Placement Testing

Testing Services provides English and Math placement testing. Placement scores are a mandatory prerequisite for Math and English courses, as well as other programs and classes. Placement tests measure your math, reading, and writing abilities. Review the information below to learn more about these tests, as well as the registration process, photo identification requirements, fees, locations, preparation, scores, and accommodations.

Placement Testing Information

  • Placement Testing Alternatives

    Joliet Junior College students may provide alternative test scores in lieu of completing placement testing  Such alternative test scores include ACT, AP, COMPASS, GED, HiSET, PARCC, SAT, and TASC.  Review the information below to learn more about testing alternatives, acceptable scores, length of test score validity, and where to direct your scores.


    ACT Scores

    ACT scores are valid for 48 months and should be submitted to the Joliet Junior College Admissions Office.

    Acceptable ACT scores

    • English

      • ACT English score of 20 or higher places a student into ENG 101 or ENG 130.

    • Math

      • ACT Math score of 22 or higher places student into MATH 119, MATH 123, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 131, or MATH 138.
      • ACT Math score of 23 or higher places student into MATH 142.
    AP Scores

    Joliet Junior College will award credit on the basis of scores earned on the Advanced Placement Examinations.  Students who have taken Advanced Placement (AP) exams should order their official score reports from College Board and have them sent directly to the Academic Credentials Office.  AP exam scores and the JJC course equivalents are posted below.


    COMPASS Scores

    COMPASS scores are valid for 48 months and should be submitted to the Joliet Junior College Testing Services Main Campus location. 

    While ACT no longer produces COMPASS, Joliet Junior College will still accept current COMPASS scores for English and math placement. 


    Acceptable COMPASS scores

    Reading - To enroll in college-level English, one must place appropriately in Reading AND Writing.

      COMPASS (Reading)
    ENG 020 1-65
    ENG 021, 022 66-80, or 62-65 AND Success Navigator "Green" or "1"
    ENG 101, 130 81-99, or 75-80 AND Success Navigator "Green" or "1"

     

    Writing - To enroll in college-level English, one must place appropriately in Reading AND Writing.

      COMPASS (Sentence Skills)
    ENG 098 1-46
    ENG 099 47-74
    ENG 101, 130 75-99

     

    English for Academic Purposes (EAP) - To enroll in college-level English, one must place appropriately in Reading AND Writing.

      COMPASS (Reading) COMPASS (ESL eWrite) COMPASS (Listening) COMPASS (Grammar/ Usage)
    Adult Ed. 1-34 0-2 1-41 1-41
    ENG 066     42-66  
    ENG 067     67-81  
    ENG 068     82-91  
    ENG 069     92-99  
    ENG 076 35-49      
    ENG 077 50-65      
    ENG 078 66-71      
    ENG 079 72-80      
    ENG 086   3-5   42-62
    ENG 087   6-7   63-83
    ENG 088   8-9    
    ENG 089   10-11    
    ENG 092       84-93
    ENG 093       94-99
    ENG 101, 130 81-99 12    

     

    Math

    ​ COMPASS (Pre-Algebra) COMPASS (Algebra) COMPASS (College Algebra) COMPASS (Trigonometry)
    MATH 090 1-36      
    MATH 094 37-99 36-44    
    MATH 095   45-59    
    MATH 098   45-59    
    BMAT 101 37-99 36-44    
    TMAT 107 37-99 36-44    
    TMAT 108   45-59    
    MATH 119   60-99 41-49 1-99
    MATH 123   60-99 41-49 1-99
    MATH 127   60-99 41-49 1-99
    MATH 128   60-99 41-49 1-99
    MATH 131   60-99 41-49  
    MATH 137       1-99
    MATH 138   60-99 41-49  
    MATH 139       1-59
    MATH 142   60-99 41-49 1-59
    MATH 150       1-99
    MATH 153       1-99
    MATH 170       60-99

     

    Geometry
    • COMPASS Geometry score of 50 or higher will meet geometry prerequisite for college-level math course.
    • MATH 119, 123, 124, 131, 138, and 142 require the geometry prerequisite.
    • Students may also meet the geometry prerequisite by
      • Earning 60 or more points on Accuplacer Geometry test.
      • Geometry scores never expire.  
      • Completing MATH 095 with a C or higher.
      • Submitting to the Admissions Department a high school transcript showing completion of two semesters of geometry with a C or higher.
    GED Scores

    GED scores are valid for 48 months and should be submitted to the Joliet Junior College Admissions Office.


    Acceptable GED scores

    English

    • GED Language Arts score of 165 or higher places a student into ENG 101 or ENG 130.

    Math

    • GED Math score of 165 or higher places student into MATH 119, MATH 123, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 131, MATH 138, or MATH 142.
    HiSET Scores

    HiSET scores are valid for 48 months and should be submitted to the Joliet Junior College Admissions Office.

    Acceptable HiSET scores

    English

    • HiSET Reading score of 15 or higher will place student out of ENG 021.
    • HiSET Writing score of 15 or higher will place student out of ENG 099.
    • HiSET Reading score of 15 or higher, AND HiSET Writing score of 15 or higher, will place a student into ENG 101 or ENG 130.

    Math

    • HiSET Math score of 15 or higher places student into MATH 119, MATH 123, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 131, MATH 138, or MATH 142.

    PARCC Scores

    PARCC scores are valid for 48 months and should be submitted to the Joliet Junior College Admissions Office.

    Acceptable PARCC scores

    • English

      • PARCC English Language Arts/ Literacy score of 4 or higher places a student into ENG 101 or ENG 130.

    • Math

      • PARCC Algebra II score of 4 or higher places student into MATH 119, MATH 123, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 131, MATH 138, or MATH 142.
    SAT Scores

    SAT scores are valid for 48 months and should be submitted to the Joliet Junior College Admissions Office.


