New students admitted to CSN in the Fall of 2021 are no longer required to seek English placement from the Accuplacer -WritePlacer.

What to do to Place into an English Class

Beginning May 1, 2021, all First Step CSN students will be placed into ENG 100, ENG 110, ENG 113, and ENG 101 by either:

• completing the Guided Self-Placement (GSP) survey, or
• submitting to the Testing Centers equivalent scores on the ACT, or SAT, or WritePlacer scores less than two years old to: wchtestingcenter@csn.edu, or NLVtestingcenter@csn.edu, or  Hendersontestingcenter@csn.edu’ or in-person
• submitting to the Registrar's Office equivalent Advanced Placement (AP) scores or High School GPA.

English Placement Chart Summary-Fall 2021

GSP Cut off Scores by language profile.

*These students have placed below the minimum for standard admission into ENG 100.  Therefore, to ensure success in this course, it is strongly recommended that additional instructional support precede or accompany enrollment into ENG 100. Consult a counselor / academic advisor for available options at this link: https://at.csn.edu/virtualqline.

* ESL Placement Test referral. ESL Placement Test referral is recommended with the GSP scores of 0-20 as in the chart above if English is not the student's first, primary, or native language. The student needs to visit https://www.csn.edu/departments/world-languages to enroll in CSN ESL Program.

What is the Guided Self Placement (GSP)?

The GSP is not a test but an online instrument/survey that helps students assess their skills level of preparedness to start an English course. The GSP has no right or wrong answer or a pass or fails grade.

The GSP can be accessed by clicking on this link and following the screen instructions: Guided Self Placement.

The GSP may be taken one time only.

After completing the GSP and math placement testing, students should complete the online orientation, including the Advising Workshop.  After completing these three steps, students will receive a complete course recommendation form prepared by an academic advisor. Upon receipt of the course recommendation form, students will be able to register.

Exceptions. An advisor may grant an exception/exemption to First Steps students who do not wish to complete the GSP.  To discuss this option with an advisor, students can speak with an advisor using the Virtual Express Advising service at https://at.csn.edu/virtualqline.

Other English Placement Information

Completing the English Placement Process is an essential requirement for a student who did not request an exemption from an Advisor or present an alternative placement result.

WritePlacer test is no longer available to CSN students as English Placement. However, WritePlacer scores that are less than two years old at the time of enrollment remain valid. We still offer the WritePlacer for students wishing to take the exam  for other institutions for a fee. See Placement Testing for more information.

Processing of alternative pathways

English Placement eligibility using alternative placement measures shall be processed at the three campuses Testing Centers by submitting equivalent scores on ACT, or SAT, or WritePlacer score less than two years old, as outlined in the chart.

AP scores or High School GPAs are processed at the Registrar's Office.

New Students expected to take the ALEKS PPL Math Assessment

New students admitted to CSN are expected to take the ALEKS PPL Math assessment. ALEKS PPL math is an adaptive web-based program that can map a student's strengths and weaknesses. This Placement Assessment has up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete.

The ALEKS Placement Test can be used to self-remediate for better test scores, in five attempts only, if the student does not place into or towards the path of the MATH/STAT course needed for their degree.

Alternatively, ALEKS placement assessment is not required for students who want to enroll in MATH 95E, 104B, 116, or 120E. Note that MATH 120E must be taken with MATH 20. On the other hand, Math 116 and Math 104B have no prerequisite, are non-transferable and have no pathways to any other MATH/STAT courses.

If the student's degree requires MATH 120, but they did not place into it, the student may still register for MATH 120E.

The Math Department will no longer accept ACCUPLACER Classic Math scores (AR, AG, or CM as it appears in MyCSN), even if the test scores are less than two years old. This means that if a student did not take the Accuplacer Next Generation Math (NGAR, NGQRAS, or NGAAF as it appears in MyCSN) or ALEKS Placement Test scores, which are less than two years old, they must take the current ALEKS PPL Math.

NextGen Accuplacer Advanced Algebra test score must be 263 or greater on the NextGen Accuplacer Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QRAS) test.

