Admissions & Aid
Admissions »

Placement

Apply Now
Request Info

Find Out Where to Start

SMCC reviews a broad range of information to make placement decisions. This means we will look at things like transcripts, college-level experience, and available test scores to make placement decisions.

We recognize that use of a single measure is not always accurate or entirely sufficient to measure a student’s current academic level. SMCC reserves the right to require additional testing of a student when it determines, in its sole discretion, that further assessment is required to avoid placing a student at a level that might be detrimental to the student’s success.

How do I know where I place?

Based on multiple measures, SMCC will place students into college-level courses (numbered at the 100 level or higher) or college prep level 1 or 2 courses (numbered below the 100 level). College-level courses are courses that count towards your degree. College prep level 1 and 2 courses, while credit courses, do not count towards your degree, but rather prepare you for your college-level courses.

Use the information below to see what classes you place into.

ACT Placement:

If you do not see your ACT Score listed, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.

  • ENGLISH (Composite Score):
    • 18 or above = ENGL 100
    • 17 = ENGL 080
    • 16 = ENGL 040
    • 15 or less, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.
  • MATH (Composite Score):
    • 18 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 (MATH 146 may be taken at the same time as MATH 140) or MATH 155
    • 17 = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 130 or MATH 142 (MATH 146 may be taken at the same time as MATH 142) or MATH 155
    • 16 = MATH 111 or MATH 040
    • 15 or less = MATH 040

ACCUPLACER Placement:

If you do not see your ACCUPLACER Score listed, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.

  • ENGLISH (Reading + Writing Test Scores):
    • 500 or above = ENGL 100 (Minimum score of 230 is required on both the Reading and the Writing test and then a combined score is 500 or above required for this placement)
    • 490 – 499 = ENGL 101 (Minimum score of 230 is required on both the Reading and the Writing test and then a combined score of 490 – 499 is required for this placement)
    • 470 – 489 = ENGL 080 (Minimum score of 225 is required on both the Reading and the Writing test and then a combined score of 470 – 489 is required for this placement)
    • 430 – 469 = ENGL 040
  • MATH (Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics Test Score):
    • 250 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 (MATH 146 may be taken at the same time as MATH 140) or MATH 155
    • 237 – 249 = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 130 or MATH 142 (MATH 146 may be taken at the same time as MATH 142) or MATH 155 or MATH 111
    • 236 or less = MATH 040
  • ADVANCED MATH (Advanced Algebra and Functions Test Score):
    • 275 or above = MATH 160 or MATH 190 or MATH 225 or MATH 260 or any MATH listed in the Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics Test section.
    • 250 – 274 = MATH 160 or MATH 190 or MATH 225 or any MATH listed in the Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics Test section.
    • 235 – 249 = MATH 160 or MATH 225 or any MATH listed in the Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics Test section

CASAS Placement:

CASAS Goals

  • ENGLISH (Reading Test Score):
    • 249 or above = ENGL 100
    • 245 – 248 = ENGL 101
    • 239– 244 = ENGL 080
    • 232– 238 = ENGL 040
  • MATH (Math Test Score):
    • 245 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 (MATH 146 may be taken at the same time as MATH 140) or MATH 155
    • 237 – 244 = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 130 or MATH 142 (MATH 146 may be taken at the same time as MATH 142) or MATH 155
    • 236 or less = MATH 040

CASAS Life & Work

  • ENGLISH (Reading Test Score):
    • 254 or above = ENGL 100
    • 246 – 253 = ENGL 101
    • 239 – 245 = ENGL 080
    • 232– 238 = ENGL 040

High School GPA Placement:

If you do not see your GPA listed, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.

  • 4.0 SCALE
    • ENGLISH:
      • 3.0 or above = ENGL 100
      • 2.75 – 2.99 = ENGL 101
      • 2.5 – 2.74 = ENGL 080
      • 2.0 – 2.49 = ENGL 040
      • 1.99 or less, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.
    • MATH:
      • 3.0 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 or MATH 155
      • 2.75 – 2.99 = MATH 111 or MATH 142 or MATH 040
      • 2.0 – 2.74 = MATH 040
      • 1.99 or less, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835
  • 100 POINT SCALE
    • ENGLISH:
      • 83 or above = ENGL 100
      • 80 – 82.99 = ENGL 101
      • 77 – 79.99 = ENGL 080
      • 70 – 76.99 = ENGL 040
      • 69.99 or less, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.
    • MATH:
      • 83 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 or MATH 155
      • 80 – 82.99 = MATH 111 or MATH 142 or MATH 040
      • 70 – 79.99 = MATH 040
      • 69.99 or less, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.

