Success starts here.

College-level coursework can be demanding. That’s why we lean on placement requirements to confirm that you have the math skills to hit the ground running.

Show us what you’ve got.

You can meet placement requirements in a combination of three ways.

Placement Testing

Take placement tests to see how your skills stack up. Our math faculty will consider your results, your transcripts, and your input to best place you in a math level to achieve academic success.  

Transfer Credit

Coursework completed at another institution may exempt you from all or parts of placement testing. Send your transcripts and we’ll see if you qualify.

Standardized Tests

Meet the guidelines and you could be exempt from parts of placement testing. Just make sure you have your scores sent to Penn College directly from the College Board or ACT using this code: 2989. Scores are valid for the academic year in which the exams were taken and for the following two academic years.

Math Exemption Guidelines 

  • If your SAT math score is 580 or higher, or ACT math score is 24 or higher, you’ll have an opportunity to take the Intermediate Algebra and Functions & Graphs placement tests. Your score may qualify you for placement into a higher-level math class. 
  • If your SAT math score is below 580, or your ACT math score is below 24, you’ll take the Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra and Intermediate Algebra placement tests.

First-Semester Placement

Placement into your first-semester courses will be based on your current skill level. 

Meet the requirements.

If your skills demonstrate that you are ready to be placed in the courses specified for your major, keep the momentum going by checking your email for more information about next steps.

Brush up on your skills.

If your current skill level indicates that you would benefit from developmental coursework to prepare you for what’s needed in your major, explore your options here.

Improve before you start.

If your skill level shows that you are not yet prepared for college coursework, your admission may be put on hold while you work on your skills. See our Admissions Policy to learn more.