Do you need to take the placement test?
No! Most students are not required to take the placement test to enroll in class at Pikes Peak Community College.You can either enroll in co-requisite classes or challenge for placement into college-level classes. Review your options below and meet with an advisor if you have questions about the best option for you!
Placement Option #1: Enroll in Co-Requisite Classes
Most students can start in the college-level English and Math classes they need for their degree. Students do this by enrolling in their college-level English and Math classes with a co-requisite college-prep support course. These co-requisite college-prep courses are designed to make sure you have the skills needed to be successful in your college level courses. Students will also need to register for AAA 109 (Advancing Academic Achievement) which teaches you strategies to be a successful college student. This is the best option for students to get started in the college-level courses they need for their degree and get the support they need to be successful! If you are a military student, scroll down to read about how to qualifiy for co-requisite classes.
Click the courses below to see what majors should enroll in which co-req classes:
Accounting
Advanced Paramedic Practitioner
Allied Health
Anthropology
Architecture & Construction Management – All Emphasis Areas
Art History
Associate of Arts
Associate of Science
Automotive Collision Technology
Automotive Technology
Automotive Technology w/ Diesel Emphasis
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Biology
Building & Construction Technology
Business Administration – All Emphasis Areas
Business Transfer
Chemistry
Communications
Computer Aided Drafting – All Emphasis Areas
Computer Information Systems
Computer Science
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
Dance
Dental Assisting
Diesel Technology
Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education
Economics
Elementary Education
Emergency Management & Planning
Emergency Medical Services - EMT
Emergency Medical Services -Paramedic
Emergency Services Admin
English
Fire Science – All Emphasis Areas
French
Geography
Geology
History
Hospitality
Humanities
Interior Design
Journalism
Machining Technology – All Emphasis Areas
Math
Medical Assistant - AAS (Not Clinical Office Asst Cert.)
Multimedia Graphic Design
Music
Outdoor Leadership & Recreation Technology
Paralegal
Pharmacy Technician
Philosophy
Physical Therapy Assistant
Physics
Political Science
Pre-Allied Health
Pre-Medical
Pre-Nursing
Professional Photography
Professional Writing
Psychology
Psychology
Radio & Television
Radiology Technician
Robotics & Automation
Secure Coding
Sign Language Interpreter Prep
Social Services Technician - Certificates
Social Work Transfer
Sociology
Spanish
Studio Art
Surgical Tech
Theatre
Water Environmental Technology
Welding
Accounting
Allied Health
Architecture & Construction Management – All Emphasis Areas
Automotive Collision Technology
Automotive Technology
Automotive Technology w/ Diesel Emphasis
Building & Construction Technology
Computer Aided Drafting – All Emphasis Areas
Computer Information Systems
Computer Networking Technology – All Emphasis Areas
Culinary Arts – All Emphasis Areas
Cyber Security
Diesel Technology
Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology
Hospitality
Interior Design
Machining Technology – All Emphasis Areas
Medical Assistant - AAS (Not Clinical Office Asst Cert.)
