Placement Testing

North Shore Community College is committed to student success by ensuring that all students are assessed and placed in courses that are appropriate to their academic skills. Students who cannot document proficiency (see Basic Skills Core/Proficiency Requirements) are required to complete Computerized Placement Tests (CPTs) to establish current ability in reading, writing, and math. The results of CPTs are used to determine appropriate course placement. These tests also verify communications and/or math proficiency for courses listing these as prerequisites. Students may drop in for testing at the Center for Alternative Studies and Educational Testing in Lynn, Danvers, or via Zoom. Review materials are available in the Center for Alternative Studies and Educational Testing, in the Student Support and Advising Centers and online.

Results of placement tests may indicate the need for courses in reading, writing, and/or math at the pre-college level. These foundation classes are designed to prepare students for college- level courses required for a degree or certificate program. These courses are developmental, do not count toward a degree or certificate, and are not transferable to another college.

Math ACCUPLACER Policy

Students using ACCUPLACER for Math Placement may use placement test results to determine only their starting math course. Once enrolled in a math course, they are required to take all courses from their Accuplacer placement course, sequentially through their program pathway. The Accuplacer may not be retaken for the purpose of skipping a course required in the sequence. Students may elect to take a course at a lower level than they are placed.

Students whose first language is not English are assessed in the Center for Alternative Studies and Educational Testing to evaluate their English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and to determine appropriate placement into ESL classes.

ALEKS for Pre- MAT050 Students

Students who do not place into MAT050 via Accuplacer will be given an ALEKS PPL access code to be used for remediation and placement.  There must be a minimum of a week between placement tests and students must spend at least eight hours working in ALEKS PPL before they can re-take the ALEKS assessment for placement. The ALEKS PPL placement test will be given in-person.  Once a student reaches the threshold for placement into a math course, they may not take the ALEKS placement test again but must enroll in a math course. The students will have access to ALEKS PPL for one year so they may continue to work on math skills.  NSCC will use the placement cut scores recommended by ALEKS. 

ALEKS for STEM Placement

All incoming students who have not yet placed into a math course will be required to take the ALEKS PPL placement test in-person for placement into courses that require STEM Math Level 3 and above as a prerequisite. Students may take the ALEKS PPL placement test no more than twice with a minimum of one week and 8 hours of work in ALEKS PPL between attempts. ALEKS PPL will remain available to the students for one year. NSCC will use the placement cut scores recommended by ALEKS. ACUPLACER scores may not be used by students to access courses that require STEM Math Level 3 and above as a prerequisite for students accepted starting Fall 2026.