Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Placement Information is needed in Writing, Reading, and Math. You may not have to take placement assessments at Columbus State if you have ACT/SAT scores or official transcripts with qualifying college credit. Refer to College-Level Placement Scores.

There is no charge to take any of the placement assessments at this time.

The only assessment with a time limit is the writing sample portion (Part 1) of the English as a Second Language (ESL) assessment. All other assessments, including Part 2 of the ESL assessment, are not timed. You can take as long as you need to finish the test.

As a guideline, students generally take:

• Reading and Writing placement tests (usually taken together): 1.5 hours
• Math Placement Assessments: 1 – 1.5 hours
• ESL Placement Assessment (Parts 1 and 2 are taken together): 2 – 3.5 hours

Important: Be sure to arrive at the Columbus State Testing Center location at your scheduled time. You may need to reschedule all or part of your assessments if you arrive late. 

Yes! If you are a student with a disability and need accommodations for testing beyond extended time, contact Accessibility Services at (614) 287-2570 or go to Accessibility Services for more information.

Take your Placement Assessments at a Columbus State Testing Center location convenient to you. Appointments are required. Refer to Placement Assessments for more information.

The ESL version of the placement assessment gives students whose first language is not English a chance to assess their language skills against college communication expectations. Research has shown that students enjoy greater short-term and long-term academic success when they are appropriately placed. If English is not the first language you learned, take the English as a Second Language Assessments.

Placement Assessments are intended to determine what you already know, but preparation can help to refresh your knowledge and improve your scores.

Before you test, be sure to review. Proper placement is important to your success in college. Information and resources are available for each placement test:

Math: www.cscc.edu/mathplacement
Reading: www.cscc.edu/readingplacement
Writing: www.cscc.edu/writingplacement
ESL: www.cscc.edu/ESLplacement

Upon completion of your first Math Placement Assessment, a personalized ALEKS Prep and Learning module is created.

To access your module:

If you are starting in SUMMER 2026, go to CougarWeb. Click on the Academics Tab (Graduation Cap).

If you are starting AUTUMN 2026, go to Workday. Click on the Academics Hub.

Scroll down to Access ALEKS PPL (Placement, Preparation, and Learning). Follow the "Continue My Path" button in the upper left of your ALEKS dashboard to access the lessons.

Our statistics show that most students will improve their scores after completing 5 hours of math review. The ALEKS Prep and Learning modules are personalized for each student so that you can review the topics that you need. You are required to spend 5 hours of prep to retake the assessment, but you may review for longer than 5 hours. We recommend that you spend as many hours as you need to feel competent in the skills you will be tested on.

You can retake any of the placement assessments with these limitations:. 

• Writing Placement Assessment: 1 retake attempt in a 2-year window
• Reading Placement Assessment: 1 retake attempt in a 2-year window
• Math Placement Assessment: 4 retake attempts in a 2-year window; 5 hours of review required between each attempt
• ESL Placement Test: 1 retake attempt in a 2-year window. An additional attempt may be available after completion of certain Basic English courses (BESL 0108, 0210, or 0220)

If you do not have another source that can be used for placement, you must take the placement assessment(s). If you decide not to take a required assessment, you will not be permitted to register for classes at Columbus State. 

Writing, Reading, and Math* placement information before registering for your first semester classes, attending a New Student Program, or meeting with an Academic Advisor. 

*Math is not required for CCP students unless you want to take a class with a math prerequisite.

Submit official transcripts from every school you attended. You may need transcripts from multiple schools, even if transfer credits appear elsewhere. More information on sending transcripts can be found here.

The Writing Placement Assessment and ESL Writing Sample (Part 1) must be completed in one sitting. Reading, Math, and ESL Part 2 can be suspended. You will need to return within 13 calendar days to complete the assessment. A new assessment will not be started in the last hour of operation. You will need to reschedule to return if you don't finish all of your assessment(s). You can choose to schedule individual tests on different days.

It depends on which high school you attend. Some high schools have coordinated group testing sessions, while others expect students to schedule this test on their own time. Check with your high school guidance counselor to see how your school handles the placement tests.

You must have a letter of agreement on file with Columbus State and at least one person on site who has completed the required annual training. Complete the Test Date Request form located in the College Credit Plus Information SharePoint Portal under Placement Testing at least 10 business days before your requested date. Questions can be sent to the Coordinator at ccpplacement@cscc.edu.

If you are ready to schedule your classes, your next step is to find your orientation. If you would like to speak to someone about the results of your placement assessment, visit a New Student Coach.

If you have more than 15 credit hours of post-high school college transfer credit or are a transient student (you are a student at another school), then reach out to an Academic Advisor for course recommendations and next steps.

Once classes begin, we recommend continuing with your class. Remember, they become more challenging over time. If the drop deadline without a “W” has not passed, you may take a placement test to confirm your placement. After that deadline, placement tests are no longer allowed for enrolled courses. Consult the Academic Calendar for deadlines to drop courses.

Dropping a course may not result in a refund, and you may not be able to add another course for the current semester. Consider speaking with an Academic Advisor before making schedule changes.