Placement Services
Explore Your Course Placement
Placement tests are not required for English, math or reading courses. The only placement tests we administer at this time is Chemistry.
All students are required to apply to SAC in order to obtain a course placement recommendation in English, math and reading. High school performance information or Guided Placement will be utilized for English, math and/or reading course placement recommendations. All students have access to transfer-level English, American College English (ACE)/English as a Second Language (ESL), and math courses.
What is the Guided Self-Placement and Who Should Take It?
Santa Ana College’s Guided Self-Placement was designed for students that want to complete an associate degree and/or transfer to a university but do not have access to their U.S. high school transcript or have attended school or college outside the United States. This tool provides course placement recommendations in English/ESL and math/quantitative reasoning courses offered at Santa Ana College. Only students who have an active SAC Student login and password are able to access the Guided Self-Placement.
How Does the Guided Self-Placement Work?
The Guided Self-Placement is broken up into two main modules: Math and English/EMLS. Based on your academic and personal goals, you can either take one or both modules. In the Math Guided Self-Placement, you will be asked to reflect on your math knowledge by viewing a short lecture on a specific math topic, then you will read about the skills needed to be successful in the specific math course.
Your transfer-level math course placement recommendations are given as two tracks: Statistics, Liberal Arts Mathematics (SLAM) or Business, Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (BSTEM). Selecting the correct math course is essential and is dependent on your major. Please visit the Counseling department (sac.edu/counseling) to speak with a counselor to determine which math course you should enroll in.
For the English and English for Multilingual Students (EMLS) Guided Self-Placement module, you will be answering a series of questions that will either lead you to our English or EMLS course selection. You will be asked to read a short description of skills you should have in order to be successful in transfer-level Freshman Composition coursework. Reading courses are recommended based on the English course you select.
How to Access the Guided Self-Placement?
Use the following link to access the Guided Self-Placement:
Understanding Your Course Placement Recommendations
Your course placement recommendations were based on your high school performance information. You can find your course placement recommendation scores for English, reading, and math/quantitative reasoning on Self-Service. Once logged in, click on the "Academics" icon, and then click on "Test Summary". From there, you will be able to view your placement scores and a link to this "Understanding Your Course Placement Recommendations" page.
Below are the tables that will guide you through selecting the courses that best fit your needs.
Math/Quantitative Reasoning Course Recommendations
When selecting the appropriate math course, you need to consider your major, degree, and transfer plans. You have received two math course placement recommendations that lead to different paths. The Statistics, Liberal Arts Math (SLAM) track is for students interested in the Social Sciences, Nursing, Teaching, Art, Psychology, and Sociology majors to name a few. Students that are interested in Business, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math majors should take a course under the B-STEM track.
Before you enroll in a math course, please see a Counselor to discuss the most appropriate math sequence based on your major, degree, and transfer plans. Counselors are available on a first-come, first-served basis in S-112 or click here to be directed to the Counseling website. If you are a new or returning student, sign up for Registration & Academic Advising Workshop to meet with a counselor, click here for more information. Questions? Email us at assessment_center@sac.edu.
| Score | Statistics, Liberal Arts - Math (SLAM) Course |
Business, Science, Technology, Engineering - Math (B-STEM) Course
|
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Take the Guided Self-Placement | Take the Guided Self-Placement |
| 1 or 2 | Math 105, 204, 204l, 219S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 140S, 150 |
| 3 | Math 105, 204, 219S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 140S, 150 |
| 3.5 | Math 105, 204, 219S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 140S, 150 |
| 4 or 5 or 6 | Math 105, 204, 219S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 140S, 150 |
| 7 or 8 | Math 105, 204, 219, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 140, 150 |
| 9 | Math 105, 204, 219S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 140, 150 |
| 10 | Math 105, 204, 219S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 162, 150 |
| 11 | Math 105, 204, 219, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 162, 150 |
| 12 or 13 | Math 105, 204, 219, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 150, 180/180H |
| 14 or 15 | Math 105, 204, 219, PSYC 210, BUS 130* | Math 150, 180/180H |
| * Business 130 (not accepted if completed prior to Fall 2019; does not meet associate degree AA/AS Math proficiency; does meet AA-T/AS-T Math proficiency) | ||
| * Business 130 (not accepted if completed before Fall 2019; does not meet associate degree AA/AS Math proficiency; does meet AA-T/AS-T Math proficiency) | |
| TSUM Placement Score | Math & QR Courses |
|---|---|
| 47 | Math 105, 204, 219S, 140S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* |
| 48 | Math 105, 204, 219, 140, 150, PSYC 210, BUS 130* |
| 49 | Math 105, 204, 219, 140S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* |
| 51 | Math 105, 204, 219, 140S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* |
| 52 | Math 105, 204, 219, 140S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* |
| 53 | Math 105, 204, 219S, 140S, PSYC 210, BUS 130* |
- The major factor in determining which math class at SAC you should take is your academic goal - BSTEM or SLAM. We strongly encourage you to speak with a counselor to select the appropriate math course. Counselors are available on a first-come, first-served basis in S-112 or click here to be directed to the Counseling website. If you are a new or returning student, sign up for the Registration & Academic Advising Workshop to meet with a counselor, click here for more information.
