Course Placement

To maximize students' chances for success, WKU has implemented admissions/enrollment criteria that are proven indicators of student persistence, retention, and performance. WKU emphasizes placing students in first-year courses according to their college readiness needs and declared major upon entry.

WKU offers supplemental courses in mathematics, reading, and writing. Supplemental courses are designed to help students effectively learn course content and academic success strategies. Course placement is based on the unweighted high school GPA or standardized test scores (ACT, SAT, etc.) submitted to WKU.

When determining course placement, WKU will use EITHER unweighted high school GPA or standardized test scores. Academic advisors will automatically use the highest GPA or test scores available as they help students register for classes.

Students who do not wish to take supplemental courses may send updated transcripts or test scores to WKU, or take an approved placement exam and achieve the minimum scores. All test scores expire after four years, unless otherwise indicated.

For placement information about other math courses, including Statistics, Trigonometry, and Calculus I, please refer to the placement chart website from the Department of Mathematics.

Writing (English) Placement
Unweighted High School GPA	ACT English	SAT Writing and Language	ACCUPLACER English	ACCUPLACER Next Gen Writing	KYOTE Writing	GED College Readiness LA	PARCC ELA/Literacy	Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy	Initial Course Placement
2.00-3.49	0-17	0-21	0-60	0-249	0-5	0-164	Levels 1-3	Levels 1-3	ENG 100E & ENG 105
3.50 or higher	18-28	22-34	61 or higher	250 or higher	6 or higher	165 or higher	Level 4 or higher	Level 4	ENG 100
Course placement is determined by EITHER unweighted high school GPA or standardized test scores. A score of 480+ on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test will place students into ENG 100. Scores of 29+ on the ACT English test or 35+ on the SAT Writing and Language test will give students credit for ENG 100.

Reading Placement
Unweighted High School GPA	ACT Reading	SAT Reading	ACCUPLACER Reading	ACCUPLACER Next Gen Reading	KYOTE Reading	GED College Readiness LA	PARCC ELA/Literacy	Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy	Initial Course Placement
2.00-2.99	0-19	0-23	0-85	0-249	0-19	0-164	Levels 1-3	Levels 1-3	IDST 199
3.00 or higher	20 or higher	24 or higher	86 or higher	250 or higher	20 or higher	165 or higher	Level 4 or higher	Level 4	No reading course needed
Course placement is determined by EITHER unweighted high school GPA or standardized test scores.

Math Placement (Non-Algebra Majors)
Unweighted High School GPA	ACT Math	SAT Math	MPE	KYOTE College Readiness	GED Mathematical Reasoning	PARCC Math	Smarter Balanced Math	ALEKS PPL	Initial Course Placement
2.00-2.99	0-18	0-500	N/A	0-21	0-164	Levels 1-3	Levels 1-3	0-29	MA 109C or MATH 112 with support
3.00 or higher	19 or higher	510 or higher	N/A	22 or higher	165 or higher	Level 4 or higher	Level 4	30 or higher	MATH 109 or MATH 112
Course placement is determined by EITHER unweighted high school GPA or standardized test scores. The following math placement exam scores expire after one year: KYOTE, PARCC, and ALEKS PPL.

Math Placement (Algebra)
Unweighted High School GPA	ACT Math	SAT Math	MPE	KYOTE College Algebra	GED Mathematical Reasoning	ALEKS PPL	Initial Course Placement
2.00-2.99	0-19	0-510	0-11	0-11	N/A	N/A	MA 115C/116C & MATH 105
3.00-3.49	20-21	520-530	12-13	12-13	N/A	N/A	MA 115C/116C
3.50 or higher	22-25	540-620	14 or higher	14 or higher	175 or higher	46 or higher	MATH 115/116
Course placement is determined by EITHER unweighted high school GPA or standardized test scores. Scores of 26+ on the ACT Math test or 630+ on the SAT Math test will give students credit for MATH 116. The following math placement exam scores expire after one year: MPE, KYOTE, and ALEKS PPL.

Math Placement (Algebra for Business)
Unweighted High School GPA	ACT Math	SAT Math	MPE	KYOTE College Algebra	GED Mathematical Reasoning	ALEKS PPL	Initial Course Placement
2.00-3.49	0-21	0-530	0-13	0-13	0-174	0-45	MATH 123 & MATH 105
3.50 or higher	22 or higher	540 or higher	14 or higher	14 or higher	175 or higher	46 or higher	MATH 123
Course placement is determined by EITHER unweighted high school GPA or standardized test scores. The following math placement exam scores expire after one year: MPE, KYOTE, and ALEKS PPL.

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Course Placement

Writing (English) Placement

Reading Placement

Math Placement (Non-Algebra Majors)

Math Placement (Algebra)

Math Placement (Algebra for Business)