Course Planning: What Your Scores Mean

What was the point? ACCUPLACER scores allow colleges to place students in courses for which they have the best chance at success Your scores indicate your ability to be successful in courses based on the English, Reading, and Math skills and knowledge you had at the time you took the ACCUPLACER Briefly remind students what the ACCUPLACER assessment is and why they took it.

What to learn from your scores: Use them as a guide to know how prepared you are NOW to succeed at specific college courses. Recognize areas in grammar, reading, and math where you need to grow knowledge and practice skills to improve future scores. Explain that they should look at their specific score report during this presentation to learn how to use it for course planning for senior year, as well as to recognize any areas they need to improve skills.

English and Reading Scores 1 – Briefly explain that the RPL (Reading Placement Level) and EPL (English Placement Level) scores will range from a 0 to 25, and that their scores will appear at the bottom of the columns. 2 – ENG 101 – the first of two courses that fulfill University level English at all state 2- and 4-year colleges. ENG 101 is the prereq for ENG102. 3 & 4 – Briefly describe what it means in the “Degree” and “LIFE” columns. Explain that students in the various score ranges would complete developmental level courses that do not count toward degree programs before moving on to the degree-level courses. Course equivalencies: ENG100 = high school English IV

Math Scores Briefly explain that the MPL (Math Placement Level) is set up the same way as EPL. NOTE that several math courses also require a minimum RPL, as students would be expected to read textbooks.

Other Course Placements Explain that additional courses also may have RPL, EPL and MPL requirements

If scores don’t place at college level Continue taking high school courses to grow your knowledge and prepare yourself for college after high school graduation. Option 1 Seek out extra practice to enhance your knowledge and skills. Visit one of Tri-County’s campuses to retake the ACCUPLACER. Option 2 Recommend that they retake the ACCUPLACER in the spring after their knowledge base has grown in the courses they are taking this year if they want to take dual enrollment courses. If they are not planning to take dual enrollment courses, caution them against retaking the ACCUPLACER. Make them aware that there is a limit to taking the placement test on campus TWO times. Explain that after they reach the limit, they would only be able to test again after three years or after completing courses they do place into, such as at the high school level.

Choosing Dual Enrollment Courses Considerations: Challenge but do not overwhelm yourself Choose courses that will apply to your future college major or general education requirements

Choosing Math Courses Probability Elementary & Statistics Calculus Analytical Geometry & Calculus MAT120 Science, Business & Nursing programs 2-year degree programs MAT130 – MAT109 Business, Arts, Humanities & Social Science majors MAT140 – MAT110 & MAT111 Engineering, Science and Math majors Clarify to students math course choice, and how important it is to choose coursework based on their program of study. Explain that MAT140 is not necessarily the best option for starting out with math courses, and that many students opt to take MAT110, MAT111 in order to successfully complete MAT140. Students may take MAT109 to prepare for MAT130. Tell students that it is best to take the course they are prepared to be appropriately challenged and successful. Just as it would not be wise to ski on the black diamond slopes when you aren’t prepared, it is just as overwhelming to take a math course for which you are unprepared.

Students Pursuing a 4 Year Degree: Please refer to the transferring 4-year college's curriculum and its technical college course equivalency list when planning the course(s) for your program that you wish to take at TCTC. Please note as a guide the following: → 4-year degrees generally require ENG 101 and ENG 102 for Composition credit → Math, science, and engineering majors generally require MAT 140 Analytical Geometry & Calculus I → Liberal Arts majors generally require MAT 110 College Algebra or MAT 120 Probability & Statistics Direct students to the back of their ACCUPLACER score sheet for this information.

Students Pursuing a 2-Year Degree: English and Math Courses Required for TCTC's 2-Year Degrees listed below: ENG 101: English Composition I Associate in Arts or Science General or University Studies ADN Nursing (RN) Early Care & Education Media Arts Medical Laboratory Tech Pre-Dental Hygiene Pre-Pharmacy Veterinary Technology ENG 155: Communications I Accounting Administrative Office* Business Administration* Computer & Info Technology Criminal Justice MAT 120: Probability & Statistics Associate in Arts   General or University Studies ADN Nursing (RN) Early Care & Education Media Arts Medical Laboratory Tech Pre-Dental Hygiene Veterinary Technology Pre-Pharmacy (MAT 130 also) MAT 155: Contemporary Math Accounting Administrative Office* Computer & Information Technology Criminal Justice Early Childhood Development Management* ENG 165: Professional Communication Automotive Technology* CNC Programming and Operations* Engineering Design Technology General Engineering Technology Heat, Vent & Air Conditioning* Industrial Electronics Technology* Manufacturing Management & Leadership* Mechatronics Technology* Welding Technology* MAT 170: Algebra, Geometry, & Trig Automotive Technology*   Engineering Graphics General Engineering Technology Heat, Vent & AC* Industrial Electronics Technology* Manufacturing Management & Leadership* CNC Programming and Operations* Mechatronics Technology* Welding Technology Use ADN Nursing as an example for how to find the best course choices for students who know which 2-year degree program they are interested in pursuing at TCTC

Explain that we have pathways that we can provide to students in the fields that they see in the 2-year degree options on their ACCUPLACER score sheet. This is an example of the Nursing pathway that allows high school students to get a head start so that they can begin clinicals their first semester of college out of high school. Once completing the ADN (Associate Degree Nursing) program at TCTC, students can go on to complete a BSN at a 4-year institution.

Note that our pathways also include information about salary expectations locally.

Retaking the ACCUPLACER Two additional assessments are allowed within three years First reassessment is FREE Second reassessment costs $10 You may retake only the section(s) you need The highest score from each assessment is used for placement Explain that after retaking the assessment the maximum number of times, if the student has not placed into college level coursework, the student may complete high school level courses and then retest. Students may also take developmental level courses after graduation. Students should only retake the assessment if they are planning to take dual credit courses their senior year. If students have no plans to take dual credit, they should wait until after high school graduation if they are going to attend a 2-year institution. Bring ID Walk-in Any Campus

www.ACCUPLACER.org How to Prepare: Download the study app Read sample questions Take a practice assessment www.ACCUPLACER.org

$5,000 a year! LIFE Scholarship 2-Year Colleges 4-Year Colleges & Universities Earn a minimum 3.0 final high school GPA on uniform grading scale Must meet two criteria: Earn a minimum 3.0 final high school GPA on uniform grading scale Graduate in the top 30% of your class Earn a 24+ ACT or 1100 SAT (Critical Reading & Math only)

Dual Enrollment & LIFE Scholarship Dual Enrollment courses will begin your LIFE Scholarship college GPA and average credit hours earned (but it does not start your LIFE scholarship!) Retain LIFE by keeping a 3.0 GPA and completing an average of 30 credit hours each academic year Explain that by doing very well in dual enrollment courses can help students start off with a strong LIFE GPA, and will provide wiggle room during their first full-time semester if they have difficulty adjusting to a full load of college-level courses. Additionally, the additional credit hours earned will allow them to adjust the number of credit hours they take, providing a buffer to help them earn the 30 hours the first year. Explain that hours are cumulative, so that all credit hours earned are included in the 30, 60 and 90 hour requirements to retain LIFE each year. They need only remain full time each semester in order to qualify. Also clarify for students that they their LIFE scholarship is not earned until after high school graduation, so taking dual credit courses does not begin counting against their scholarship semesters. Also, clarify that LIFE scholarship and Lottery Tuition Assistance do not affect one another, so a student may earn Lottery Tuition Assistance in high school, and it does not affect any funding after high school graduation.

Questions Meg Dieringer, Coordinator of Student Support 864-646-1448 or mdiering@tctc.edu Louise Elder, H.S. Outreach Resource Specialist 864-646-1512 or lelder@tctc.edu