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Basic Skills Assessment

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English as a Second Language
(ESL) Assessment

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DESCRIPTION OF COURSES

INTERPRETING YOUR MATH PLACEMENT - TRANSFER CLASSES
INTERPRETING YOUR ENGLISH PLACEMENT
INTERPRETING YOUR READING PLACEMENT
DECISION ZONE PLACEMENTS 

INTERPRETING YOUR MATH PLACEMENT

The following information will help you understand your math course placement and the various non-transferable math courses available through Butte College. PLACEMENT LEVELS are established by completing the assessment or receiving satisfactory grades ("C" or better) in math classes completed in college. COURSE ELIGIBILITY that has been determined with an assessment score is valid for five (5) years.

Click on the specific level listed below to review a description of the course(s) offered within that level:

* The Algebra I Assessment is necessary for placement into LEVEL IV. Students who receive scores of 14-20 on the Algebra II Assessment and don't establish course eligibility for a transfer-level math course, are placed into Math 124 - Intermediate Algebra as a refresher class.

Students receiving scores of 10-25 on the Algebra I Assessment are placed into Math 108 and 109 as a refresher. A score of 26 or higher on the Algebra I Assessment can be used to meet the math competency requirement for the Associate Degree.

Note: For students under the 1991-92 or earlier catalogs, scores of 45 and higher on the Basic Math Assessment meet the math competency requirement for the Associate Degree.

INTERPRETING YOUR MATH PLACEMENT - TRANSFER CLASSES

The following information will help you understand your math course placement and the various advanced math courses available through Butte College. Placement into a transferable math class establishes Math Level V. COURSE ELIGIBILITY is established by completing the Algebra II Assessment or satisfactory completion ("C" or better) of the prerequisite class. The prerequisite class for the majority of the transfer-level math courses is Math 124, Intermediate Algebra. Course eligibility that has been determined with an assessment score is valid for five (5) years.

Click on the specific math class listed below to review a description of the course.

* Students receiving scores of 14-20 on the Algebra II Assessment will be placed into Math 124 - Intermediate Algebra.

** If you need Trigonometry or College Algebra yet did not receive that course eligibility, it is recommended that you enroll in Intermediate Algebra (MATH 124) to strengthen those skills.

*** When using assessment scores for placement into these classes, completion of a trigonometry class is required with a grade of "C" or better in college or "B" or better in high school.

Note: A score of 20 or higher on the Algebra II Assessment meets the math competency requirement for the Associate Degree.

INTERPRETING YOUR ENGLISH PLACEMENT

The following information will help you understand your English course placement and the various English courses available through Butte College. PLACEMENT LEVELS are established by completing the assessment or receiving satisfactory grades ("C" or better or "CR") in English classes completed in college. COURSE ELIGIBILITY that has been determined with an assessment score is valid for five (5) years.

Click on the specific level listed below to review a description of the course(s) offered within that level:

* Students receiving a "NONE" placement level will need to refer to their Reading Assessment for course eligibility. Students who have no English placement and are eligible for Reading Level I or higher should enroll into LEAD 215 to develop their writing skills and the specified reading class to develop their skills.

** Students enrolling in LEAD 215, 217 or 219 are strongly recommended to enroll into a reading class during the same term. The reading class would be the designated course from the results of your Reading Assessment. If your reading course placement is READ 2, you would substitute READ 126 - Study Skills in its place.

INTERPRETING YOUR READING PLACEMENT

The following information will help you understand your reading course placement and the various reading courses available through Butte College. PLACEMENT LEVELS are established by completing the assessment or receiving satisfactory grades ("C" or better or "CR") in reading classes completed in college. COURSE ELIGIBILITY that has been determined with an assessment score is valid for five (5) years.

Click on the specific level listed below to review a description of the course(s) offered within that level:

* Students who are eligible for LEAD 223, 225 or READ 127 and have no English course placement should enroll in both the designated reading course and LEAD 215 (Foundations for Basic Writing).

Students who place into Level V by the Reading Assessment have met the reading competency requirement for the Associate Degree. Completion of READ 2 or ENGL 2 with a "C" or better also will meet the reading competency requirement.

Note: Students who receive scores of 0-5 on the Reading Assessment and English is not their primary language are recommended to complete the ESL Assessment.

THERE IS ANOTHER READING ASSESSMENT (Degrees of Reading Power) THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT STRONG READERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE.

Students who have chosen to take the alternate reading test (DRP) have felt encouraged by the ease with which they were able to complete it and, generally, have moved up in their reading course placement.

Call the Assessment Office for information on how to sign up for this reading test.

DECISION ZONE PLACEMENTS

If your score falls in a "Decision Zone," you will need to decide which class would be best for you to enroll in. The course listed on your printout under Course Eligibility is the higher class. Your skills appear to be on the borderline in terms of your readiness for the higher course. The lower level course would offer a good review and skill-building experience. If you should choose the higher course, you will find that you must apply good study skills and probably more time than other students to be successful. You may wish to discuss your options with a counselor before you make your decision.