Placement
For college courses where prerequisites are required, in order to be successful, students must meet pre-requisite requirements prior to enrolling in the course. To demonstrate that required course pre-requisites have been met, students enrolling in courses with prerequisites may complete the college’s placement test (ACCUPLACER). Students may also use appropriate ACT or SAT scores, prior college coursework, high school transcripts, or transitional instruction portability codes to demonstrate proficiency for courses in which they plan to enroll at Black Hawk College.
The ACCUPLACER tests measure academic skills in writing, reading, basic math, and algebra that provides information for advising and placement into courses commensurate with abilities. Test scores place students into either developmental education or 100-level college credit courses. Placements are standard for English Composition, Math and Reading. Therefore, students are encouraged to prepare for the ACCUPLACER test. Study help is available under the Information for Students tab at www.accuplacer.org.
Some courses require a specific test score prior to enrollment. All students must meet the prerequisites for courses either through assessment or previous college coursework. Students who have attended another college or university or who have earned a degree should see an advisor or counselor to discuss their options before taking ACCUPLACER.
Students who have taken the ACT or SAT test within the past eighteen months may be able to have portions of the ACCUPLACER test waived. ACT and SAT scores (from either official score report or high school transcript) must be shown to an advisor or brought to the testing session proctor to receive a test exemption. If no documentation is provided, students will be required to take all portions of the test.
Black Hawk College students may take the ACCUPLACER test free of charge one time per academic year. Students who would like to retake ACCUPLACER within the same academic year will be charged a fee (see www.bhc.edu/placement for exact amount).
Multiple Measures: Black Hawk College may also use information recorded on the High School Transcript, including portability codes from transitional instruction, to help determine placement in Math, English, and Reading.
BHC may evaluate cumulative GPA and grades in specific courses in conjunction with any other placement information mentioned in this section. Assessment scores and high school coursework are valid if BHC English, Reading and/or Math course is started within 18 months of assessment date or course completion date.
Students who require special testing accommodations may contact Disability Resources & Access on the Quad-Cities Campus at 309-796-5900 or the East Campus at 309-854-1713.
Assessment policies/guidelines are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the most accurate and up to date information. Please see current information at: http://www.bhc.edu/placement.
Non-native speakers of English need to contact Janet Francisco, Academic ESL Program Coordinator (e-mail franciscoj@bhc.edu, phone 309-796-5183), to take our language proficiency test. This 1½-hour exam will test English language proficiency in listening, reading, grammar and writing.
Placement for Students in Foreign Languages
Students registering in the following levels of Spanish should keep in mind the following guidelines:
Elementary level 101
Knowledge in the foreign language is not required.
Elementary level 102
The student should have had one year of the foreign language in high school with a “C” or above or a semester of the foreign language in college with a “C” or above or the equivalent.
Intermediate level 201
The student should have had two years of the foreign language in high school with a “C” or above or two semesters of the foreign language in college with a “C” or above or the equivalent.
Intermediate level 202
The student should have had three years of the foreign language in high school with a “C” or above or three semesters of the foreign language in college with a “C” or above or the equivalent.
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