All acceptable Math test scores MUST be less than two years old from the date the test was taken.

The Math Department will not issue permission for any student to take a course they do not place into. This includes students that are even one point away from placing into a MATH/STAT course.

Students wishing to use placement test scores from another institution must speak with the Math Department Chair.

Students may contact the Math Department at the respective contacts as below.

Math Course Prerequisites and Minimum Placement Scores

All test scores MUST be less than two years old (from the date the test was taken).  Students wanting to use placement scores from another institution must speak with the Chair of the Math Department.

Important. No placement or other test is needed to take MATH 95E, 104B, 116, or 120E.

*A grade of "C" or higher is required in prerequisite courses.

**NextGen ACCUPLACER Advanced Algebra test score must include a score of 263 or greater on the NextGEN ACCUPLACER Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics Test. 

Please see https://at.csn.edu/math-placement for additional information.

What is the CSN Chemistry Placement Test?

The CSN Chemistry Placement Test allows students to go into Chem 121 without taking the Chem 103 prerequisite. It does not, however, cover the math prerequisite for the class. You can retest after six months. This test is a paper-based exam and is currently not required to make an appointment online.

The test is 50 minutes long with 35 questions. You must get a 21 or higher to meet the prerequisite. You are allowed a personal Periodic Table and a scientific calculator, non-graphing, non-programmable on the exam.

Taking the Test

Currently, we are testing in Accuplacer remotely using WebEx Video due to the remote/virtual mandated brought by the COVID 19 situation. You will need a computer (desktop or laptop) with a webcam and audio capabilities to test.

Steps to follow TO MAKE APPOINTMENT for your testing

1. You will make an appointment to test in using RegisterBlast as follows:
   1. Charleston Campus: https://www2.registerblast.com/csnwch/Exam/List
   2. North Las Vegas Campus: https://www2.registerblast.com/csnnlv/Exam/List
   3. Henderson Campus: https://www2.registerblast.com/csnh/Exam/List
2. After you complete and submit your RegisterBlast appointment, you will receive an email acknowledging your appointment instantly.
3. One business day before your test day, you will receive an instructional email on how to get ready for your testing day.

Steps to follow BEFORE your testing appointment.

1. Go to your browsers extension site and add the Cisco WebEx Extension:
2. Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cisco-webex-extension/jlhmfgmfgeifomenelglieieghnjghma
3. Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/cisco-webex-extension/
4. To check that WebEx was set up correctly, click here: https://www.webex.com/test-meeting.html. Enter your name and email address and click Join. Please use the option to join with a video.
5. Check that your computer can run ACCUPLACER by clicking here: https://www.accuplacer.org/#/systemRequirement.

When it is time for your appointment

1. Sit in a quiet place where you will be undisturbed while testing.
2. Clear a workspace for your monitor, mouse, keyboard, blank scratch paper, a periodic table with no other materials written on it, and pencil. All other items must be removed from your table/desk.
3. A personal scientific calculator, non-graphing, non-programmable is allowed.
4. Be sure to have your photo ID ready. You will need to show it to your proctor.
5. To join the meeting on the test day
   1. Go to https://csnedu.webex.com/csnedu/
   2. In the Join a Meeting box, enter the access code
   3. Enter the session password and click OK
   4. Enter your name, email address, and the Session Password and click "Join Now."
   5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
6. Enter the voucher number sent to you. Be sure to write this down as soon as you receive your appointment confirmation email.

The Chemistry test Technical Requirements

1. Go to your browsers extension site and add the Cisco WebEx Extension:
   1. Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cisco-webex-extension/jlhmfgmfgeifomenelglieieghnjghma
   2. Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/cisco-webex-extension/
2. To check that WebEx was set up correctly, click here: https://www.webex.com/test-meeting.html. Enter your name and email address and click Join. Please use the option to join with a video.
3. Check that your computer can run ACCUPLACER by clicking here: https://www.accuplacer.org/#/systemRequirement.

Study materials

For study materials, please visit our website at csn.edu/placement-testing or click on this link https://www.csn.edu/sites/default/files/u2241/chemplacementtestpractice.pdf