Placement Testing

MassBay’s Placement Testing is offered in-person or remotely, using Accuplacer and Zoom.

Students can satisfy the Placement Testing requirement if they have earned a 2.7 GPA in high school or have previously completed college-level coursework in English and Math. You may be eligible for a waiver for one or more sections of the Placement Test. To see if you qualify, you will need to submit copies of your high school or college transcripts to the Admissions Office prior to testing.

Email your documents to the Admissions Office at admissions@massbay.edu.

If you do not meet the testing waivers, you can register to complete the Placement Test (use the Placement Test Schedule link below to register).

Placement Testing at MassBay uses Zoom and a shared screen function. Students must have computer and internet access as well as the following:

1. A desktop or laptop with a web cam and audio capabilities. Unfortunately, devices such as cellphones, iPads, and other tablets will not work.
2. A quiet place where you can concentrate during the test.
3. A workspace for your monitor, mouse, keyboard, blank scratch paper, and pencil. All other items must be removed from your table/desk.
4. Your photo ID ready. You will need to show it to your proctor.

Please note, personal calculators are not allowed during Placement Testing exams. Accuplacer will provide a pop-up calculator during the test when appropriate.

Before the exam, you will be contacted by email with step-by-step instructions for you to follow to access the Accuplacer test.

Students who are non-English speakers can take the English as a Second Language (ESL) test, which includes sections on writing, reading, and language usage, and is approximately three hours long. ESL students may also take the math placement test. Those interested in our Community ESL program to learn English in not-for-credit classes, should contact the Office of Corporate Partnerships and Workforce Development (CPWD) cpwd@massbay.edu. Please visit Community ESL for more information.

You must have your Student ID Number available. It can be found in the acceptance letter you received via mail.

Testing Office:

AAC@massbay.edu
Framingham — 508-270-4213
Wellesley — 781-239-2620

Students Seeking Accommodations

Contact the Accessibility Resources Center:
Framingham — 508-270-4267
Wellesley — 781-239-2234

English and mathematics are an important part of the foundational work at MassBay Community College. All students seeking and enrolling into an Associates Degree program must fulfill the placement requirements.

Some certificates may also have placement requirements. Students interested in specific certificate programs should review the admissions requirements or contact admissions@massbay.edu for more information.

If you have applied to the College you may log in to your Bay Navigator account to check your "To Do" list for the specific placement requirements that apply to you.  If there are no placement items on your "To Do" list then you are exempt or have met the requirement already.

Students can satisfy the placement requirements in several ways. Students may waive the placement test using one of the multiple measures; these students will have the opportunity to enroll in college-level English and mathematics.

College-Level Math (GPA waiver): For courses that require a lower-level college math course as a pre-requisite, like MA 200-Calculus, students using the high school GPA math waiver will be able to enter directly into the pre-requisite, MA 104- Pre-Calculus, and not the higher-level math course, MA 200- Calculus.

Here is a complete list of ways a student entering MassBay can meet the placement requirement:

• High School GPA
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher from an accredited U.S. high school:
    • For Math placement: GPA must be from within the past 3 years.
    • For English placement: GPA must be from within the past 10 years.
  • Degree-seeking students should have their U.S. high school send official transcripts to Admissions@massbay.edu.
  • Guest Students (Non-Degree):
    • Must have completed at least three years of high school with cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher.
    • All final grades through the end of junior year must be posted on the transcript.
    • Guest students may be asked to have their U.S. high school send an official transcript to Registrar@massbay.edu.
  • GED/HiSET
    • GED math score of 165 or higher within 3 years and/or English Language Arts score of 165 or higher within 10 years.
    • HiSET math score of 15 or higher within 3 years and/or Reading and Writing score of 15 or higher within 10 years.
    • Students must submit a copy of their GED/HiSET score report to Admissions@massbay.edu.
• Transfer Credit
  • College level English or mathematics completed at with a D or higher* (C- or higher required for transfer of credits); for the transfer of credits, students must submit official transcripts to the Office of the Registrar. For the purposes of placement and placement waivers, students should contact the Academic & Transfer Advising Center, advisingcenter@massbay.edu.
  • Developmental coursework* in English and mathematics will not transfer, but can be used for the purposes of placement. Students should contact the Academic & Transfer Advising Center, advisingcenter@massbay.edu.
  • Completion of an Associates degree or higher* at a regionally-accredited US college/university will meet the English placement requirement.
  • Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate (IB), are all acceptable exams for the purposes of placement and transfer of credit in English and mathematics. Specific information on which exam credit may be granted can be found here: https://www.massbay.edu/cpl. Official scores should be sent directly to the Academic & Transfer Advising Center for review.
  • For all placement waivers and transfer of credit, coursework must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university. Foreign documents must be translated and evaluated by a credible agency. English coursework will only be accepted from a US institution
• SAT or ACT
  • SAT or ACT exams dated within 5 years may be used for placement.
  • For English Placement:
  • To waive the Accuplacer Reading Comprehension test:
  • SAT score of 500 or higher on the verbal portion or;
  • ACT English and Reading score of 37 or higher.
  • Students must still complete the Writeplacer exam.
  • To waive both the Accuplacer Reading Comprehension and Writeplacer test:
    • SAT score of 600 or higher on the verbal portion or;
    • ACT English and Reading score of 49 or higher.
    • This would satisfy the full placement for English.
  • For Math Placement:
  • Please refer to the SAT and ACT scores in the table below:

SAT Math score <470

ACT Math Score <17

Eligible to enroll in MA 090/MA 090X

SAT Math score 470–490

ACT Math Score 17

Eligible to enroll in MA 095 or MA 105/MA 105X, MA 106/MA 106X

SAT Math score 500–530

ACT Math Score 18-21

Eligible to enroll in MA 098 or MA 105, MA 106, or MA 104/MA 104X

SAT Math score 540–570

ACT Math Score 22-23

Eligible to enroll in MA 102, MA 109 or lower

SAT Math score 580–680

ACT Math Score 24-29

Eligible to enroll in MA 104 or lower

SAT Math score 690–800

ACT Math Score 30-36

Eligible to enroll in MA 200 or lower

Accuplacer

Students who do not meet any of the above criteria will need to complete the Accuplacer Placement Test. More information and preparatory materials can be found at: https://www.massbay.edu/placementtesting

For more information regarding placement, please contact the Academic Achievement Center at aac@massbay.edu.