Placement Options

The Accuplacer Next-Generation Reading Assessment consists of 20 multiple-choice questions asking you to think critically, draw inferences, and understand short reading passages. This is a computerized and untimed assessment. Answers to each question determine the difficulty level of the next question.

Students can retake this assessment once per quarter, and a maximum of 4 attempts per year.  For retake purposes, we define quarters to be:  The week after the end of one quarter through finals week of the next quarter.

If you have taken the AP or IB in the last 10 years, Highline accepts those scores for English placement only.

Submit a copy of your test score to Entry Advising so that you get credit in our system for your achievement.

• • In person: Entry Advising  in Building 6, upper lobby
  • Email: entryadvising@highline.edu

If you have taken the SAT or ACT in the last 10 years, Highline accepts those scores for English placement only.

Submit a copy of your test score to Entry Advising so that you get credit in our system for your achievement.

• • In person: Entry Advising  in Building 6, upper lobby
  • Email: entryadvising@highline.edu

If you are currently enrolled in ESL/ESOL classes at Highline and would like to make the transition to college credit courses, meet with an entry advisor. The entry advisor will work with the ESOL department to determine the best place for you to start. 

Submit documents for placement review:

• In person: Entry Advising in Building 6, upper level
• Email: entryadvising@highline.edu

More information about ESOL Programs to Credit-Level Courses. If you would like to enroll in courses to learn English or brush-up on your English language skills, visit: ELCAP

These options are for students who are taking or have taken ESL at another college and would like to move into credited college-level courses at Highline.

Two steps to placement:

1. Students will need transcripts from another college showing the level of ESL courses.
2. Students will also need to either take the CASAS test or the Acuplacer Reading assessment. 

Contact Entry Advising to take either of these assessments.

• In person: Entry Advising in Building 6, upper level
• Email: entryadvising@highline.edu

More information about ESL (ESOL) Student From Another School.

Submit a copy of your GED®  to Entry Advising so that you get credit in our system for your achievement.

Submit documents for placement review (including GED score, picture ID, and Student ID Number)

• In person: Entry Advising in Building 6, upper level
• Email: entryadvising@highline.edu

Find Your GED Scores

More information on GED to credit-level courses at Highline for English Placement.

If you graduated in the last 10 years, you can gain entry into English 101 if you have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Students who have not yet graduated high school are eligible for English 101 with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and English 101P with a 2.0-2.49 cumulative GPA from at least 3 semesters.

See English Placement for more details.

Knowing which math course you need for the degree you are seeking at Highline will allow you to take the most informed steps toward math placement.

The first step is to meet with an Entry Advisor in Building 6, 2nd floor or email entryadvising@highline.edu to discuss math placement and your math goals.

This survey can place you into the following math classes:

MATH 81, MATH 91, MATH 98, MATH& 107, MATH 111, MATH& 146, MATHP 107, MATHP 111, MATHP 146, or MATHP 141

More information about the Informed Math Placement

Highline’s Informed Writing Placement process will ask students to reflect on their prior experience with reading and writing at an academic level, inform them about our institution’s expectations, provide academic activities to reflect on current skills, and require an assessment of students’ own experiences to help determine the best course placement. IWP is delivered on the computer and requires some typing and mouse skills.

You will first meet with an Entry Advisor. If you graduated within the last 10 years, you will need to bring or email your high school transcript or an unofficial college transcript.

• In person: Entry Advising  in Building 6, upper lobby
• Email: entryadvising@highline.edu

Smarter Balanced is a 10th-grade career and college readiness assessment, given to most students attending Washington State public high schools.

Submit a copy of your test score to Entry Advising so that you get credit in our system for your achievement.

• In person: Entry Advising  in Building 6, upper lobby
• Email: entryadvising@highline.edu

We recommend preparing for this test by accessing the practice tests and attending a Brush-up Workshop.

If Entry Advising recommends WAMAP placement test, we suggest preparing for these tests. Learn how to prepare for the WAMAP and utilize their practice tests. Contact Entry Advising to take this placement test.

• In person: Entry Advising  in Building 6, upper lobby
• Email: entryadvising@highline.edu

We strongly encourage you to prepare before you take a test to ensure that you receive the accurate course placement. You do not want to waste time and money in a course you do not need, or get into a course that is too difficult for you. We recommend taking this test once and using the information to go deeper into the content areas that need further review.

Learn how to prepare for the WAMAP and utilize their practice tests.

For the math placement test, you can choose to start with either Test 1 or Test 2. Some students may be eligible to begin with Test 3.  We suggest starting with the highest-level test that includes content you are already familiar with. Follow the directions below to begin practicing.

1. Open WAMAP in Chrome browser.
2. Login using your Canvas account username and password
3. If you have not taken a WAMAP test before, register as a new student.
   • Use your Canvas account username and password
   • Enter the following:
     • Course ID: 28786 Enrollment Key: 2022

If you have taken or need to take the TOEFL, Kaplan Test of English, DUOLINGO, or IELTS test, your scores can be used to determine English course placements:

Submit documents for placement review:

• Meet with your ISP Advisor for additional score and course correlations.

Contact ispadmissions@highline.edu with questions.