Placement Testing

Central Piedmont administers the ACCUPLACER and Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence (RISE) placement tests.

Placement Test Overview

  • What is the ACCUPLACER Placement Test?

    • The ACCUPLACER consists of three main tests:

      • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Reading
      • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Writing
      • ACCUPLACER Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics
    • Each test may be taken one time per year free of charge (see retest policy).
    • The tests are not timed.  Expect to spend about an hour on each one.
    • A personal calculator is not allowed.  A calculator is built into the test for certain math problems.
    • If testing in-person, the Testing Center will provide scratch paper and pencils. 
    • Test results are available immediately.
    • Students are encouraged to use the review materials on our website prior to testing.  

    *If you are testing for Dual Enrollment or a Middle College High School, please take the RISE placement test.

  • What is the RISE Placement Test?

    The RISE test consists of five different tier levels.

    • There are three math tiers and two English tiers.
    • The test is not timed. Expect to spend about one hour per tier.
    • A score of 70 or higher is needed to advance to the next tier level.
    • Each tier must be passed in sequential order.
    • A scientific calculator is allowed.  If testing in-person, the Testing Center will supply.  
    • There is no fee to take the RISE tests.
    • Test results are available immediately.
    • Students are encouraged to use the review materials on our website prior to testing. 

    *Take this test if testing for Dual Enrollment or a Middle College High School.

  • Students with Documented Disabilities

    If you have a documented disability or received academic accommodations in high school or at another college/university, please visit Disability and Access Services prior to taking your placement test. Disability and Access Services will discuss services available process approval for accommodations. Contact Disability and Access Services at 704.330.6621 or email disability.counselingservices@cpcc.edu if you have questions.

  • What to Bring to Your Test

    • A valid photo ID (Central Piedmont student ID, driver’s license, military ID, or passport).
    • Lockers are provided to store personal belongings at the Central Campus Testing Center.  For other Testing Center locations, please leave personal belongings in your vehicle (out of sight) or ask a Testing Center employee for assistance.  
    • The Testing Center will provide scrap paper and pencils.
  • Placement Test Retest Policy

    For the ACCUPLACER placement test:

    • Each test may be taken one time per year free of charge.
    • If retaking a test within one year of the last test, a retest fee of $10 will apply.  Visit the Testing Center for a Retake Authorization Form.
    • You are encouraged to study prior to testing.  Review materials are located on our website.
    • Your highest scores will be honored.

    For the RISE placement test:

    • You are allowed to retake each tier only once.
    • There is no fee for retesting.
    • You are encouraged to study prior to testing.  Review materials are located on our website.
    • Your highest scores will be honored.

     

Do I Need to Take the Placement Test? Placement Test Waiver Guidelines

You will likely be placed into courses based on your high school GPA. You do not need to take the placement test — and may request a waiver — if you meet any of the following criteria. If you do not meet any of the following waiver criteria, schedule your placement testing appointment.

  • Degrees Earned

    • You have graduated from a high school, adult high school, or home school.
    • You have earned an associate degree or higher.
    • You earned a GED® test score of at least 145 between 2014 and now.
    • You earned High School Equivalency Test (HiSET®) scores of at least 8 on each section and of at least 2 on the essay between 2014 and now.
  • SAT or ACT Test Scores

    Test Minimum Score to Waive English Sections Minimum Math Score to Waive Math Sections
    SAT taken March 2016–present

    480 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

    530
    SAT taken prior to March 2016

    500 on Critical Reading or Writing

    500
    ACT taken Sept. 2013–present 22 on Reading or 18 on English 22

    20–21 on Reading or 16–17 on English (will be required to take co-requisite course when enrolled)

    20–21 (will be required to take co-requisite course when enrolled)
    ACT taken prior to Sept. 2013

    21 on Reading or 18 on English

     
  • Advanced Placement® (AP) or International Baccalaureate® (IB) Exams

  • College Level Exam Program (CLEP®) Exams

  • Other Waiver Eligibility

    • You plan to earn special credit from Central Piedmont for a course that has no prerequisite (e.g., golf, keyboarding).
    • You have successfully completed (with a grade of “C-” or higher) a college-level math and/or English course from a regionally accredited institution.
    • You have successfully completed developmental-level courses in English and/or math from another North Carolina community college.
    • You have earned appropriate North Carolina Diagnostic & Placement (NC DAP) test scores (DMA and DRE).
  • Request a Waiver

    If you qualify for a waiver, contact Student Records, Academic Advising, or a student success navigator. You will need to provide all appropriate official documentation with your request.

    Waiver Method Documentation to Submit (Must be Official)
    Graduation from high school high school transcript 
    Associate degree or higher college-issued transcript
    GED® test scores GED transcript (no older than 2014)
    HiSET® scores HiSET transcript (no older than 2014)
    SAT or ACT scores SAT or ACT transcript
    You are seeking special credit or are not seeking a degree approval by campus registrar, advisor, or student success navigator
    Completion of a college-level math and/or English course college-issued transcript
    Completion of developmental-level courses in English and/or math from another NC community college college-issued transcript
    AP, IB, CLEP®, or NC DAP (DMA and DRE) placement test scores scores previously received remain valid

    If you have taken any of the following placement tests at another school, have an official copy of your scores mailed, emailed, or faxed to the Central Piedmont Testing Center.
     

    • NC DAP placement tests
    • ACCUPLACER College-Level Math placement test
    • ACCUPLACER Advanced Algebra and Functions test
    • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Reading test
    • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Writing test
    • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, & Statistics test

    mail: Central Piedmont Testing & Assessment Center, Parr Center, Suite 2000, PO Box 35009, Charlotte, NC 28235

    email: testingcenter@cpcc.edu

    fax: 704.330.6620

    Scores must be sent from the educational institution where test was taken. Please do not fax or mail scores yourself. We cannot accept unofficial scores.

Steps to Schedule and Take Your Placement Test

Please read and complete each of the following steps to schedule and take your placement test.

Scores