Students Whose First Language is English
Students whose first language is English and who demonstrate certain levels of proficiency may be placed directly into English 250 or 250H. In order to meet the six-credit hour graduation requirement, students placed in English 250 or 250H earn an additional 3 hours of English 150 “T” (test-out) credit if they meet the placement criteria below and receive a “C” or better in English 250/250H taken at Iowa State University.
If a student does not have transfer credit in English composition, placement in English will be based on the guidelines below.
Summer 2020 and Beyond
English 250 Placement for Undergraduate Students Entering ISU
Placement based on official ACT-E, SAT-ERW, or SAT-CR scores.
NOTE: High school rank no longer considered for English placement.
ACT-E SCORES
- Score of 24 or higher
SAT-ERW SCORES (SAT testing date of March 2016 or later)
- Score of 600 or higher
SAT-CR SCORES (SAT testing date before March 2016)
- Score of 550 or higher
If student does not meet the above placement criteria for English 250, they will be placed in English 150.
If student does not have an ACT-E, SAT-ERW, SAT-CR score, they will be placed in English 150.
If student has an ACT-E score below 16, SAT-ERW below 450, or SAT-CR below 410, student is expected to supplement their work in English 150 with regular appointments with the Writing and Media Center.
Students Whose First Language is Not English
If a student’s first language is not English,
- and graduated from a U.S. high school (including Puerto Rico high schools) AND has an ACT-E score of 16 or higher, SAT-ERW of 450 or higher, SAT-CR of 410 or higher. English placement will be determined according to the criteria for students whose first language is English.
- and they do not meet the above statement, or the ACT-E, SAT-ERW, SAT-CR scores for placement in English 250 for students whose first language is English, they are required to register for the English Placement Test for Non-Native Speakers of English (EPT) at https://apling.engl.iastate.edu/english-placement-test/. Instructions for registering as well as dates and locations of the test will be posted at this website prior to the start of each semester.
Generally, all non-native English-speaking students must take the English Placement Test for Non-Native Speakers of English before being placed in English 150 or 250, including students who have transfer credit for English 150 and/or English 250. Students are then placed in the appropriate English 99S, 101B, 101C, 150, or 250 section. Non-native students should consult https://apling.engl.iastate.edu/english-placement-test/ for more information about the English Placement Test.
Correct Placement in English 150
Spring 2020 semester, the English Placement Test for Non-Native Speakers of English (EPT) began using a new, automated process for identifying international students who have enrolled in English 150 without completing their required ESL writing courses. These prerequisite checks will be done on the first day of classes and on the Friday just after self-registration through AccessPlus closes. EPT will send email notifications to affected instructors of the sections theses students are enrolled in as well as the students themselves soon after these prerequisite checks. This new process replaces the EPT TestBank, which is no longer in operation. If you have any questions about this new process, please email ept@iastate.edu.
Placement in English 250
If you are teaching English 250, please announce at the first and second class meetings that all students enrolled in English 250 must have credit for English 150 or an exemption earned from an ACT-E/SAT-ERW/SAT-CR score. Students not meeting these criteria should contact Deanna Stumbo at stumbo@iastate.edu.
If a student is placed in English 250 (either from the ACT-E/SAT-ERW/SAT-CR scores) and receives a C or better in English 250, the student will receive “T” credit for English 150. English 250 must be taken here at ISU to receive “T” credit for English 150.