How are placement and testing policies approached for dual enrollment?

• A. Placement is solely based on high school GPA.
• B. Placement tests or prior coursework determine initial courses; meeting prerequisites is essential; some tests include COMPASS/ACCUPLACER, ACT/SAT.
• C. There are no placement tests for dual enrollment.
• D. Once enrolled, course placement cannot change.

Answer: (B)

Placement and testing policies for dual enrollment center on aligning a student with the right starting college coursework by assessing readiness before course enrollment. This usually means using a placement test or looking at prior coursework to determine which initial courses a student should start with, and ensuring the student meets any prerequisites for those courses. Common tools include standardized assessments like ACCUPLACER or COMPASS, as well as considering ACT or SAT scores or relevant high school coursework as alternatives. The goal is to place students at a level where they can succeed, rather than assuming readiness based on general factors alone. If a student’s results or performance indicate, many programs allow retesting or changing placement after starting, so the arrangement isn’t locked in forever.