    Acceptable SAT scores

    • English

      • SAT Critical Reading score of 450 or higher, earned before March 2016, will place student out of ENG 021.
      • SAT Writing score of 450 or higher, earned before March 2016, will place student out of ENG 099.
      • SAT Critical Reading score of 450 or higher, earned before March 2016, AND SAT Writing score of 450 or higher, earned before March 2016, will place a student into ENG 101 or ENG 130.
      • SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 500 or higher, earned after March 2016 will place a student into ENG 101 and ENG 130.

    • Math

      • SAT Math score of 530 or higher, earned before March 2016, will place a student into MATH 119, MATH 123, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 131, or MATH 138.
      • SAT Math score of 570 or higher, earned before March 2016, will place a student into MATH 142.
      • SAT Math score of 560 or higher, earned after March 2016, will place a student into MATH 119, MATH 123, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 131, or MATH 138.
      • SAT Math score of 590 or higher, earned after March 2016, will place a student into MATH 142.
    TASC Scores

    TASC scores are valid for 48 months and should be submitted to the Joliet Junior College Admissions Office.


    Acceptable TASC scores

    • English

      • TASC Language Arts Reading score of 580 or higher will place student out of ENG 021.
      • TASC Language Arts Writing score of 560 or higher, AND TASC Essay score of 6 or higher, will place student out of ENG 099.
      • TASC Language Arts Reading score of 580 or higher, TASC Language Arts Writing score of 560 or higher, AND TASC Essay score of 6 or higher, will place student into ENG 101 or ENG 130.

    • Math

      • TASC Math score of 560 or higher places student into MATH 119, MATH 123, MATH 127, MATH 128, MATH 131, MATH 138, or MATH 142.

     

    Last updated September 26, 2018.

  • Placement Testing at District 525 High Schools

    JJC is aware that local high schools are preparing their juniors and seniors to make the transition into higher education, whether this be dual credit coursework or courses taken at Joliet Junior College. To assist with this shift, we offer off-site placement testing each year. This service is available to all College District 525 High Schools and allows students to complete placement testing at their local high school during school hours.

    Note: this year the process for Off-Site Testing has changed, due to the changeover in placement tests.  Please read the information on this page carefully.

    Submit an Off-Site Testing Request.

     

     

    Student Tester Guidelines

     

     

    • Reading and Writing exams are administered using the Accuplacer testing program.  There is no charge for testers taking the Reading and Writing exams.  Students may retake the Reading and Writing exam once every two years at Testing Services locations.
    • Math placement testing is now administered using the ALEKS testing program.  Upon completing their first ALEKS test, students will have access to six (6) months of the ALEKS remediation program and training modules through the ALEKS website. 
    • Student testers will be provided a basic, 4-function calculator for the ALEKS Math test; students may not use their personal calculators.
    • All testers participating in Off-Site Testing must complete a Joliet Junior College (JJC) Application at least two weeks prior to testing. 
    • Testers are not allowed to have food, drinks, backpacks, purses, cell phones or other electronic devices, books, folders, or paperwork with them during testing.
    • JJC Off-Site Placement Testing is for initial testing only.  All retesting must take place at a Testing Services site.   
    • All testers should realize that it is best to take this test seriously and prepare for it.
    • All testers have been made aware that ACT, PARCC, and SAT scores may be used as a substitute for testing under certain conditions.


    Institutional Guidelines

    • No scheduled drills (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) will take place during Off-Site testing. Please check your institution's calendar for drills and other planned disruptions before scheduling an Off-Site testing date.
    • JJC Testing Services Staff will be let into the testing area no less than one hour prior to scheduled testing to prepare room.
    • High school will furnish computer lab with one PC for each tester. If laptops are being used, their batteries must be fully charged prior to testing.
    • High school will furnish blank scratch paper and pencils to each student tester. JJC Testing Services Staff will shred paper upon completion of testing.
    • Off-Site Testing Institution will ensure that computers are programmed (defaulted) to print to a printer within the testing room, if hard copies of scores are required.


    Personnel Guidelines

    • The High School's Primary IT contact and Network Administrator will be available at least one month prior to testing date to discuss JJC IT requirements.
    • The High School's Primary IT contact will be readily available during entire testing session.
    • The Counselor/Instructor contact will be present in the testing lab during entire testing session.
    • For each additional 30 student testers present, additional counselor/instructors will be present in each testing lab. See personnel requirements chart below:

     

    Personnel Requirements Chart

    Number of Student Testers Present

    Number of High School Counselor/ Instructors Required

    IT Personnel Requirements
    0-30 1 Primary IT readily available
    31-60 2 Primary IT readily available
    61-90 3 Primary IT readily available
    91-120 4 Primary IT readily available


    Timeframe Guidelines

    • The High School's Primary IT contact and Network Administrator will be available at least one month prior to testing date to speak with JJC IT staff to learn how to have the computers ready for testing at the high school location, as well as how to send the scores to JJC IT staff.
    • The High School's Primary IT contact and Network Administrator will perform a test run at least two weeks prior to testing date to ensure that the scores were correctly sent to JJC IT staff.
    • All student testers participating in Off-Site Placement Testing will have completed a Joliet Junior College (JJC) Application at least two weeks prior to testing.
    • All cancellations will be made at least one week prior to testing date. The ability to reschedule Off-site Placement testing is up to the discretion of Testing Services and cannot be guaranteed.
    • All roster changes must be made no later than five business days prior to testing date.  Changes submitted within four business days of the testing date may not be considered.
    • Testing Services staff will call counselor/instructor contact within 48 hours of the testing date to confirm appointment.

     

    Submit an Off-Site Placement Testing Request.

    Last updated September 26, 2018.