Course Placement & Testing

Southwestern strives to place students into math and writing courses appropriate to their academic development.  This is typically done through standardized testing (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer, GED).  Alternatively, students may be placed into appropriate coursework using a Multiple Measures placement process.  During this process intake advisors will look at previous coursework taken, how long it has been since your last class, and other relevant factors. 

The below charts are used by college staff to navigate your placement process. Questions? Call an advisor at 541-888-7405 or email ssc@socc.edu.

Math Placement Chart

High School Measures (took full year of Math within the past year)

Test/Class Score/Grade Placement
Calculus A, B, or C MTH251
Calculus D MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
Pre-Calculus A or B MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
Pre-Calculus C w/ H.S. GPD higher than 3.0 MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
Pre-Calculus C w/ H.S. GPA lower than 3.0 MTH95/98
Pre-Calculus D MTH95/98
Statistics/Algebra II A or B w/ H.S. CPA 3.0 or higher MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
Statistics/Algebra II B w/ H.S. GPA lower than 3.0 MTH95/98
Statistics/Algebra II C or D MTH65/98
Geometry/Financial Alg./Integrated III A or B or C MTH65/98

Exam Measures (exam completed within the past year)

Test/Class Score/Grade Placement
ACT/SAT 23+ or 561+ MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
ACT/SAT 13-22 or 440-560 MTH65/98
GED 175+ MTH112Z
GED 165-174 MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
GED 155-164 MTH95/98
GED 145-154 MTH65/98

High School Measures (took full year of Math within the past 1-5 years)

Test/Class Score/Grade Placement
Calculus A or B MTH251
Calculus C MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
Calculus D MTH95/98
Pre-Calculus A or B w/ H.S. GPA 3.0 or higher MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
Pre-Calculus B w/ H.S. GPA lower than 3.0 MTH95/98
Pre-Calculus C or D MTH65/98
Statistics/Algebra II A or B w/ H.S. GPA 3.0 or higher MTH95/98
Statistics/Algebra II B w/ H.S. GPA lower than 3.0 or C MTH65/98
Statistics/Algebra II D MTH65/98
Geometry/Financial Alg./Integrated III A, B, or C w/ H.S. GPA 3.0 or higher MTH65/98

Exam Measures (exam completed within the past 1-5 years)

Test/Class Score/Grade Placement
ACT/SAT 23+ or 561+ MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
ACT/SAT 17-22 or 440-560 MTH65/98
GED 165-174 MTH95/98
GED 145-164 MTH65/98

Accuplacer Next Generation

Test/Class Score/Grade Placement
Accuplacer Next Generation Gen Math: 276+ MTH251
Accuplacer Next Generation Gen Math: 263-275 MTH112Z
Accuplacer Next Generation Gen Math: 245-262 MTH105Z/111Z/211/STAT243Z
Accuplacer Next Generation Gen Math: 228-244 MTH95
Accuplacer Next Generation Gen Math: 211-227 or Gen Algebra: 239-275 MTH65/98 OR MTH80/81/82

Writing Placement Chart 

High School Measures (took full year of Language Arts within the past 5 years)

Test/Class Score/Grade Placement
English 12 or Equivalent A or B WR121Z
English 12 or Equivalent C w/ GPA higher than 3.0 WR121Z
English 12 or Equivalent C w/ GPA lower than 3.0 WR121Z w/ WR95
English 12 or Equivalent D WR90R
English 11 or Equivalent A or B WR121Z
English 11 or Equivalent C w/ GPA higher than 3.0 WR121Z w/95
English 11 or Equivalent C w/ GPA lower than 3.0 or D WR90R
English 10 or Equivalent A WR121Z
English 10 or Equivalent B or instructor approval WR121Z w/95
English 10 or Equivalent C or D WR90R

Exam Measures (exam completed within the past 5 years)

Test/Class Score/Grade Placement
ACT/SAT 23+/521+ WR121Z
ACT/SAT 16-22/491-520 WR121Z w/ WR95
ACT/SAT <16/<491 WR90R
GED 165+ WR121Z
GED 155-164 WR121Z w/ WR95
GED 145-154 WR90R

Alternative Measures (Language Arts course or exam completed more than 5 years ago)

Test/Class Score/Grade Placement
Accuplacer Next Generation 256-300 WR121Z
Accuplacer Next Generation 241-255 WR121Z w/95
Accuplacer Next Generation <241 WR90R

Testing Information

College credit may be awarded for successful completion of Advanced Placement/CLEP tests. To view test information please visit College Board. Southwestern requires students to send their official Advanced Placement/CLEP test scores to our Transcript Evaluator for processing. Questions? Call our Transcript Evaluator at 541-888-7246 or email transcripts@socc.edu.