City College no longer offers English and Math placement tests. Instead, you may use our online assessment form to receive your transfer-level English and Math Course Placements.

All new students to City College of San Francisco are required to participate in the New Student Orientation. The orientation introduces you to the essential programs, services, and information to better prepare you before your first semester.

Online Assessment Form

  • You may receive transfer-level English and Math course placements based on your high school/college transcripts or test score data (AP, SAT, ACT, etc.).
  • Submit your high school/college transcripts* or other supporting documentation along with the Online Assessment Form. 
  • Students who feel they need additional language acquisition support may want to take the Credit ESL Guided Placement Tool or talk to a counselor about the ESL sequence at CCSF. 

Your placement results can be viewed on your myCCSF student portal. After you receive your placements, please complete our online orientation and then meet with a counselor to develop your educational plan.

*Note: submitting your transcript to the Assessment Center is only for assessment/placement purposes. If you plan to transfer external coursework to CCSF to fulfill certificate and/or degree requirements, you will need to submit your official transcript to Admissions & Records, which is a separate process.

Transfer level English and Math placements and how to register

Students will receive an English placement into either:

  • English 1A without support (take 1A by itself)
  • English 1A with support (take linked sections for 1A and 1AS)

After passing 1A, students may take one of the following second-semester English classes:

  • English 1B (Writing about Literature)
  • English 1C (Writing about Nonfiction)

In order to meet the CCSF Written Composition graduation requirement, you must complete ENGL 1A or equivalent.

Students may receive a Math placement into either:

  • Baseline transfer level Math courses (Math 70, 80+80S, 90+90S)
  • For a higher transfer level Math placement, please complete our online assessment form

When registering for your course, you need to add both English 1A and English 1AS Support to your schedule. You must add them simultaneously and not separately. Next, click "generate schedule”. It will show all the available sections of English 1A and English 1AS. Choose the one that works for you and click "view schedule". Then, click "send to save schedule” and finally, click "register” at the top of the page. If you need further assistance registering for your class, please contact the Registration Department.

When registering for your course, you need to add both Math 80 and Math 80S or Math 90 and 90S to your schedule. You must add them simultaneously and not separately. Next, click "generate schedule”. It will show all the available sections of Math 80 and 80S (Math 90 and 90S). Choose the one that works for you and click "view schedule". Then, click "send to save schedule” and finally, click "register” at the top of the page.  If you need further assistance registering for your class, please contact the Registration Department.

Placement Criteria for College/Test score Data

You may demonstrate your eligibility for English 1A or 1B by submitting proof (e.g., transcripts, official test result reports) of one of the following:

Criteria Eligibility
Completion (with "C" or higher) of English 1A - College Level Reading and Composition course or the equivalent. English 1B, 1C, and CMST 2
Completion of a UC course satisfying the U.C. Entry Level Writing Requirement English 1A
ACT English Test with a score of 22 or higher English 1A

Any of the following SAT scores:

  • SAT Verbal (before 4/95): 510
  • SAT Verbal (after 4/95): 590
  • SAT II Writing Subject Test: 660
  • SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section: 680
  • SAT Reasoning Test, Critical Reading Section: 500
  • SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 550
 English 1A
Advanced Placement Test Exam in English Language and Composition with score of 3 or higher English 1B, 1C, and CMST 2  
Advanced Placement Test Exam in English Literature and Composition with score of 3 of 4 English 1B, 1C, and CMST 2
Advanced Placement Test Exam in English Literature and Composition with score of 5 Equivalency:  English 1A + 1B completion
University of California Analytical Writing Placement Exam score of 8 or higher English 1A
International Baccalaureate Exam scores: English A1 or A2 (High-Level) Exam score of 4 or higher English 1A 

You may demonstrate your eligibility for CCSF Math courses by submitting proof of one of the following:

Criteria Eligibility
Completion (with "C-" or higher) of a college math course. Based on course review
ACT Math Test with a score of 23 or higher Math 70-95

Any of the following SAT scores:

  • SAT I Math Test: 550
  • SAT II Math Subject Test: 550
  • SAT Reasoning Test, Math Section: 550
 Math 70-95
EAP (Early Assessment Program) California Standards Test with status "Ready for CSU college-level mathematics course"

Math 70-95
GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Quantitative Section score of 146 or higher Math 70-95
Advanced Placement Test Exam in Computer Science or Statistics with a score of 3 or higher Math 70-95
Advanced Placement Test Exam in Calculus AB with a score of 3 or higher Math 110B and Math 115
Advanced Placement Test Exam in Calculus BC with a score of 3 or 4 Math 110B
Advanced Placement Test Exam in Calculus BC with a score of 5 Math 110C

You will get an automatic placement into transfer-level English. English Language Learners have the right to choose the English as a Second Language (ESL) credit pathway. If your first language is not English, you may benefit from CCSF’s credit ESL classes. Our four core classes (ESL 182, ESL 184, ESL 186, ESL 188) provide language skills and cultural knowledge to be successful in college and society. The ESL Placement Tool is the best way to find which class in the ESL program at CCSF meets your needs.

ESL classes are recommended for students for

  • whose primary language is not English and who would like to improve their academic English as a Second Language (ESL) skills
  • who usually speak, listen, read, and write in a language other than English at home and/or at work
  • whose education was not in English or mostly not in English
  • who prefer more English as a Second Language (ESL) to prepare for college-level classes

If any of these are true for you, you may benefit from CCSF’s credit ESL courses, which are offered at four levels. We recommend that you take the CCSF ESL Placement Tool to learn about the credit ESL courses at CCSF and to learn which ESL level matches your needs.