Placement Options - Getting Started at Lane

This page is designed to assist you in navigating the placement process, working to find you the most appropriate starting spot at Lane

Step 1: Apply and receive an L# (Student ID)

If you haven't complete your application yet, you can apply here:

Steps to Enroll

Once you have received your L#, you will be able to continue on to Step 2.

Your L# is needed to match your placement to your record!

Step 2: Tell us more about your education and testing history

Lane Community College accepts a number of self-reported test scores and prior courses for placement.

Please take a moment to look at the Writing and Math Placement Types to determine if you need to complete the Placement Self-Report

The Placement Self-Report may be all you need to place!

Writing Placement Types

If you have taken the recent version of the GED (2014), you may report your Reasoning Through Language Arts score for a placement

Look up GED scores

If you took the Smarter Balanced (OAKS) in high school, you may report your English Language Arts score for a possible placement

Smarter Balanced scores can be obtained by contacting your high school

If you completed the SAT, you may report your SAT Reading and Writing score for a possible placement

Lane accepts both the current version (2016 and on) and the older version of the test

Look up SAT scores

If you completed the AP Exam in English Language & Composition, you may report your AP Exam score for a possible placement

Look up AP Exam scores

Your AP Exam score could also earn you college credit!

If you completed the IB Exam in English A Literature (Standard or High) or English A Literature & Language (Standard or High), you may report your IB Exam score for a possible placement

Look up IB Exam scores

Your IB Exam score could also earn you college credit!

If you earned Prior College Credit in a College level Writing course (Includes College Now), this may act as a placement

If your high school senior year GPA is 3.0 or higher, you may report your GPA for placement.

Math Placement Types

If you have taken the recent version of the GED (2014), you may report your Math score for a possible placement

Look up GED scores

If you took the Smarter Balanced (OAKS) in high school, you may report your Math score for a possible placement

Smarter Balanced scores can be obtained by contacting your high school

If you completed the SAT, you may report your SAT Math score for a possible placement

Look up SAT scores

If you completed the ACT, you may report your ACT Math score for a possible placement

Look up ACT scores

If you completed the AP Exam in Calculus AB or Calculus BC, you may report your AP Exam score for a possible placement

Look up AP Exam scores

Your AP Exam score could also earn you college credit!

If you completed (C- or better) a HS Math Course in the last five years, you may report your Last Class Completed

If you earned Prior College Credit in a College level Writing course (Includes College Now), this may act as a placement

Complete the Placement Self-Report

 

Step 3: Did you complete the Placement Self-Report?

Yes, I completed the Placement Self-Report

If you completed the Placement Self-Report, you will receive an email with your responses and whether you earned a placement (or not)

Congratulations on your placement! You may be all set for advising. In some cases, you may be able to place higher via Placement Testing

If you have placed below WR121, you may choose to take the Accuplacer Reading Placement to improve your placement (See Step 4: Placement Testing)

If you have placed below MTH251, you may choose to take the ALEKS Math Placement to improve your placement (See Step 4: Placement Testing)

If you are happy with both of your placements, you can continue on to Advising (See Step 6: Advising)

Note: Taking a placement test cannot negatively impact your placement, the highest placement stands

Congratulations on your Writing placement! In some cases, you may be able to place higher via Placement Testing

If you are planning on taking a class requiring Math, you likely need to complete a ALEKS Math Placement (See Step 4: Placement Testing)

If you have placed below WR121, you may choose to take the Accuplacer Reading Test to improve your placement (See Step 4: Placement Testing)

If you are happy with your Writing placements and don't need a Math placement at this time, you can continue on to Advising (See Step 6: Advising)

Note: Taking a placement test cannot negatively impact your placement, the highest placement stands

Congratulations on your Math placement! In some cases, you may be able to place higher via Placement Testing

You will still need to complete the Accuplacer Reading and Writing Tests (See Step 4: Placement Testing)

If you have placed below MTH251, you may choose to take the ALEKS Math Placement to improve your level (See Step 4: Placement Testing)

Note: Taking a placement test cannot negatively impact your placement, the highest placement stands

Please continue on to Step 4!