Multimedia Graphic Design
Outdoor Leadership & Recreation Technology
Paralegal
Pharmacy Technician
Physical Therapy Assistant
Robotics & Automation
Sign Language Interpreter Prep
Social Services Technician - Certs
Surgical Tech
Water Environmental Technology
Welding
Zoo Keeping Technology
Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic
Pharmacy Technician
Pre-Nursing
Surgical Tech
Zoo Keeping
Allied Health
Architecture & Construction Management - All
Automotive Collision Technology
Automotive Technology
Automotive Technology w/ Diesel Emphasis
Building & Construction Technology
Computer Aided Drafting - All Emphasis Areas
Criminal Justice (AAS)
Dental Assisting
Diesel Technology
Emergency Medical Services - EMT
Fire Science - All Emphasis Area
Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Technology
Interior Design
Machining Technology - All Emphasis Areas
Medical Assistant - AAS (Not Clinical Office Asst. CERT)
Multimedia Graphic Design
Outdoor Leadership & Technology
Physical Therapy Assistant
Professional Photography
Radio & Television
Radiology Technician
Robotics & Automation
Sign Language Interpreter Prep
Surgical Tech
Welding
Zoo Keeping Technology
Accounting
Allied Health
Business Administration (AAS) - All Emphasis Areas
Culinary Arts - All Emphasis Areas
Early Childhood Education (AAS)
Medical Assistant - AAS (Not Clinical Office Asst. CERT)
Multimedia Graphic Design
Art History
Associates of Arts
Communications
Criminal Justice (AA, AAS)
Dance
Early Childhood Education (AA)
Emergency Management & Planning
English
French
History
Humanities
Journalism
Music
Paralegal
Philosophy
Professional Writing
Sign Language Interpreter Prep
Spanish
Studio Arts
Theatre
Advanced Paramedic Practitioner (BAS)
Anthropology
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Criminal Justice (AA)
Emergency Services Admin (BAS)
Hospitality
Political Science
Psychology (AA)
Social Work Transfer
Sociology
Elementary Education (AA)
Some majors don’t have a co-requisite college-prep course for their math class. Most of these majors require College Algebra or higher. That’s ok though, we’ve still got a place for you to start and get on track to earning your degree or certificate!
Associate of Science
Biology
Business Transfer (AA)
Chemistry
Computer Information Systems
Computer Networking Technology – All Emphasis Areas
Computer Science
Cyber Security
Geography
Geology
Math
Physics
Pre-Allied Health
Pre-Medical
Psychology (AA, AS)
Radiology Technician
Water Environmental Technology
Placement Option #2: Challenge for Placement into College-Level Classes
We know students come to us ready for the challenge of college-level classes, so show us what you’ve got! You can challenge for placement into college-level classes a variety of ways using your Academic History. Click on the lists below to see how you can rise to the challenge. If you have these scores, please report them through the Academic History Form. Some courses may require higher test scores than the scores listed below consult the Test Score Matrix for more information:
High School Coursework less than 2 years old
English Placement
Grade of “B” or better in a year of 11th grade English completed within the last 2 years
Math Placement
Grade of “B” or better in a year of Algebra II or higher completed within the last 18 months
High School Equivalency exam less than 5 years old
English Placement
GED Reasoning through Language Arts Score 165
HiSet Language Arts Writing or Reading Score 15
TASC Language Arts Reading Score 580 or Language Arts Writing Score 560 with Essay Score 6
Math Placement
GED Mathematical Reasoning Score 165
HiSet Math Score 15
TASC Math Score 560
ACT Test Scores less than 5 years old
English Placement
English Score 18 and Reading Score 17
Math Placement
Math Score 19
SAT Test Scores less than 5 years old
English Placement
SAT Evidenced Based Reading & Writing Score 470
Math Placement
SAT Math Score 500
PSAT Test Scores less than 5 years old
English Placement
PSAT Evidenced Based Reading & Writing Score 470
Math Placement
PSAT Math Score 500
Previously Completed College Coursework or a Degree Awarded
*If you have previously completed a degree, please fill out the Previous Degree Appeal Form
English Placement
Equivalent course found in TES to:
CCR 092 less than 5 years old, or
ENG121 or higher less than 15 years old
AA, AS, BA, BS, Masters or PhD completed
Math Placement
Equivalent course found in TES to:
MAT 050 less than 5 years old, or
MAT 103 higher less than 15 years old
AA, AS, BA, BS, Masters, or PhD completed
College Credit Exam (AP, CLEP, DSST, GED, IB) less than 15 years old
English Placement
If you have earned credit from a College Credit Exam you meet the college-prep pre-requisite for that course
Review the Testing Matrix to see what scores are needed to earn college credit
Math Placement
If you have earned credit from a College Credit Exam you meet the college-prep pre-requisite for that course
Review the Testing Matrix to see what scores are needed to earn college credit
Accuplacer Test Scores less than 5 years old
English Placement
Next Generation Accuplacer Writing Score 246
Accuplacer Classic Sentence Skills Score 95 and Reading Comprehension Score 80
Math Placement
Next Generation Accuplacer Arithmetic Score 265 or QAS Score 240 or AAF Score 245
Accuplacer Classic Elementary Algebra Score 61
EdReady Scores less than 1 year old
English Placement
PPCCEnglishPrep Study Path Score 90
Math Placement
Study Path Score 90 for the math course you want to place into
Are you a military or veteran affiliated student wanting to use VA or DOD Education Benefits to pay for a college prep course (below the 100 course level)?
