Placement and Testing FAQs
Placement means: We put a code on your ctcLink account that will allow you to enroll into a certain level of math or English.
If you are only here at BC to take courses that do not have any math or English requirement, you do not need to establish placement. Your account will not be blocked for lack of placement.
Most students will take either math, English composition such as English 101, or another course that requires placement. Be sure to click on and expand the course listing in the Schedule, and check to see if it has Enrollment Requirements.
Many students establish math and English placement using their high school transcripts, if they graduated in the last 5 years.
You can also submit for evaluation:
- prior college courses, prior placements from other institutions
- High school Smarter Balanced SBAC scores for English
- TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo score reports for English
Students are expected to submit a request for math and English placement using our request form. High school transcripts sent to Bellevue College do not go to our department and are difficult to track down.
When students submit a request with no document, we assume you want to test online. We send instructions so that you can test at home, online.
You have the option to test on campus. On the request form, if students indicate they have no webcam, then we send you the on-campus appointment link.
Some students just don’t have a quiet space at home, or reliable internet. You are always welcome to email us at: testing@bellevuecollege.edu for an appointment.
We process the online assessments the next business day. Remember weekends and holidays are not business days. Your score is active once we email. Please be sure to check your BC email.
We highly recommend that you don’t spend too much time preparing. The ALEKS math assessment will identify the topics for you, that you need to study. You then have access to your ALEKS account for up to a year. There are Prep suggestions made on this website PLACEMENT TESTS
- There is no cost for the processing of English or math placement documents.
- The Guided Self Placement for English is free
- Bellevue College pays for the first ALEKS math account you create and your first assessment. We charge your ctcLink account for any math attempts after the first attempt.
You create an ALEKS account. In the ALEKS account you have up to 5 attempts. The first attempt is free and we charge your ctclink account $15 for any retakes.
The English Guided Self placement is free and you can take it as many times as you want.
English placements are valid for two years
Math placements are valid for one year.
Students are expected to submit a request for placement and upload any document you want us to evaluate for placement.
Yes you can use a COLLEGE course in progress to clear entry to the next course in a sequence. Submit a screenshot or evidence of enrollment clearly showing your name, the institution and the the current course. Be sure to watch your BC email because you will be required to reply and agree to the conditions.
Please use the CONNECT WITH US page to submit additional questions.