Step 4: Placement Testing

If you have reached this step, you will find instructions on preparing for, taking, and interpreting the placement test(s)

Part A: Preparing for Placement Testing

Studying for the placement test beforehand will help you earn a more accurate placement

Note: If you have already placed into or completed WR097, you only need to take the Reading test

Accuplacer Reading Sample Questions

Accuplacer Writing Sample Questions

Accuplacer Practice App

ALEKS Placement Preparation and Learning youtube image

ALEKS Math Placement is open-response (not multiple-choice), so students benefit greatly from preparing beforehand

After you create your ALEKS Account, you will need to take the unproctored Placement

Once you finish the unproctored Placement, ALEKS will recommend a Prep and Learning Module

After you choose your module, it is recommended that you spend three hours in Prep and Learning prior to your first proctored Placement

Note: Researchers have found that 40% of students will improve their placement by at least one level with just two hours of work in a Prep and Learning Module

Create your ALEKS Account

Save time and money! Prepare for the ALEKS Math Placement!

Part B: Taking the Placement Test(s)

Here are the steps on how to sign up for testing, what you need to bring, and what to expect during testing

To test in our office, you will need your L# and date of birth, please email Testing Support Services testingoffice@lanecc.edu to schedule your appointment

If you live outside the area, or would benefit from testing at home, we also offer Virtual Proctoring

Virtual Testing Information

Photo ID is mandatory for all testing, by Testing vendor rules. We cannot make exceptions to the vendor rules

Acceptable forms of ID:

  • Current driver's license
  • State-approved ID
  • High school ID
  • College ID
  • Current state or federal ID card
  • Current passport
  • Tribal ID card
  • Naturalization card or certification of citizenship

Know your L# and myLane password (ALEKS access)

We provide scratch paper and pencils. Nothing else (for example: calculator), is allowed to be used during testing

Food and drink can be kept directly outside of the testing room, you are free to take breaks when you want

Placement Testing is offered year round (with few exceptions) at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM

Check-in starts 15 minutes prior to testing, with group instructions introducing the tests and rules

All placement tests are untimed and breaks are allowed

If you don't finish your test, you can resume the test another day

This isn't a one attempt situation. If you aren't happy with your placement, there are retesting options

If you would have difficulty making one of our standard start times, please let us know

Once you finish the test, your results will be instantly available

You will be instructed to print your results, which we will provide you upon exit from the testing room

We will help you interpret your results, and provide you with retesting information

For Accuplacer Reading & Writing, you are allowed two attempts on a section in the last three months

ALEKS PPL allows up to five attempts total in a one year period (an unproctored practice test counts as an attempt)

Part C: Interpreting your Results

Here is how you make sense of your score from placement testing

Accuplacer Reading & Writing scores are used to determine your starting level for college writing

There is no way to fail a placement test, but in most cases you will need to place into at least RD087 to start credit courses

Possible placements (in order): Adult Basic and Secondary Education, RD087, WR087, WR097 (WR093), WR115, and WR121

Find your placement by matching your reading and writing scores up on the link below:

Note: There is some overlap on WR087 and WR097 (WR093) placements

Writing Placement Score Matrix

Note: Accuplacer Classic placements are still good and can be interpreted in the above link

The ALEKS score is used to determine your starting level for college math

Every score on ALEKS results in a placement

Math Placement Score Matrix

There are different math course lines for different programs, you will want to talk to an advisor

Here is a map of the Math Pathways:

Math Course Sequences

Step 5: Retest (Optional)

If you aren't happy with your scores, there are retest options on all placement tests

For Accuplacer Reading & Writing, you are allowed two attempts on a section in the last three months

ALEKS PPL allows up to four attempts total in a one year period (an unproctored practice test counts as an attempt)

Step 6: Advising

For the majority of first time in college students (non-transfer), your next step will be to complete New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation

Prior college students will meet individually with an advisor, you can view the schedule here
Drop-In Advising

Advising will assist you in registering for courses!