HiSET Placement:

  • ENGLISH (Combined Reading/Writing):
    • 30 or above = ENGL 100
    • 16 – 29 = ENGL 080
  • MATH:
    • 15 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 or MATH 155
    • 8 – 14 = MATH 040

GED Placement:

2014 to Present - 100-200 Scale (5th Series) Placement

If you do not see your GED listed, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.

  • ENGLISH (Reasoning Through Language Arts):
    • 165 or above = ENGL 100
    • 145 – 164 = ENGL 080
  • MATH (Mathematical Reasoning):
    • 165 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 or MATH 155
    • 145 – 164 = MATH 040

2002-2013 - 200-800 scale (GED 4th Series) Placement

If you do not see your GED listed, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.

  • ENGLISH (Score based on average of all 5 tests):
    • 500 or above = ENGL 100
    • 483 – 499 = ENGL 101
    • 451 – 482 = ENGL 080
    • 410 – 450 = ENGL 040
  • MATH (Score based on average of all 5 tests):
    • 500 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 or MATH 155
    • 483 – 499 = MATH 142
    • 410 – 482 = MATH 040

2001 and earlier - 20-80 scale (3rd Series) Placement

If you do not see your GED listed, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.

  • ENGLISH (Score based on average of all 5 tests):
    • 55 or above = ENGL 100
    • 50 – 54 = ENGL 101
    • 45 – 49 = ENGL 080
    • 40 – 44 = ENGL 040
  • MATH (Score based on average of all 5 tests):
    • 55 or above = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 or MATH 155
    • 45 – 54 = MATH 142
    • 40 – 44 = MATH 040

SAT Placement:

If you do not see your SAT Score listed, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.

  • ENGLISH [Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) Test Score]:
    • 480 or above = ENGL 100
    • 450 – 470 = ENGL 101
    • 420 – 440 = ENGL 080
    • 350 – 410 = ENGL 040
    • 340 or less, please contact the Advising Office at advising@smccME.edu or 207-741-5835.
  • MATH (Math Test Score):
    • 600 or above = MATH 260
    • 550 – 590 = MATH 190
    • 530 – 540 = MATH 160 or MATH 225
    • 500 – 520 = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 125 or MATH 130 or MATH 140 (MATH 146 may be taken at the same time as MATH 140) or MATH 155
    • 480 – 490 = MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MATH 130 or MATH 142 (MATH 146 may be taken at the same time as MATH 142) or MATH 155 or MATH 111
    • 470 or less = MATH 040

Accuplacer Testing at SMCC

SMCC offers free Accuplacer testing. You may choose to take the Accuplacer if you would like to attempt to place into higher-level courses. We offer Accuplacer testing both in-person and remotely, using Zoom.

In-person Accuplacer Testing*

We offer in-person Accuplacer testing at both our South Portland and Midcoast Campuses.

South Portland Campus Accuplacer Testing

Location: Ross Technology Center (room 103). View a map of our South Portland Campus.

The Testing Center is open on a walk-in basis (no appointment necessary) the following days/times.

  • Monday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
  • Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Remote Accuplacer Testing*

Sign up to take the Accuplacer test remotely, via Zoom.

Midcoast Campus Accuplacer Testing

Location: Check-in at the Welcome Desk at the L.L.Bean Learning Commons. View a map of our Midcoast Campus.
By Appointment: Contact Vicki-Rose Porter at 207-844-2132 or vporter@smccME.edu.

Please allow at least 2 hours to complete the test, and plan your arrival accordingly.

*If the College is closed due to a holiday, inclement weather, etc, the Testing Centers will also be closed.

Accuplacer FAQ’s

Can I send my test scores from another Institution?

If you took your test at another institution your scores can be sent to :

Southern Maine Community College
Advising Office
2 Fort Road
South Portland, ME 04106
(f) 207-741-5760

How much time do I need to take the Accuplacer?

The Accuplacer takes approximately 2-3 hours.

Testing Accommodations for the Accuplacer

If you have a disability that requires special accommodations, please contact the Disability Services office.

Accuplacer Retesting

If you choose to, you have the option to retest once. You’ll need to wait at least two weeks before retesting.

Getting Your Accuplacer Testing Scores

If you take your Accuplacer at an SMCC location, your scores will be reviewed with you by a member of the SMCC Advising Office.

Preparing for the Accuplacer

We encourage you to prepare for the Accuplacer by using these resources: