Assessment and Placement

University Advisement Center

Learning Support Assessment and Placement


All incoming students are assessed for Learning Support requirements based on:

    • ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer scores (less than 5 years old)
    • AP scores
    • Transfer/Dual Enrollment credit


The following are the minimum scores required to be exempt from Learning Support. Students who do not meet the minimum subscore receive Learning Support placement for the respective subject.

Subject ACT Subscore SAT Subscore ACCUPLACER Subscore
Reading 19 500 250
Writing 18 490 250
Math* 19 500 250

Note: Students with a valid composite ACT score of 26 or above (or SAT score of 1170 or above) are exempt from all Learning Support requirements, regardless of subscores. Placement is determined based on the highest of any qualifying documentation in order to be the least restrictive to students. Students may be exempt from any combination of the three Learning Support requirements (Reading, Writing, and Math). * In addition to the criteria mentioned above, students may also be exempt from Learning Support Math if they previously completed the Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) program or Bridge Math in high school.

For students who do not have valid standardized test scores, AP scores, or transfer credit (as listed above), ACCUPLACER testing will be required.

Completing Learning Support Requirements

Learning Support requirements are met by successful completion of General Education/Compass Core requirement, relative to individual student needs. Academic Advisors assist students in the appropriate registration to satisfy their Learning Support requirements.

Reading: COMM 2025-L Section



Students with a Learning Support Reading requirement must enroll in COMM 2025: Fundamentals of Communication (applicable sections L01-L99).

Students with a Learning Support Reading requirement must be advised in the University Advisement Center, until the Reading requirement has been satisfied, as the Reading requirement is a prerequisite for the majority of the courses offered at ETSU. Students with a Reading requirement will be able to take a full course load. However, depending on the student's major, they may not be able to enroll in major-specific courses (as defined by the respective major) until the Learning Support Reading requirement has been satisfied. Academic departments have discretion on course prerequisites (including Learning Support prerequisites).

Writing: ENGL 1010-L Section



Students with a Learning Support Writing requirement must enroll in ENGL 1010: Foundations in Writing (applicable sections L01-L99). Students required to meet the Learning Support Writing (or Writing and Math) requirement can be advised in their respective major.

Math: MATH 1530-L Section



Students with a Learning Support Math requirement must enroll in MATH 1530: Probability and Statistics - Noncalculus (applicable sections L01-L99). Students required to meet the Learning Support Math (or Math and Writing) requirement can be advised in their respective major.

Additional Placement Information

  • Transfer Credit (including Dual-Enrollment)

     

    Students with the following transfer coursework will be exempt from Learning Support requirements (regardless of ACT/SAT test subscores for the respective subject):

    • Students are exempt from Learning Support Reading if they have a passing grade in any General Education/Compass Core course at ETSU
    • Students are exempt from Learning Support Writing if they have a passing grade in any college level English course
    • Students are exempt from Learning Support Math if they have a passing grade in any college level Mathematics course

    Students without the following coursework AND the absence of ACT/SAT subscore will be required to test ACCUPLACER for the respective subject:

    • ACCUPLACER Reading must be taken by any student with the absence of a passing grade in any General Education/Compass Core course (and no ACT/SAT scores)
    • ACCUPLACER Writing must be taken by any student with the absence of a passing grade in any college level English course (and no ACT/SAT scores)
    • ACCUPLACER Math must be taken by any student with the absence of a passing grade in any college level Mathematics course (and no ACT/SAT scores)

    If ACCUPLACER testing is required, please refer to our ACCUPLACER website for more details.

  • Updating Learning Support Placement

     

    ETSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions receives and processes official ACT and SAT scores (and transcripts from other colleges and universities) sent to the institution. If you have previously submitted official test scores and have newer scores, not yet on file at ETSU, please send them to Undergraduate Admissions through the testing company's website.

    If you have recently submitted (or plan to submit) newer scores to Undergraduate Admissions, please send a screenshot of unofficial test scores to uac@etsu.edu (include student name, E#, and test sub-score breakdown) to the University Advisement Center for placement purposes, so we may review and update your placement accordingly.

  • Placement Prior to 2012

    Completing Developmental Studies Program (DSP) requirements
    Prior to May 2012, a student may have been assessed for the Developmental Studies Program (DSP). Any coursework completed under the previous DSP program will be converted to placement  in accordance with the current Learning Support program. Please contact our office with questions about previous progress towards the Developmental Studies Program requirements.