Pikes Peak Community College has confirmed with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense that a placement test is required in order to justify taking a college prep math or English course. No other form of justification is acceptable. Neither VA nor DOD (For both Tuition Assistance and MyCAA) will not pay for these courses without a placement test score on file.
What does this mean for you?
You must take EdReady or the Accuplacer test to determine if you need to take a college prep course for math or English. An EdReady score below 90 can be submitted to justify your enrollment in a college prep course.
Accuplacer testing for math and English is available by appointment at our Fort Carson office Tuesday through Friday. Call PPCC’s Military and Veterans Programs at 719-502-4200 to schedule an appointment. We are located in Building 1117, room 117.
How to take the Accuplacer or EdReady to place into college-level classes:
Accuplacer Placement testing is offered by appointment only. Testers should schedule their appointment online through eSARS for Centennial and Rampart Campuses. You can find more information about the Accuplacer here.
While the PPCC Testing Center is offering limited Accuplacer testing on campus due to precautions regarding COVID19, PPCC has approved the use of EdReady as a placement option.
To take advantage of this option, students will need to:
- Create an account in PPCC's EdReady Platform:
- ppcc.edready.org
- Students must use their PPCC assigned student email if they have one. If you do not have a PPCC email, you should use the email you included in your PPCC application.
- Enter the Goal Key for the course you are trying to place into:
- ENG 121 or ENG 131: ppccenglishprep
- Use this code if you are trying to register for a course with a College Reading and Writing Literacy pre-requisite
- MAT 103: PPCC_103
- MAT 107: PPCC_107
- MAT 112: PPCC_112
- MAT 120: PPCC_120
- Use this code if you are trying to register for a course with a College Quantitative Literacy pre-requisite
- MAT 121: PPCC_121
- Use this code if you are trying to register for a course with a MAT 055 or College Algebraic Literacy pre-requisite
- MAT 135: PPCC_135
- MAT 155: PPCC_155156
- As of 3/1/2021, EdReady cannot be used to place into MAT 122, MAT 125, or MAT 166. Students may complete the Accuplacer to place into these courses. Students are encouraged to use the EdReady codes PPCC_122166 or PPCC_125 to prepare for the Accuplacer.
- ENG 121 or ENG 131: ppccenglishprep
- Complete the diagnostic test, work through lessons, and retest topics to earn a score of 90 or higher.
- Once you've earned a 90, the Testing Center will get an automatic notification with your score report. You do not need to send us your scores. We will send you an email with placement information and with the next step to make an appointment with an Advisor and register for classes.
- Students using VA Education Benefits or Tuition Assistance may use EdReady with a score below 90 to justify enrollment in prep courses. You must export your results directly to the Testing Center. To export your scores:
- Go to "My Account"
- Under "Student data export" select "Download Your Data"
- In the textbox, send a copy directly to the Testing Center: testing.center@ppcc.edu
- The Testing Center will let you know when your scores have been entered on your student record
TESTING CENTER MISSION STATEMENT
The Testing Center is committed to providing exceptional, accessible, and comprehensive testing services for Pikes Peak Community College and the surrounding community. All tests are administered under standardized conditions that are efficient, fair, and secure. We maintain and adhere to all standards set forth in the National College Testing Association’s Professional Standards & Guidelines.