Placement Test Study Guide

Prep for the Test to do your Best!

2023-2024 Full List of Exemptions

Temporary exemptions listed in these charts are colored red. These exemptions are under review and will allow for course registration through Fall 2024. 

*New* GPA Placement Guidelines for Summer/Fall 2024

*GPA exemption from testing applies to unweighted, Maryland high school GPA for non-Dual Enrollment students.

*MD Blueprint unweighted GPA earned after the completion of sophomore year is an exemption from testing that applies to Dual Enrollment students with a grade of C or better in Algebra 1.

Freshman Year for Free!

You can earn college credit in as little as 25 hours of study; saving up to 25% of the cost of a college degree!  Register at Modern States to take free classes that will help you prepare for a number of different CLEP tests. Modern States will also provide you with a test voucher for a free CLEP exam and reimburse your $30 testing fee that you pay to take the CLEP test at the FCC Testing Center!

Visit the Testing Center webpage under "Test Prep" for more information about Modern States and CLEP testing!

Interested in PLA?

Skip Placement Testing

Annoucement Send Us Your Transcripts with an image of a gold bullhorn to the right hand side

You may be able to skip the reading, writing, and math placement tests! 

There are many ways to determine college and career readiness at FCC. To secure placement testing exemptions, incoming students must submit the following official documentation to the FCC Welcome & Information Center in Jefferson Hall or via email to transferevaluation@frederick.edu:

  • High School Transcript and previous College Transcripts
  • Transfer credits from another institution 
  • College Entrance Exam Scores from SAT and/or ACT
  • Advanced Placement (AP) test scores, International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge (AICE) test scores
  • CLEP, DSST and other credit by examination program scores in college level math, reading, and writing
SAT ACT
Reading: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing: 480 Composite/Average score of: 21
Writing: [Not Required]
Mathematics: 530 21


Other Exemptions (only one needs to be met in each subject):

English:
(Reading & Writing)

  • Earning a 3 or better on the AP English Language & Comp, English Literature Exam;

  • Earning a score of 4 or higher on the IB Language A: Literature SL, Language A: Language & Literature SL, Language A: Literature HL or  Language A: Language & Literature HL Test;

  • Earning exam scores of e(E) or E(E) or higher in English Language or Language & Literature through Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) AS-Level or A-Level coursework;

  • Earning a GED Reasoning Through Language Arts score of 165 or higher;

  • Earning a score of Proficient (3) or above on the English 10 or English 11 MCAP test or (2) Early MCAP tests; 

  • Earning a grade of A or B in FCPS English 10, 11, 10/11, AP and IB English Courses; 

  • Successful Completion of the FCPS English 12 Transition Experience;

  • Successfully completed a college-level English course or earned FCC-accepted equivalent credit-by-exam such as CLEP and DSST (see Academic Catalog).

  • READING EXEMPTION ONLY - Transferring twelve (12) credits or more from an accredited U.S. institution with 2.00 cumulative GPA if at least six (6) credits are general education courses. Writing placement testing required with this exemption.
Mathematics:

  • Earning a score 3 or better on the AP Calculus or Statistics exams;

  • Earning a score of 4 or higher on the IB Mathematical Studies, Mathematics SL, Mathematics HL, or the Further Math Tests;

  • Earning exam scores of e(E) or E(E) or higher in Mathematics through Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) AS-Level or A-Level coursework;

  • Earning an A or B in FCPS Algebra 2;

  • Earning an A, B, or C grade in FCPS Advanced Algebra w/ Trigonometry;

  • Earning an A, B, or C grade in FCPS Statistics & Probability;

  • Earning an A, B, or C grade in FCPS Precalculus for placement into MATH 165;

  • Earning an A grade in FCPS Precalculus course for placement into MATH 185;

  • Earning an A or B on FCPS Precalculus Final Exam for placement into MATH 185;

  • Earning an A, B, or C grade in AP Calculus AB for placement into MATH 185;

  • Earning an A, B, or C grade in AP Calculus BC or FCPS Calculus 3 for placement into MATH 195 (no credit for MATH 185 on transcript);

  • Earning a GED Mathematical Reasoning score of 165 or higher;

  • Earning a score of Proficient (3) or above on the Algebra II or Geometry MCAP tests; (2) on the Algebra II or Geometry Early MCAP tests;

  • Successful completion of the FCPS Math transition experience;

  • Successfully completed a college-level math course or earned FCC-accepted equivalent credit-by-exam such as CLEP or DSST (see Academic Catalog).

Frederick Community College prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status in its activities, admissions, educational programs, and employment.