UndergraduatePreparation for
the Future

The English placement test will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Take the English Placement Test

All students will take ENG-212 Writing in Culture (3 credits) and CSU-112 Critical Thinking & Writing (1 credit) in the same semester, unless they have credit for ENG-212 prior to starting at Cornerstone. Students with English test scores that meet the thresholds below may opt out of CSU-112 but will still be required to take ENG-212.

* Tests must be taken March 1, 2016 or later.

** Tests must be taken before Feb. 29, 2016.

All students are required to take ENG-212 Writing in Culture to meet their Written Communication requirement as a part of the Cornerstone Core curriculum. CSU-112 is a co-requisite course intended to add additional support to students in the ENG-212 course. Students who have demonstrated a high English proficiency on standardized/placement tests can opt-out of the additional CSU-112 co-requisite, but will still be required to take ENG-212.

Students with credit equivalent to ENG-212 from AP, CLEP, or transferred credits from another institution (per the Cornerstone Registrar’s office determination) will already have the Written Communication requirement fulfilled and will not need to take the courses.

There are two different versions of the math placement test. Please take the math placement test that corresponds to your major in the chart below.

Math Placement by Major

Take Your Math Placement Test

Based on the math placement chart, please only take the test version (AB or ABCD) that corresponds with your major.

Test Version AB

Approximate test time: 30 minutes.

Take the AB Math Placement Test

Test Version ABCD

Approximate test time: 60 minutes.

Take the ABCD Math Placement Test

Math Placement Score Criteria

Part A: Arithmetic

• Be able to round numbers to various places, such as the hundreds, tens, ones, tenths, hundredths, thousandths, ten thousandths.
• Be able to add and subtract fractions and write your answer in lowest terms.
• Be able to multiply and divide fractions and write your answer in lowest terms.
• Be able to work with percentages:
  • Finding a percent of a number (e.g., find 68% of 150).
  • Describe by what percent an amount increased or decreased.
  • Convert between fractions and percentages.
• Know the order of operations and be able to compute an expression using them.
• Be able to use inequalities with fractions (e.g., which is bigger, 7/8 or 19/20?)
• Be able to convert between mixed numbers (e.g., 51/3 ) and improper fractions (e.g., 16/3 ).
• Understand the connection between ratios and fractions and be able to apply them to amounts (e.g., if the ratio of water to vinegar should be 3:2, and I have 14 ounces of water, how much vinegar should I add?)

Part B: Algebra

• Be able to substitute variables into an expression (e.g., if x = 4 and y = 9, what is 8×2 — 2xy?)
• Be able to simplify expressions by combining like terms.
• Be able to expand binomials being multiplied together (i. e., FOIL).
• Be able to find the slope of a line passing through two given points.
• Be able to solve linear equations.
• Be able to solve quadratic equations.
• Be able to take a verbal expression and write it as a mathematical expression (e.g., “eight times three less than a number” as 8(x — 3)).
• Be able to write a linear expression for a situation (e.g., I make seven dollars an hour plus a one-time payment of nine dollars, so the amount of money I make is 7h + 9, where h is in hours).
• Be able to solve fractional equations by cross-multiplying.

Part C: College Algebra

• Be able to solve quadratic equations…
  •  …by factoring.
  •  …by using the quadratic formula.
• Be able to find the vertex of a parabola.
• Be able to factor quadratic expressions.
• Be familiar with function notion and be able to input expressions into functions (e.g., evaluate/simplify f (a2 + 3)).
• Be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions with expressions in them.
• Be familiar with how graphs of functions are affected by changing the expression in situations like k f (x), f (kx), f (x+k), f (x— k), f (x) + k and f (x)—k.
• Be able to simplify logarithmic expressions using log rules.
• Be able to solve simple exponential equations using logarithms.

Part D: Trigonometry

• Be familiar with basic trigonometric definitions and how they relate to the sides of a triangle.
• Know the unit circle.
• Be able to convert between radians and degrees.
• Know basic trigonometric identities such as the sum/difference identities, double angle identities and the Pythagorean identity.
• Be familiar with the reciprocal trig functions sec θ, csc θ, and cot θ.
• Know the Law of Sines and the Law of Cosines.
• Be able to solve trigonometric equations.

Do I have to take the placement tests before my first semester at Cornerstone?

Yes. It is important for students to begin their math and English courses in their first year and advisors need this information to help you create your first semester schedule.

What if I have already taken either the math or English AP test and scored a 3 or higher?

Regardless of if you have taken a math or English AP test, you must submit test scores (ACT, SAT or CLT) or take the placement tests.

What if I am waiting for AP or CLEP results, or I’m waiting for grades from dual enrollment to be posted? Do I need to take a placement test?

Regardless of if you are waiting for an AP or CLEP score, or college credits, you must take a placement test or submit your standardized test scores (ACT, SAT or CLT). We will honor the highest placement score.

What if I have taken the ACT, SAT or CLT but you don’t have my scores on file?

You can send in your scores to waive the placement test requirement. We will accept emailed photocopies of your test scores (be sure your full name, test date and scores are clearly visible), but you will also need to submit your official scores when able.

What if I selected “test optional” on the application but you have my test scores on file? Do I still have to take a placement test?

If we have an ACT, SAT or CLT test score on file, you do not need to take a placement test.

How long do the tests take?

• English: 30 minutes in length (15 questions total)
• Math: 30-60 minutes in length (20-40 questions, depending on your declared major)

Plan to complete your test in a single session.

Can I take the placement tests on campus?

Yes. We can schedule in-person placement tests on a case-by-case basis.

How will I find out what math and English classes I have placed into?

Your math and English placements can be accessed in the self-service center in MyCornerstone.

Can I retake the placement test?

Yes. You can take a placement test up to two times.

How long do I have to wait after my first attempt until I can retake my test?

Test retakes can be scheduled by your Cornerstone academic adviser after Aug. 1.

What scores do I need to obtain to be placed into specific math and English courses?

Please review the equivalency charts provided under the math and English drop-downs.

Is it possible to test out of math and/or English?

Placement into specific math and English courses can be found under the math and English drop-downs. The only way to test out of math and English is to take AP or CLEP tests or to transfer in credits from a college class.

How can I prepare for my placement test?

We do not expect you to prepare for your placement test ahead of time. English will primarily cover topics of English grammar. If you would like to study for math, test section topics are provided on page four of the Math Placement Guide.

Questions about your placement tests should be directed to the Academic Advising Office at advising@cornerstone.edu.