English Placement
What Is English Placement?
The goal of English placement is to make sure that you take the right English course for your goals and starting point at Seattle Central College.
Programs or courses may also have pre-requisites, so it’s important that you register for the right class for you.
We have a variety of ways to help you figure out which class suits your needs. There are many options and we are here to help!
What Assessment Path is Best For You?
Where are you coming from?
| Running Start | Completed High School in the Last 10 Years | Previous Seattle Central Course Work | Obtained a GED | No Prior College | Placement from Another School in the Last 3 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement | Directed Self-Placement |
| Smarter Balanced | Transcript Evaluation | Seattle Institute of English Coursework | GED Transcript | College Success Test | Placement Reciprocity |
| Transcript Evaluation | Smarter Balanced | ESL | Transcript Evaluation | Transfer of Placement Scores | |
| ACT, SAT or AP | Adult Basic Education | ||||
| Bridge to College | |||||
| 12th Grade Language Arts | |||||
| College Success Test | |||||
| TOEFL/IELTS |
Directed Self-Placement
We believe students know themselves best and the Directed Self-Placement process gives you the power to make an informed decision about which English course you choose. Directed Self-Placement is a short survey in which you answer a series of questions, look at readings and student writing samples, and determine for yourself which class works for you right now. Students on visas F, M, or J should contact the International Program for placement. Click on this link to take the Directed Self-Placement survey.
What does it make me eligible for?
ESL 098/099; ABE 062; English 105; English 098; English 099 I 101 (combined); English 101
Can I take a practice test?
No, there is no practice test because this is not a “test.” You take the survey and determine the English course that is best for you.
What do I do now?
You can use this link to take Directed Self-Placement. The Testing Center will upload your results the following business day
High School Transcripts
Your High School Transcript can be used in a variety of ways to place you into English classes.
Cumulative GPA
You can use your overall cumulative High School GPA to place into English classes. You may use either your Senior year mid-point cumulative GPA (12th grade semester 1) or your final cumulative GPA upon High School graduation (12th grade semester 2).
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a GPA of 2.0-2.4, you are eligible to take English 099/101. This course is 10 credits and you earn college credit for English 101 upon completion.
If you have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, you are eligible to take English 101. This course is 5 credits and you earn college credit for English 101 upon completion.
What do I do now?
Take your High School Transcript to the Testing Office.
Smarter Balanced
Many High School students take the Smarter Balanced exam to find out which English or Math classes they qualify for.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a Smarter Balanced score of 3 or 4, you are eligible to take English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your Smarter Balanced exam results to the Testing Office.
Bridge to College
Some High School students take a course that makes them eligible for English 101 even if other scores do not qualify them.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a “B” or better in a Bridge to College Course you are eligible to take English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your High School Transcript to the Admissions Department.
GED
The GED is a four-part test. You may use your score in Reasoning and Language Arts to place into English 101. You may take the GED at Seattle Central College or local correctional institutions.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a Reasoning and Language Arts score of 145 – 164, you are eligible for English 099 / 101.
If you have a Reasoning and Language Arts score of 165 or higher, you are eligible for English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your GED Transcript to the Testing Office.
ACT
The ACT Test is taken at designated ACT Centers and there are costs associated with it.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have an ACT Test score of 19 or higher in English and Reading, you are eligible for English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your official ACT score to the Testing Office. (www.act.org. College code 4475.)
SAT
The SAT Test is taken at designated SAT Centers and there are costs associated with it.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a score of 510 or above in SAT Evidenced Based Reading and Writing, you are eligible for English 101.
What do I do now?
Take your official SAT score to the Testing Office. (http://www.collegeboard.org. College code 4033.)
AP
Some High School students take AP classes, otherwise called Advanced Placement classes.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a score of 4 or 5 for an AP class in English, you will receive credit for English 101 and be eligible for English 102.
What do I do now?
Have your official AP score sent to Seattle Central.
12th Grade Language Arts
Washington State 12th graders take 2 semesters of Language Arts. You can use your grade to place into English classes. You may use either your Language Arts grade from Semester 1 or Semester 2.
What does it make me eligible for?
If you have a “C” grade or better, you are eligible to take English 099/101. This course is 10 credits and you earn college credit for English 101 upon completion.
If you have a "B” grade or better, you are eligible to take English 101. This course is 5 credits and you earn college credit for English 101 upon completion.
What do I do now?
Take your High School Transcript to the Admissions Department.
College Success Test
The College Success Test is an English placement test for ESL/English for non-native speakers.
