Placement Testing

Eastern Shore Community College offers VCCS-approved placement tests, the Virginia Placement Test (VPT). Tests are given to evaluate students’ reading, writing, and mathematics skills. Test results are used to assist students in identifying academic strengths and recognizing specific skills that need further development.

The following students are required to take the Placement Test:

• New students entering associate degree or certificate programs that require a reading, writing, or math prerequisite
• New students planning to take English, math, or courses with English or math requisites
• Students who do not meet the General Admission requirements

Virginia Placement Test-English scores are valid for five (5) years after the date of the test. Students who take the Virginia Placement Test - English and who do not enroll in developmental English are allowed to take one (1) retest within twelve (12) months. Students who attempt a developmental English course are not eligible for a retest except under documented and extenuating circumstances approved by the Chief Academic Officer. Similarly, students who take the Virginia Placement Test - Math and who do not enroll in developmental math are allowed to take one (1) retest within twelve (12) months. Students who attempt a developmental mathematics course are ineligible for a retest, unless approved by the Chief Academic Officer.

Select students may be exempt from math and/or English placement tests if one or more of the following criteria are met:

1. Has completed college-level English and/or math courses with a grade of C or better.
2. Has successfully completed developmental English and/or math courses at another VCCS institution within the last 5 years
3. Has enrolled in a program at ESCC that does not require a reading, writing, or math prerequisite
4. Has satisfactory scores for English or math through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Advanced Placement (CLEP), or Defense Activity for Educational Support Program (DANTES)
5. Has graduated, or will have graduated, high school within the last 5 years with an earned GPA of 2.7 or higher and/or has achieved minimum SAT, ACT or GED test scores within the last 5 years, as reflected on high school/home school transcripts or testing documentation. Seniors in high school or home school may submit documentation upon completion of the first semester in their senior year. The measures ESCC uses in placing these students in math and English are provided in the tables below.

Students who have been exempted from taking the VPT have the option of taking it to improve their placement standing. Such placement test scores will not be used to place a student in a lower-level English or math course unless the student requests a lower placement.

Measures for Math Placement: Table I

Measures for English Placement: Table II

Workforce Programs

Placement testing is normally not required for most Workforce Development programs; however, some are integrated with the Adult Education program, and may include pre- and post-class assessments for reading and/or math. For additional information, contact Barb Rang, FastForward Career Coach (757-789-1745) or Scott Hall, Workforce & Business Solutions Officer (757-789-1752).