Student Assessment and Placement
Chesapeake College is committed to the success of our students. To help students begin reaching their goals, the College offers an assessment service, Academic Skills Assessment (ASA). This instrument is used to measure entry-level skills in mathematics, language, and reading; the results of which allow academic advisors to assist students with the selection of courses.
No student will be denied admission as a result of test scores. However, if you are required to complete the ASA as a condition of enrollment, and if your test scores indicate a need for skill development, you will be required to complete the appropriate developmental courses.
The purpose of this section is to provide you with answers to questions you may have concerning Chesapeake College's assessment and placement policies and procedures. If you need additional information, please contact the Office of Student Services.
Requirements to Take Academic Skills Assessment (ASA).
All entering students are encouraged to take the ASA in order to assure accurate course placement. If you meet any of the following conditions and do not meet the criteria for exemption (see Exemption Policy), completion of the ASA is required. The ASA is required for:
- Students intending to enroll for seven or more hours of course work in a given semester.
- Students intending to enroll in any General Education course.
- Students intending to enroll in a mathematics or English course.
- Students who do not maintain a 2.0 QPA.
- Students who are not currently enrolled in high school who have not attained a high school diploma or GED.
Exemption Policy
Again, all entering students are encouraged to take the ASA in order to assure accurate course placement. Under certain conditions, students required to take the ASA may have the requirement waived or delayed. The following policy applies:
- Part-time students are not required to take the ASA if enrolling for six or fewer hours-unless the courses are in mathematics, English, or are General Education courses-as long as the student's QPA remains above 2.0.
- Students with minimum SAT scores of 550 each on the critical reading and mathematics portions or a minimum composite ACT score of 21 are exempted from the ASA.
- Students completing appropriate mathematics and English courses at another accredited institution are exempted from the ASA with proper documentation.
NOTE: Unofficial transcripts may be used to verify prior high school course work for placement purposes, and must be submitted to an advisor at the time of advisement. Applicable high school course work must have been completed within a three-year period prior to enrollment.
NOTE: Unofficial college transcripts may be used for this purpose; however, for prior college-level course work to be accepted for transfer credit at Chesapeake College, official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Registration.
Visiting Students
Students who are currently enrolled at another college or university, who do not intend to pursue a degree or certificate at Chesapeake College, may be exempt from the placement testing requirement. In order to establish visiting student status, students must submit a letter of good standing from the home institution. The letter should specify the courses you will be permitted to take at Chesapeake that will apply toward your degree at the home institution.
Retesting Policy
You may retake any portion of the ASA. A payment of $10 per test item (or $25 for the entire test) should be paid to the Business Office prior to retesting. NOTE: Retesting does not typically yield results substantially different from initial scores.