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Assessment

• Do I need Assessment?
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• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Ability to Benefit (ATB)
• How do I get my results?
• High School Students

Course placement for Math English and English as a Second Language.  Much of your success at Cabrillo College depends on enrolling in courses that match your academic skills. We use course placement assessments to determine the best fit between your skills and class requirements. The sooner you apply, complete the on-line orientation and assess the earlier you can register. Allow enough time for the assessment process: a week if you decide to retest and 24 hours for your scores to be input into your student profile. Classes fill up fast and we are NOT able to accelerate the assessment process for your personal academic needs. Plan ahead!

 Assessments are required if you intend to:

• Enter your first college English or math or English as a Second Language course;
• Satisfy math/English prerequisites
• Earn AA or AS degree or certificate
• Transfer to another college/university
• Enroll in a program, e.g., ECE, Nursing

You do NOT need an Assessment if you show a Cabrillo counselor or Admissions and Records staff official documentation of one of the following:

1. Successful completion of previous college level English, ESL, or math courses. Send us: Official transcripts from another college or university

2. Placement results from another accredited college or university, including but not limited to any California Community College, CSU (ELM and EPT) and UC. 

The score report must include the following information:

• Your name
• The name of the college or university
• course placement, not just a "raw score"

3. For English and/or math: Early Assessment Program (EAP) test result "demonstrating college readiness"

FAX your assessment results to:

Admissions and Records, attn: Evaluator:  831.479.5782.

Please allow ten working days for the results to be evaluated and entered into your file.

NOTE: we will not accept assessment results older than 2 years

4. For English only: Advanced placement (AP) test with scores of 3, 4, or 5 in English Language or English Literature

5. For math only:

• Advanced Placement (AP) test: Calculus AB, Calculus BC or Statistics with scores of 3, 4, or 5

• International Baccalaureate (IB) test: Mathematics (HL) High Level with score of 5, 6 or 7

• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests: Calculus, College Algebra, College Algebra-Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry with a score of at least 50 

6. A college degree

Some courses require that a student read, write or analytically compute at a certain level before enrolling in the next course. This is a required prerequisite. You can satisfy prerequisites either through an assessment test or the methods listed below. A co-requisite requires that you enroll in the co-requisite class at the same time.

The assessments officially measure your skills in English comprehension, reading and math. You need to assess before registering for classes that have math or English prerequisite. There is no fee, you can assess twice in a six month period, there is a one week waiting period between assessments.  Additional indicators or “multiple measures”of your skills and knowledge gained outside the classroom will be taken into consideration and given a numerical value in your final score. Your assessment indicates your placement level and whether you have satisfied the math and English prerequisites. If you have not "placed into" the class you hoped to, you may reassess. If you still score below your target, you must take the class indicated on the score sheet.

Prerequisite Clearance

Challenge a Course Requisite

Waive Matriculation Services