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Course Placement Information

In order to maximize students' chances for success, WKU has implemented admissions/enrollment criteria and conditions that reflect a combination of individual measures (e.g., high school GPA, composite ACT) that, in combination are proven indicators of student persistence, retention and performance.  WKU is placing a greater emphasis on placing students in advising tracks and first-year courses according to their readiness needs and declared major upon entry.

It is recommended that students requiring multiple supplemental courses limit their registration in supplemental courses to two in their first semester. 

 

*Please note beginning Fall 2019, ALL test scores will expire for placement purposes four (4) years after the original test date!

 

Supplemental Courses at WKU

  

English Placement 
ACT English

SAT

Writ& Lang

COMPASS*

Writing

ACCUPLACER

English

ACCUPLACER

Next Generation Writing

KYOTE

Writing

 GED College Readiness PARCC Smarter Balanced

English Placement

Initial Course
0-17 0-24 0-73 0-60 0-246  N/A N/A N/A N/A ENG 100/ENG 105
18-28 25 or higher 74 or higher 61 or hiigher  247 or higher 6 or higher 165 or higher 4 or higher Level 4 ENG 100

*COMPASS tests are no longer administerd, however test scores are still valid for English placement purposes if scores are less than four years old.

The following scores will give a student credit for ENG 100: ACT 29+, OLD SAT 650_ on Verbal/Critical Reading, NEW SAT 35+ on Writing and Language.

A score of a 480+ on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test will place a student into ENG 100.

 

 

Reading Placement 
ACT Reading

SAT

Reading

ACCUPLACER

Reading

ACCUPLACER

Next Gen Reading

KYOTE

Reading

 GED College Readiness

PARCC

Reading

Smarter Balanced

reading

Reading Placement

Initial Course
0-19 10-24 0-85 0-261 0-19 N/A N/A N/A Specific section of IDST 199
20-36 25 or higher 86 or higher  262 or higher 20 or higher 165 or higher 4 or higher Level 4 No reading course needed.

*COMPASS tests are no longer administerd, however test scores are still valid for Reading placement purposes if scores are less than four years old. 

 

 

Math Placement (Algebra) 
ACT Math SAT Math MPE KYOTE (College Algebra) GED Mathematical Reasoning ALEKS PPL Initial Course
0-19 0-510 0-11 0-11 N/A N/A MA 115C/116C & MATH 105
20-21 520-550 12-13 12-13 N/A N/A MA 115C/116C
22 or higher 560-620 14 or higher 14 or higher 175 or higher 46 or higher MATH 115/116

Note:  It is recommended that students with an Accuplacer score of 85 or higher take an additional placement exam to demonstrate readiness for Math 116. Accuplacer only places for developmental math.

MATH 116 credit will be awarded with the following scores: ACT 26+ or SAT 630+

Math Placement (Statistics) 
ACT Math SAT Math MPE KYOTE (College Algebra) GED Mathematical Reasoning ALEKS PPL Initial Course
0-19 0-510 0-11 0-11 N/A N/A MA 115C/116C & MATH 105
20-21 520-550 12-13 12-13 N/A N/A MA 115C/116C
22 or higher 560 or higher 14 or higher 14 or higher N/A 46 or higher MATH 183

The following math placement exam scores expire after one year: MPE, MDE, COMPASS (Algebra), Accuplacer, KYOTE (College Readiness Math and College Algebra).

** All scores in this range must also have a score of a 10 or higher on the MPTE

 

Math Placement (Algebra for Business) 
ACT Math SAT Math MPE KYOTE (College Algebra) GED Mathematical Reasoning ALEKS PPL Initial Course
0-21 0-550 0-13 0-13 N/A N/A MATH 123/MATH 105
22 or higher 560 or higher 14 or higher 14 or higher 175 or higher 46 or higher MATH 123

MATH 123 is only for declared business majors

The following math placement exam scores expire after one year: MPE, MDE, COMPASS (Algebra), Accuplacer, KYOTE (College Readiness Math and College Algebra)

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 Last Modified 3/4/21