Placement into English and Mathematics
Merced College wants you to be successful in your academic career. That is why we want you placed in the English and Math courses which will maximize your success.
Assessment tests are not required for placement. Instead, we use your high school GPA and coursework to recommend the courses that will lead to your success.
Don't have U.S. high school records? If you don't have U.S. high school records, did not complete at least 11th grade in a U.S. high school, graduated from a non-U.S. high school, or you are an international student you can complete the Guided Self-Placement instead.
Using your high school GPA and coursework, combined with your education goals we place you as the tables indicate below. Your counselor will assist you in creating a Comprehensive Student Education Plan (CSEP) incorporating your placement and academic goals.
English (Writing and Reading) Placement
High School Performance Metric | English Placement Options | Corequisite Support |
|---|---|---|
HSGPA ≥ 2.6 | ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A): College Composition and Reading | None |
HSGPA < 2.6 | Support Strongly Recommended (taken concurrently) |
Mathematics Placement
The S-series of courses (example, MATH-04AS) provide students with additional lab time to work on course concepts and incorporate prerequisite knowledge.
Statistics, Liberal Arts, and Business Pathways
Mathematics Placement Options | High School Performance Metric (HSGPA is High School GPA) and Recommendation for Integrated Corequisite Support |
STAT-C1000 Introduction to Statistics or STAT-C1000E* PSYC-05 Introduction to Statistics in Psychology MATH-15 Finite Mathematics or MATH-15S** MATH-20A Basic Structure of Mathematics I or MATH-20AS** MATH-20B Basic Structure of Mathematics II MATH-26 College Algebra for Liberal Arts or MATH-26S** MATH-03 Calculus for Business or MATH-03S** MATH-02* Precalculus or MATH-02S | HSGPA>=3.0, No support recommended HSGP>=2.3 to HSGPA<=2.9, Support recommended HSGPA<2.3, Support strongly recommended
Support courses provide a review of core prerequisite skills, competencies, and concepts needed in the entry level course. Topics include concepts from prealgebra, elementary and intermediate algebra and the development of critical thinking skills needed for the course. |
*Support course for Introductory Statistics is indicated with the letter E in the course number
**Support courses in the liberal arts and business pathways are indicated with an S in the course number
***For non-STEM degree programs with a specific precalculus requirement
English as a Second Language (ESL) Placement
Which English as a Second Language Class should I take?
Guided Self Placement | ESL/English Placement Options | |
|---|---|---|
ESL-84E: Foundations in Academic Literacy II for Non-Native Speakers | ||
ESL-40: Foundations in Academic Literacy I for Non-Native Speakers | ||
ENGL-C1000 (formerly ENGL-01A): College Composition and Reading | ||
ENGL-C1001 (Formerly ENGL/PHIL-13) Critical Reasoning and Writing |