Humboldt State University

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Placement Testing

Fall 2013

*Students who require testing before HOP in August, MUST check into Housing on Monday, August 19 in order to take their exam(s) in the morning of Tuesday, August 20.

Contact Housing in order to create your reservation for early check-in for Monday, August 19 at 707.826.3451 or housing@humboldt.edu

The following tests are ONLY offered on Tuesday, August 20:

  1. First-time ELM & EPT tests (these are required for your admission to HSU unless you are exempt. See below for exemptions
  2. Retake of the ELM for successful Early Start Math students. The retake allows you the opportunity to test up and out of math remediation at HSU.
  3. Math Diagnostic Placement Test (MDPT) for students who placed into Pre-Calculus but believe they will be successful in Calculus. MDPT allows you to test up and out of one Math requirement at HSU.

EPT & ELM

important information

Please read the following information carefully. You should visit CSU Placement Tests website for complete details. If you have questions about taking the exams at HSU, you should contact the HSU Testing Center directly at testing@humboldt.edu.

What Are The EPT & ELM?

The California State University (CSU) system requires new students to take the CSU English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Math exam (ELM) before registering for classes, unless they are exempt. These placement tests are designed to determine your level of preparation for college work in Math and English.

You cannot register for ANY classes at HSU unless you have completed the EPT/ELM or you are exempt.

For more information about the tests, please go to the CSU Placement Tests website.

Do I Need To Take The EPT/ELM?

You cannot register for any classes until we have your EPT/ELM scores or verify that you are exempt. Students who are required to take the test(s) will be informed by the HSU Office of Admissions.

If you have not received information or have questions about your test status, please call the Office of Admissions at (866) 850-9556 (toll free).

It is your responsibility to provide your official SAT or ACT scores to the Office of Admissions prior to orientation.

You may be exempt from taking these tests, be sure to check the ETS Bulletin for all information. This is provided as a helpful summary:

EPT Exemptions:

  • Source: CSU Placement Tests http://www.ets.org/s/csu/pdf/csu_information_bulletin.pdf
  • The CSU English Placement Test must be completed by all entering undergraduates, with the exception of those who present proof of one of the following:
    • A score of 500 or above on the critical reading section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
    • A score of 22 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) English Test
    • A score of 3 or above on either the Language and Composition or Composition and Literature examination of the College Board Scholastic Advanced Placement Program
    • Completion and transfer to CSU of the credits for a college course that satisfies the CSU General Education requirement in English Composition, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C or better
    • A score of “Exempt” or “Ready for college-level English courses” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken along with the English Language Arts California Standard Test in grade 11.

    •  

ELM Exemptions

  • Source: CSU Placement Tests http://www.ets.org/s/csu/pdf/csu_information_bulletin.pdf
  • All entering undergraduates must take the ELM exam before enrolling in a course that satisfies the college-level mathematics requirement of the General Education-Breadth program. Exemptions from the test are given only to those students who can present proof of one of the following:
    • A score of 550 or above on the mathematics section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
    • A score of 550 or above on a College Board SAT Subject Test in Mathematics (level 1 or level 2)
    • A score of 23 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) Mathematics Test
    • A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam
    • A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Statistics examination
    • Completion and transfer to CSU of a college course that satisfies the requirement in Quantitative Reasoning, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C or better
    • A score of “Exempt” or “Ready for college-level Mathematics courses” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP), taken in grade 11 in conjunction with the CST in Summative High School Mathematics or Algebra II
    • A score of “Conditionally ready for college-level Mathematics courses” or “Conditional” on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken in grade 11 along with the California Standards Test in Summative High School Mathematics or Algebra II, provided successful completion of a CSU-approved 12th grade math course that requires Algebra II as a prerequisite.

To qualify for exemption, documents verifying test scores or completion of GE course work must be on file with the Office of Admissions prior to the orientation session you plan to attend.

 

How Much Do The Tests Cost?

  • ELM fee is $18.
  • EPT fee is $18.
  • Out of State Testing fee is $50.
  • Duplicate Score Report is $10.
  • Fees must be paid by check or money order. Cash will not be accepted.
  • Fees are non-refundable.

 

Math Placement

All degree programs at HSU require at least one General Education (GE) level mathematics course. As an incoming HSU student, you will have a “math placement category.” Your math placement category determines what math classes you may (and may not) enroll in. Your math placement category
is determined by at least one of the following:

  • your score on the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) test
  • SAT or ACT scores
  • the EAP portion of your 11th grade California STAR tests
  • high school coursework

If you need to take the ELM, your performance will classify you into one of three math placement categories:

  1. Eligible for General Education level math courses.
  2. Require 1 semester of a developmental math course.
  3. Require 2 semesters of a developmental math courses.

Developmental math courses (also called remedial math courses) do not count toward degree progress, but they do require text books and count toward university and financial aid unit caps. You can save a substantial amount of time and money by eliminating the need to take developmental math
courses.

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