Assessment And Placement Test

Assessment/Placement Test is about finding your starting point in college. If you plan to earn a degree or certificate, transfer to a four-year institution, or take a Math, English, or English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) course, you may need to assess your skill level before you register for classes.

As a California Community College student, you have the right to begin your education in transfer-level English and math courses, which may allow you to finish these courses within a year and graduate faster.

English Language Learners at Skyline College also have the right to access transfer-level coursework and academic credit English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) coursework at Skyline.

Skyline College offers students multiple measures assessment to determine your appropriate English/ESOL and math course recommendations. To get started, just follow the steps described at https://www.skylinecollege.edu/placement.

Automated Placement at Skyline College

Skyline College uses the following measures collected through CCCApply to provide a preliminary Math and English course recommendation:

  • High school grade point average (GPA)
  • High school coursework
  • High school grades
  • Intended program of study

Submitting High School Information for Placement

If your high school transcript contains only partial information that you entered during your application, automation of your placement may not occur. You may submit an English/Math Assessment Request online. If available, please attach your high school transcript, AP score report, and/ or other college transcripts (unofficial accepted) with your online submission to maximize the placement and prerequisite evaluation clearances. Please note, transcripts may be requested for verification purposes for processing.

Guided Self-Assessment

Students have the option to complete a self-guided assessment for placement into an English, English Speakers of Other Languages, or Math course. The self-guided assessment allows students to place into transfer-level English and/or Math, and it may be with the recommendation to take the course with or without co-requisite support.

Placement Test

The purpose of the placement test is to understand which course level may be appropriate for you. All students have the option to take the placement test. Your test results will assist you and your counselor to select appropriate classes. For instructions on how to sign up to take the placement test, please visit the Assessment Center website.

If you did not complete high school in the US and/or if English is not your first language, you can get help getting a student ID number and signing up for placement at the ESL Connect. Contact the ESL Connect at (650) 738-7167, Budling 1, Room 1218, and skyesl@smccd.edu. 

Reassessment Policy

  1. English, ESOL, and Math placement results, for the purpose of course placement and prerequisite skill level assessment, do not expire and remain valid indefinitely. If however, a significant amount of time has passed since the English or ESOL placement was completed, a student may elect to repeat the placement test to secure an accurate assessment of the current skill level.
  2. If a student does not accept the recommended placement, he/she may retake the same placement test two additional times within a one-year period.
  3. A student who has completed a course in the English, ESOL or math sequence may take the placement test to determine his/her current competency level in English, ESOL and math courses, if two years have elapsed since the course was completed.
  4. For any other special circumstance, or with an instructor or counselor recommendation, a student may schedule an assessment through the Assessment Center.

Retrieving Placement Results

Placement results, regardless of assessment method (automated placement, guided-self assessment, placement testing, or exemptions), will be available to students via WebSMART. Please go to https://websmart.smccd.edu. Click on the following (1) Student Services (2) Student Records (3) Placement Test Results.