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Placement Requirements
All new students interested in enrolling in credit classes are required to meet placement requirements prior to registering for credit courses and must submit a completed application to Rock Valley College prior to testing. Learn more about Getting Started at RVC.
Determine Placement
We want to make sure your journey begins at the best place for you, so we will review your transcripts for the following multiple measures to establish your starting point:
- High School/College Transcripts – includes AP, CLEP, IB, and successful completion of appropriate developmental education course(s) in English and/or Math at another regionally-accredited college or university.
- Cumulative High School GPA (within five years)
- SAT, ACT, and/or GED scores (within three years)
- Transitional courses in English and/or Math (within 18 months)
- CASAS (120 days)
- Placement Assessments: ACCUPLACER, ALEKS, EdReady
Contact Us
- Testing Center
- (815) 921-2385
- Email Testing Center
- RVC Main Campus
Student Center, Ground Floor - Monday and Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Placement Testing Walk-Ins:
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
By Appointment Only:
Tuesday and Wednesday: 5:30 p.m.
Submit Transcripts
Students with transcripts should submit their high school, GED, or college transcripts to RVC Records & Registration. While an official transcript is always preferred, students may submit unofficial transcripts for placement determination.
For more information about submitting transcripts, contact RVC Records & Registration at (815) 921-4250 or stop by in the Student Center, second floor.
Placement Measures
English/Language Arts
- College-Level – ENG 101: English 101
- Cumulative HS GPA: 3.0 and above
- ACCUPLACER: 250 and above
- SAT (English): 480 and above
- ACT (English): 19
- Transitional English (C or better)
- GED: 165 and above
- EdReady: 70 and above
- Additional Support/College-Level – ENG 100/101: ENG plus Support (ALP)
- Cumulative HS GPA: 2.5-2.99
- ACCUPLACER: 237-249
- SAT (English): 450-479
- GED: 145-164
- EdReady: 65-69
- Developmental – ENG 098: Integrated Reading & Writing
- Cumulative HS GPA: 2.0-2.49
- ACCUPLACER: 227-236
- SAT (English): 421-449
- CASAS: 248 and above
- GED: 121-144
- EdReady: 54-64
- Adult Ed Bridge – EdReady
- Cumulative HS GPA: 1.99 and below
- ACCUPLACER: 226 and below
- SAT (English): 420 and below
- CASAS: 247 and below
- GED: 120 and below
- EdReady: 53 and below
Math (Non-STEM Pathways)
- Non-STEM College-Level – MTH-220: Elements of Statistics
- Cumulative HS GPA: 3.0+ and 4th year of HS Math
- ACCUPLACER: 252 QAS / 240 AAF
- ALEKS Score: 36+
- SAT (Math): 470+
- ACT (Math): 18+
- Transitional Math: TM001 or TM002 (B or better)
- Prior Course: may be MTH-115 or MTH-115P (C or better) if previously taken
- GED: 165+
- Non-STEM College-Level – MTH-115: General Education Math
- Cumulative HS GPA: 2.5+ and 4th year of HS Math
- ACCUPLACER: 252 QAS / 240 AAF
- ALEKS Score: 30+
- SAT (Math): 470+
- ACT (Math): 18+
- Transitional Math: TM001 or TM002 (B or better)
- GED: 165+
- Additional Support College-Level – MTH-220P: Elements of Statistics Plus Support
- Cumulative HS GPA: 2.5+
- ACCUPLACER: 241 QAS
- ALEKS Score: 25+
- Transitional Math: TM001 or TM002 (C or better)
- Prior Course: MTH-096A or 094 (C or better) OR MTH-115P (C or better)
- Additional Support College-Level - MTH-115P: General Education Math Plus Support
- Cumulative HS GPA: 2.3+
- ACCUPLACER: 241 QAS
- ALEKS Score: 22+
- Transitional Math: TM001 or TM002 (C or better)
- Prior Course: MTH-096A or 094 (C or better)
- Developmental – MTH-096A: Math Literacy for College Students
- Cumulative HS GPA: 2.0+
- ACCUPLACER: 227 QAS
- ALEKS Score: 14+
- Prior Course: ALEKS-PPL Bridge with 14+ score
- GED: 145+
Math (STEM Pathways)
- STEM College-Level – MTH-216: Math for Elementary Teachers I
- Cumulative HS GPA: 3.0+ and 4th year of HS Math
- ACCUPLACER: 257 QAS / 240 AAF
- ALEKS Score: 36+
- SAT (Math): 470+
- ACT (Math): 18+
- Transitional Math: TM001 (C or better)
- Prior Course: MTH-096S or 094 (C or better) OR MTH-096A with ALEKS Bridge
- GED: 165+
- STEM College-Level – MTH-120: College Algebra
- Cumulative HS GPA: 3.0+ and B or better in Algebra 2+ and 4th year of HS Math
- ACCUPLACER: 257 QAS / 240 AAF
- ALEKS Score: 46+
- SAT (Math): 550+
- ACT (Math): 22+
- Transitional Math: TM001 (B or better)
- College-Level Plus Review – MTH-120P: College Algebra Plus Review
- Cumulative HS GPA: 2.7+ and C or better in Algebra 2+
- ACCUPLACER: 252 QAS / 240 AAF
- ALEKS Score: 35+
- Transitional Math: TM001 (C or better)
- Prior Course: MTH-096S or 094 (C or better) OR MTH-096A with ALEKS Bridge
- Developmental – MTH-096S: Beginning/Intermediate Algebra (STEM)
- Cumulative HS GPA: 2.3+
- ACCUPLACER: 241 QAS
- ALEKS Score: 22+
- Prior Course: ALEKS-PPL Bridge with 22+ score
- GED: 145+