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:
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
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
If you completed the AP Exam in English Language & Composition, you may report your AP Exam score for a possible placement
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
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
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
If you completed the ACT, you may report your ACT Math score for a possible placement
If you completed the AP Exam in Calculus AB or Calculus BC, you may report your AP Exam score for a possible placement
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
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
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
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
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
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:
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!