Guided Placement
Guided placement information for English, ESL, and Math
Congratulations! English and math assessments are no longer required. Instead, Cypress College uses Guided Placement.
The Guided Placement is a quick 5-10-minute questionnaire that helps transfer and degree seeking students select the best English, ESL, and/or math options. Cypress College uses Multiple Measures, including your major, overall high school GPA, and some quick information about math courses you took in high school. Students seeking certificates may not need English, Math, or other General Education courses, which you can check using Program Mapper. If you have additional questions, you may make an appointment with a counselor through our Counseling Center.
Directions for the Guided Placement for English, ESL, and Math
You may take the Guided Placement any time before registering for your English, ESL, and Math courses. Watch the one-minute video for directions for accessing the guided placement.
- Go to myGateway and log in with your student ID
- Go to the Cypress link in the left-navigation margin
- Select Guided Placement to begin
English Placement
Most U.S. high school graduates are ready for ENGL 100 C Writing Compensation (4 units), the English course requirement for all associate degrees and transfer. Some students will benefit from one-unit of additional support by taking ENGL 101 C Enhanced College Writing (5 units), which also meets the English course requirement for all associate degrees and transfer. Students may also benefit from enrolling in ESL 110 C College Composition for Non-Native Speakers (5 units). This transfer-level composition course is designed to give non-native speakers of English additional support. If you are an English as a Second Language (ESL) learner who would like to explore additional ESL options, please use the ESL Guided Placement tool, which includes the option to take this ESL 110 C course.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Placement
ESL or non-native English-speaking students who have not earned a high school diploma (or equivalent) in the United States should engage in the ESL Placement process. Completing the ESL Guided Placement is the most effective way to determine the best course for non-native English speakers to begin your ESL journey at Cypress College. For a quick reference, please review the courses below that best match your skill level. Visit the ESL Guided Placement page for more information.
Please select the course that best matches your skill level.
| Level | Placement | Writing | Reading | Listening | Speaking |
| Proficient | ESL 110 | Write 5 to 7 page essays in academic English with little or no help. | Read college level readings/articles in English, including a 300-350 page novel or nonfiction with little or no dictionary help. | Fully understand and take notes during a college lecture in English on academic topics such as psychology and sociology. | Communicate fully in college, at work, or in the community with native speakers of English with little or no confusion. My oral English is or is almost as good as my native language. |
| High Advanced | ESL 109 | Write 3 to 5 page essays in academic English with some help. | Read college-level readings/articles in English, including a 250-300 page novel or nonfiction with some dictionary help. | Mostly understand and take brief notes a college lecture in English on academic topics such as psychology and sociology. | Communicate in college, at work, or in the community with native speakers of English. There are a few times when I can’t say what I want to say in English. |
| Advanced | ESL 108 | Write 2 to 3 page essays in academic English with some help. | Read short college-level readings/articles in English, including a 150-200 page novel or nonfiction with dictionary help. | Mostly understand a college lecture in English on academic topics such as psychology and sociology. | Communicate in college, at work, or in the community in English. There are some times when I can’t say what I want to say in English. |
| Low Advanced | ESL 107 | Write a paragraph or a few paragraphs in academic English with some help. | Read short readings/articles and multi-paragraph articles in English. I occasionally need to use my translator to understand academic words. | Understand some parts of a college lecture in English on academic topics such as psychology and sociology, but I often have trouble following the professor. | Communicate in college, at work or in the community in English. There are many times when I can’t say what I want to say in English, especially in academic topics. |
| High Intermediate | ESL 106 | Write a paragraph in English with help. | Read several pages in English about a familiar topic and understand most of the ideas. I often use my translator to read in English. | Understand most general conversations in English in social situations, but sometimes I can’t understand everything. | Communicate in English in most social situations. There are often times I can’t say what I want to say in English. |
| Low Intermediate | ESL 105 | Write a group of sentences in English with help. | Understand simple readings with short sentences, but sometimes I do not know all of the words. I use my translator to read most things in English. | Understand a slow-paced conversation in English on a familiar topic or in practical everyday situations, such as shopping or the weather. | Communicate in English about familiar topics or practical everyday situations, such as shopping or the weather. There are often times I can’t say in English what I want to say. |
| High Beginner | NOCE | Write simple sentences, but I need some help. I don’t know a lot of English words. | Read a few simple sentences in English and mostly understand them. | Understand some words in a slow-paced conversation in English to meet basic needs. | Have a brief conversation in English about what I need to do or what I want. |
| Low Beginner | NOCE | I can write some words and a couple of sentences. I know my English ABCs, numbers, and some words, but I need a lot of help. | Read and understand some familiar words in simple sentences. | Understand some simple questions, directions or greetings. | Use familiar or simple words in English to say I need something or want something. |
Math Placement
All incoming students will be placed into transfer-level math based on their major of study, overall high school math courses, and GPA.