- LOCATION: Proctored, and taken in the Testing Office
- TEST TIMES: Walk - in, no appointments needed: Please check schedule: can vary by quarter.
- COST & ID: $20, and Photo ID is required
- TIME LIMIT: None, test can be paused and saved for up to 30 days. (International Students: please check program requirements.)
- FORMAT: Computerized 3 multiple-choice sections (20 questions each) 1 short essay
- MATERIALS: Scratch paper, pencils.
- RETAKE: One retake is allowed within 2 years of first test, at any time. No waiting period.
- International Students: please check program policy.
- VALID FOR: No expiration.
- SCORING: Immediate, scores (0 - 20) for each multiple-choice section: Listening, Writing, Reading
What does it make me eligible for?
**This test does NOT place you into English 101.**
The test will only place you into ESL courses, including transitional.( International Students: please check with program for scoring rules.)
What do I do now?
Check the current test schedule, then walk-in to the center to take the test.
TOEFL
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an American English based placement test that measures English proficiency for non-native speakers.
The exam is online and is taken on a computer at ETS-authorized test centers. This test not given in Seattle Central’s Testing Office. The exam contains four components:
- Reading - 60-80 minutes
- Listening - 60-90 minutes
- Speaking - 20 minutes
- The speaking portion is through the computer
- Writing - 50 minutes
- The writing portion is typed
What does it make me eligible for?
This test is used to demonstrate English proficiency for placement in English classes. English proficiency determines where you begin your studies at Seattle Central. Test scores are valid for two years.
What do I do now?
Have your official TOEFL score sent to Seattle Central (Institution Code: 4741) and contact your program.
Reciprocity Policy
Placement Reciprocity is a statewide agreement that allows for the following:
Entering students who have qualified for a specific level of pre-college math, English, or reading, either through course completion or local skills assessment, at one Washington CTC, may have the course placement level honored at another Washington CTC if the student so requests, even if the courses may not be exact equivalents.
Entering students who qualify for entry into college–level math, English, or reading, either through course completion or local skills assessment, will be considered to have met the entry college–level standard at every community and technical college.
Students requesting reciprocity must initiate the process within one year of their initial placement assessment.
If you have questions about Placement Reciprocity, Admissions and Registration staff members are happy to assist you. You may download the Placement Reciprocity form.
- Information about how to send an official AP score report to Seattle Central
- Information about how to send an official IB score report to Seattle Central
International Credits
Students who wish to transfer credits from colleges and universities located outside the United States will need to have their transcripts evaluated by an independent international credentials evaluation agency. We recommend you use the services of one of the following organizations.
If applicable, be sure to select course–by–course evaluations. Those who are here studying on an F1 Visa must contact the International Programs office for information about transfer credit evaluations.
Recommended Credentials Evaluation Agencies
Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc.
P.O. Box 6908 Beverly Hills, CA 90212
p: 310.275.3530 f: 310.275.3528 acei@acei1.com | acei1.com
American Education Research Corporation
P.O. Box 996, West Covina, CA 91793–0996
p: 626.3389.4404 f: 626.339.9081 aerc–eval.com
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
PO Box 514070 Milwaukee, WI 53203–3470
p: 414.289.3400 f: 414.289.3411 eval@ece.org | ece.org
Foundation for International Services, Inc.
505 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 101, Edmonds, WA 98020
p: 425.248.2255 f: 425.248.2262 fis–web.com
International Consultants of Delaware
PO Box 8629 Philadelphia, PA 19101–8626
p: 215.222.8454 ext. 603 f: 215.349.0026 icdeval.com
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
7101 SW 102 Avenue Miami, FL 33173
p: 305.273.1616 f: 305.273.1338 fax translations: 305.273.1984 info@jsilny.com | jsilny.com
Official Transcript
An official transcript includes the Registrar's signature, the Seattle Central seal, and the date it was issued. An official transcript is delivered in a sealed envelope, which should not be opened by anyone except the addressee. It is a legal document. There is a fee of $7.50 for each official copy, effective summer quarter 2016.
Unofficial Transcript
An unofficial transcript is the student's academic record without signature, seal, date, or sealed envelope. There is no fee. A student may obtain an unofficial transcript by following the same procedure as for requesting an official transcript, set forth below. The student can also obtain the unofficial transcript through MyCentral.
Requesting Transcripts
Request an official transcript when you send it to another academic institution; a government agency; a bank; an employer; or you need legal proof of your academic record. Request an unofficial transcript when a legal document is not necessary, such as for your personal files.
You can access and download your unofficial transcripts are free. Learn more about how to request your official transcripts.