Placement Measures for First Year GE Written Communication and Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning Courses
Placement for first year general education written communication and mathematics/quantitative reasoning courses shall be based on systemwide standards that include the following measures: Early Assessment Program/ Smarter Balanced Achievement Levels, ACT scores and/or SAT scores, high school coursework, high school GPA and math GPA.
Multiple measures-informed skills assessments are not a condition for admission to the CSU; they are a condition of enrollment in first year general education written communication and mathematics/quantitative reasoning courses.
These skills assessments are designed to inform entering first time first year students of placement in appropriate baccalaureate-level courses based on their skills and needed supports.
First-time first year students in need of support as determined by the skills assessment will be placed in supported instruction. Supported instruction is designed to assist students in credit bearing courses. Students may also be required to participate in one or more of the University’s coordinated Supportive Pathways opportunities.
Supportive Pathways opportunities are designed to help first time students successfully complete the General Education (GE) English Composition (Area 1A) and Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (Area 2) requirements within their first year.
Assessments and Placement for GE Written Communications Has Fulfilled the GE Subarea 1A English Composition Requirement.
The student has met the requirement via completion of one of the following:
Advanced Placement (AP) Test
- 3 or above: AP Language and Composition
- 3 or above: AP Composition and Literature
College Transfer Coursework
- Completed approved college course that satisfies CSU GE Area 1A (English Composition) with a grade of C- or better
Placement in a GE Subarea 1A English Composition Course
The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures-informed standards via one of the criteria below:
English CAASPP/EAP Test:
- Standard Exceeded
- Standard Met and completed 12th grade approved year-long English course (CSU ERWC, AP, Weighted Honors English) with grade of C- or better
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test:
- 550 or above
- 510 – 540 and completed 12th grade approved year-long English course (CSU ERWC, AP, Weighted Honors English) with grade of C- or better English
ACT Test:
- 22 or higher
- 19-21 and completed 12th grade approved year-long English course (CSU ERWC, AP, Weighted Honors English) with grade of C- or better
High School Courses and GPA:
- Weighted GPA 3.3 or above
- GPA 3.0 or above and completed approved 12 grade year-long English course (AP, CSU ERWC, Weighted Honors English)
- GPA 3.0 or above and completed Honors English
- GPA 3.0 or above and 5 or more years of high school English
Placement in a Supported GE Subarea 1A English Course
The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures-informed standards via one of the criteria below:
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test:
- 510 – 540 and 4 or more years of high school English
ACT Test:
- 19-21 and 4 or more years of high school English
High School Courses and GPA:
- Weighted GPA 3.0 or above and 4 or more years of high school English
Placement in a Supported GE Subarea 1A English Course with Participation in Supportive Pathways Opportunities
Based on multiple measures-informed standards, the student would benefit from additional academic support, including participation in summer and/or year-long Supportive Pathways opportunities. Visit csustudentsuccess.org to learn more about the CSU’s Supportive Pathways Program.
Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program (SPFYP)
Assessments and Placement for GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning:
Non-Math Intensive Majors (Algebra and Statistics Disciplines, Non-STEM and Undecided Majors) Has Fulfilled the GE Subarea 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
The student has met the requirement via completion of one of the following:
Advanced Placement (AP) Test:
- 3 or above: Calculus AB
- 3 or above on AP Calculus BC
- 3 or above on AP Statistics
- 3 or above on AP Computer Science Principles
International Baccalaureate (IB) Test:
- 4 or above on Math Higher Level (HL)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP):
- 50 or above on: Calculus, College Algebra, College Algebra-Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry
College Transfer Coursework:
- Completed math/quantitative reasoning college course with a C- or better that satisfies CSU GE Area 2
Placement in a GE Subarea 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures-informed standards via one of the following criteria:
CAASPP/EAP Math Exam:
- Standard Exceeded
- Standard Met and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better
- Standard Met and 4 or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning
SAT Math Test:
- 570 or above
- 520 – 560 and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better
ACT Math Test:
- 23 or above
- 20-22 and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better
High School Courses and GPA:
- Weighted math GPA 3.0 or above and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better
- Weighted math GPA 3.0 or above and 5 or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning
- Weighted high school GPA 3.7 or above
- Weighted high school GPA 3.5 or above and 4 or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning
Placement in a Supported GE Sub-area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures- informed standards via one of the criteria below:
High School GPA:
- Weighted math GPA 3.3 or above
- Weighted high school GPA 3.0 or above
Placement in a Supported GE Sub-area 2
Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning Requirement with Participation in the Supportive Pathways Opportunities Required
Based on multiple measures-informed standards, the student would benefit from additional academic support including participation in the Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program. Visit csustudentsuccess.org to learn about this program.
Assessments and Placement for GE Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning: Pre- STEM/STEM and Other Math-Intensive Majors
Has Fulfilled the GE Sub-area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
The student has met the requirement via completion of one of the following:
Advanced Placement (AP) Test:
- 3 or above on AP Calculus AB
- 3 or above on AP Calculus BC
- 3 or above on AP Statistics
- 3 or above on AP Computer Science Principles
International Baccalaureate (IB) Test:
- 4 or above on Math Higher Level (HL)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP):
- 50 or above on: Calculus, College Algebra, College Algebra-Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus or Trigonometry
College Transfer Coursework:
- Completed math/quantitative reasoning college course with a C- or better that satisfies CSU GE Area 2
Placement in a GE Subarea 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures- informed standards via one of the criteria below:
CAASPP/EAP Math Exam:
- Standard Exceeded
- Standard Met and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better
SAT Math Test:
- 570 or above
- 520 – 560 and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better
ACT Math Test:
- 23 or above
- 20-22 and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a C- or better
High School Courses and GPA:
- Weighted math GPA 3.5 or above and completed 12th grade approved year-long math course beyond Algebra 2 with a grade of C- or better
- Weighted math GPA 3.5 or above and 5 or more years of high school math or quantitative reasoning
- Weighted high school GPA 3.7 or above
Placement in a Supported GE Subarea 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
The student has met examination standards and/or multiple measures- informed standards via the criteria below:
High School Math GPA:
- Weighted math GPA 3.3 or above
Placement in a Supported GE Subarea B4 Math/ Quantitative Reasoning Requirement with Participation in Supportive Pathways Opportunities Required
Based on multiple measures-informed standards, the student would benefit from additional academic support, including participation in summer and/or year-long Supportive Pathways opportunities. Visit csustudentsuccess.org to learn more.
- Supportive Pathways opportunities are designed to help first-time students successfully complete the General Education (GE) written communication (Area 1A) and math/quantitative reasoning Area 2) requirements within their first year
- Better prepare students in written composition and mathematics/quantitative reasoning before the fall term of freshman year, improving students' chances of successful completion of a baccalaureate degree.
- For general information about the CSU’s Supportive Pathways for First-Year Students Program (SPFYP), visit https://csustudentsuccess.org/supportive-pathways-first-year-students-program. Students are encouraged to visit the University’s Supportive Pathways website at https://writingandlearning.calpoly.edu/supportivepathways for information once admitted.
- Eligible financial aid applicants with an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $6,000 or less will be eligible for waiver of the per unit SPFY fee. For more information on assessments, placements, and the CSU’s Supportive Pathways for First Year Students Program, please visit www.csustudentsuccess.org.
Please visit the Cal Poly Mathematics Department for Mathematics Placement Exam (MAPE) Information.