules for ALEKS mathematics (accepted for two years) and ALEKS chemistry (semester of CHEM 10060/CHEM 10062 registration. Listing of COMPASS is removed, as is the statement of reassessment requirement after one year.

Amended Fall 2016: Revised policy adds GED as placement criterion; changes "reading and study strategies"
to “critical and core reading strategies"; adds stipulation that orientation is required; expands transfer-credit sources; and clarifies reassessment requirement after one year.

Amended Fall 2014: Revised policy introduces broader language for ACT/SAT and/or placement assessment(s). Adds the following: placement areas in reading and study strategies requirement that assessments be completed before registration; statement regarding student readiness and correct course selection; statement regarding student readiness and correct course selection; chemistry ALEKS assessment language tied to CHEM 10060; orientation-related assessment requirement language; exemption language for students with prior college credit; transcript review requirement for transfer credit evaluation; statement that most assessments are online; communication methods for assessment instructions; and validity periods of ACT/SAT valid for two years and ALEKS/WebCape valid for one year. Policy name changes from Placement Testing to Placement Assessment.

Amended Fall 2011: Revised policy updates in-person COMPASS testing during Destination Kent State to online placement testing before orientation. Added are notation of placement testing areas in mathematics, foreign language and general chemistry. Writing and academic skills placement now based on ACT/SAT scores. COMPASS only required for students without ACT/SAT scores. Transfer student placement guidance are added, as well as emphasis on reviewing placement results during advising.