- Explore SAC's catalog to find detailed course descriptions. Click here to learn about each course.
- Students are eligible to enroll in transfer-level courses that include additional support (e.g. math 140S, math 219s, math 087). These courses are designed to supplement topics needed for success in the course.
- The Math Center offers free tutoring to students who are enrolled in a math class. The center is located in the Library Building 2nd Floor, L-204. Visit their website to learn more about online tutoring at: ww.sac.edu/mathcenter
- Strengthen your math and study skills with a free non-credit class. The classes below offer just-in-time reviews of essential skills and specific topics necessary for transfer-level math success. Visit the Santa Ana College School of Continuing Education website for additional information:
- College Algebra Prep (Section number: 37329 & 37335)
- Introductory Algebra (Section number: LRN-164)
- Principles of Mathematics (Section number: HSMTH-151)
English Course Recommendations
English composition is a requirement to earn an Associate Degree and/or transfer to a university. To meet this requirement, you need to enroll in the recommended course. Students taking English 066 must enroll in the concurrent section of English 101 (English 066 will not transfer, English 101 will transfer). Click this English course description link to learn about each course.
| Score | English Courses |
|---|---|
| 0 | Provide Counselor US HS Transcript or Take the Guided Self-Placement |
| 1 or 2 | English 101 + English 066 |
| 3 | English 101 |
If English is your second language and you have not intensively studied English in school for the past seven years, or if you do not use English frequently, you will benefit from enrolling in EMLS courses. In order to be placed into any EMLS course, students will need to complete the Guided Self-Placement. Visit our Guided Self-Placement page for more information.
| TSUM Placement Score | English Courses |
|---|---|
| 84 | ENGL 101 + ENGL 066 |
| 85 | ENGL 101 |
| TSUM Placement Score | EMLS Courses |
|---|---|
| 80 | EMLS 104 |
| 81 | EMLS 106 |
| 82 | EMLS 110 (After this course students can go to English 101) |
| 83 | EMLS 112 (Currently not being offered, speak with a counselor) |
| 84 | ENGL 101 + ENGL 066 |
| 85 | ENGL 101 |
Reading Course Recommendations
You have the option of enrolling in reading courses. Reading and critical analysis are essential components of college success. Visit the Reading Course Descriptions link to learn more about each course.
Reading Score Chart
| Score | Reading Course Recommendations |
|---|---|
| 1 | Reading 101 |
| 2 | Reading 102 |
| 3 | Reading 150 |
Challenging Placement Recommendations Steps:
Follow these steps if you would like to challenge your placement recommendations at least two weeks before instruction begins.
- Meet with a counselor to discuss your placement recommendations
- Complete the Prerequisite/Corequisite Challenge Form and provide supporting documentation.
- Submit the completed form to the appropriate department chair.
- English (Matthew Beyersdorf, Department Chair)
- Math (Dahlia Vu, Department Chair)
- Forms should be sent to Brigitte Scott (scott_brigitte@sac.edu)
- English for Multilingual Students (Melanie Mowrer, Department Chair)
What Happens Next?
- The challenge form and supporting evidence will be reviewed by a committee consisting of the dean, department chair, and one department or division representative.
- The student will receive a written notification of the decision and the challenge form will be processed by Admissions and Records.
California Chemistry Diagnostic Test
The California Chemistry Diagnostic Test is available for students who wish to enroll in Chemistry 210 (General, Organic and Biochemistry) and/or 219 (General Chemistry) and need to bypass the prerequisite of Chemistry 209 (Introductory Chemistry).
The California Chemistry Diagnostic Test is administered only on Mondays at 12:00 PM on a walk-in basis.
What to Bring:
-
Bring your photo identification (SAC Student ID, driver license, passport, etc.)
Chemistry Placement Test Information:
- 44 multiple choice questions
- 45 - minute time limit
- Basic calculator, periodic table, and scratch paper will be provided by the Assessment Center
- Students are allowed to re-test after 6 months of taking the test
- SAC does not accept Chemistry Placement results from other colleges
- Test results are valid for 5 years