Cypress College has developed two types of math courses: stand-alone courses and paired support courses that supplement the material of the stand-alone course. If a student is placed into the stand-alone course, but would prefer to have the support of the paired course they can always opt to take that course instead.
For a brief overview of the available math course options and how they apply to different majors of study, please review the listed math recommendations, which are guides only, and not meant to replace the Guided Placement all new students need to complete.
Math Placement for SLAM (Statistics and Liberal Arts Math)
Students in SLAM majors that had a 3.0 GPA or higher, and have completed Intermediate Algebra (Algebra II) in high school may select one of the following courses:
- MATH 120 C Introduction to Probability & Statistics (4 units)
- MATH 115 C Finite Mathematics (4 units)
- PSY 161 C Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units)
- PSY 161 HC Honors Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units) – Honors Program application required
- SOC 161 C Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units)
- SOC 161 HC Honors Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units) – Honors Program application required
Students in SLAM majors that had less than a 3.0 GPA and have or have not completed Intermediate Algebra (Algebra II) in high school may select a one of the following courses with the additional support course:
- MATH 120 PC Introduction to Probability and Statistics, and MATH 012 C Skills for Probability Statistics (6 units)
- MATH 115 PC Finite Mathematics, and MATH 011 C Skills for Finite Math (6 units)
- MATH 130 PC Survey of Calculus, and MATH 013 C Skills for Survey of Calculus (6 units)
SLAM majors include the following program areas:
Math Placement for B-STEM (Business, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Students in B-STEM majors that had a 3.4 GPA or higher, and have completed Intermediate Algebra (Algebra II) and high school Calculus or passed the AP Calculus may select one of the following courses:
- MATH 141 C College Algebra (4 units)
- MATH 150 AC Calculus I (4 units)
- MATH 150 BC Calculus II (4 units)
Students in B-STEM majors that had less than a 3.4 GPA in high school may select one of the following courses with the additional support course:
- MATH 141 PC with MATH 014 C College Algebra and Skills for College Algebra (6 units)
- MATH 130PC with MATH 013 C Survey of Calculus with Skills for Survey of Calculus (6 units)
B-STEM majors include the following program areas:
Note: Business majors appear under both SLAM and B-STEM because the major includes options from both areas.
Math Placement for Psychology and Social Sciences
Students in Psychology and Social Science majors that had a 3.0 GPA or higher while in high school may choose one of the following courses:
- MATH 120 C Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4 units)
- PSY 161 C Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units)
- PSY 161 HC Honors Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units) – Honors Program application required
- SOC 161 C Honors Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units)
- SOC 161 HC Honors Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units) – Honors Program application required
Students in Psychology and Social Science majors that had less than a 3.0 GPA while in high school may choose one of the following courses with the additional support course:
- MATH 120 PC Introduction to Probability and Statistics and MATH 012 C Skills for Probability and Statistics (6 units)
- PSY 161 C Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units)
- SOC 161 C Honors Probability and Statistics-Social Sciences (4 units)
Psychology and Social Science majors include the following program areas:
Math Placement for Teachers
Students whose major is Elementary Teacher Education, that had a 3.0 GPA or higher while in high school may select the following course:
- MATH 110 C Math for Prospective Teachers (4 units)
Students whose major is Elementary Teacher Education, that had less than a 3.0 GPA while in high school may select the following course with the additional support course:
- MATH 110 PC Math for Prospective Teachers and MATH 009 C Skills for Math for Elementary Teachers (6 units)
AP Exams, Dual Enrollment courses, Transferring from another university
If you took and passed an AP Exam or transferring in from another university, you will still need to take the Cypress College Guided Placement. You will have questions about AP Exams, Dual Enrollment courses, and transferring from another university.
CLEP Exams and IB Courses
If you took and passed a CLEP Exams and IB Courses, you will still need to take the Cypress College Guided Placement. However, if you feel you met the competency on the English or Math recommended courses, you may make an appointment with a counselor through our Counseling Center for your next step!
Have more questions about your placement?
You can always talk to your major counselor or talk to one of our available walk-in or virtual counselors. Counselors are available for appointment, walk-in. Counselors can hold online or in-person meetings regarding your placement. We are here to help!
For more information, visit our Counseling Center.
AB 705 and AB 1705
State law AB 705 and AB 1705 recently changed the way that students are placed into their English or Math courses. Non-transferable English and Math courses have been eliminated. Instead, this law demonstrated that your success in English and Math is tied to your high school GPA rather than a test! This change benefits student by expediting their ability to take the necessary courses needed to graduate or transfer.
Location
Student Center, 2nd Floor, Building 19
Contact Information
T: (714) 484-7223
E: tdowdle@cypresscollege.edu