Q. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT?
A. The purpose of the assessment requirement is for students to establish placement levels and course eligibility to make your college experience more successful. With a profile of your present skills, counselors can recommend courses where, with effort, academic achievement is likely. They also can suggest programs that will help you meet your vocational and educational goals.

Q. WHO NEEDS TO MEET THE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT?
A. You do! All students who attend Butte College are required to have basic skill placement levels on file prior to enrolling in classes. These levels are established by completing Butte College courses in reading, English and math, or by completing the Basic Skills Assessment (BSA), unless exempt (see below for "What does it take to be exempt?").

Q. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE EXEMPT FROM TAKING THE BSA?
A. To be considered as an exemption from the BSA, you will need to provide the necessary paperwork (see below) to the Assessment Office for evaluation and clearance. Unofficial transcripts and grade reports are acceptable for establishing placement. If you have had official transcripts sent to the College, you'll need to contact our office directly to request an evaluation for placement purposes or to meet a prerequisite. Allow a minimum of two working days for the evaluation to be completed. Transcripts from colleges that are out of state will require one week for completion of the evaluation.

You can mail, fax (530-895-2249) or hand deliver your documents to the office. Faxing can be done through the Chico Center located at 2320 Forest Avenue. Be sure to include your phone number and your orientation or registration date with your materials. Call our office to ensure your material was received and to determine if everything is cleared for you in the computer prior to attending orientation or calling to register for your classes.

The following conditions will exempt a student from the BSA but may not provide clearance for enrollment into specific English, math or reading classes. Call the Assessment Office to verify what your course eligibility will be.

Click on exemptions to find out more information

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED
Degree Holders
Transfer Students - Other Placement Tests
Transfer Students - Completed College Coursework
CLEP / AP Exam

NO DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED
Exempt Classes Only
One or Two Classes Only

Q. WHEN DOES THE ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT NEED TO BE MET?
A. The assessment requirement, either completion of the BSA or evaluation of documents, needs to be satisfied before your new student orientation appointment or before your TeleReg appointment.

Q. HOW DO I GET FEEDBACK ON MY PLACEMENT LEVELS, COURSE ELIGIBILITY, OR HOW I DID ON THE BSA?
A. You can either call or come to the Assessment Office and we will provide an explanation of your placements. During new student orientation activities, information related to placement and course selection will be presented. You will receive a computer printout with details on how you did on the BSA, as well as, your course placements.

If you have a WebAdvisor Account, you can access your results online. A Butte College counselor also can provide you with an understanding of your course eligibility and placement levels.

To assist in your interpretation of your reading, English and math placement levels, review Understanding Your Results on this website. Check this Website for a description of the reading, English and math classes offered through Butte College.

Q. HOW DOES MY PLACEMENT INFORMATION RELATE TO MY SELECTION OF CLASSES?
A. Most courses offered through Butte College have some type of prerequisite or recommended preparation. These are used to establish a student's readiness for the content to be covered within a course. Prerequisites and "Recommended Prep" include previously completed college coursework or achievement of a specified skill level established from an assessment test. Students are restricted in their enrollment for classes that require "course eligibility." Recommended Prep is advisory.

Q. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE COURSE ELIGIBILITY?
A. Students who want to enroll into reading, English or math classes will need qualifying eligibility from the necessary assessment unless the appropriate prerequisite class has been completed prior to registering for these classes. Prerequisite classes must be completed in college with grades of "C" or better; these are listed with the course descriptions in the college catalog. Test scores that are used for the purpose of enrolling in these courses must be within five (5) years, otherwise the necessary assessment will need to be completed. If you are unsure of your course eligibility, check with the Assessment Office prior to registering for your classes.

Q. ARE ACCOMMODATIONS PROVIDED TO STUDENTS NEEDING THE ASSESSMENT WHO HAVE SPECIAL TESTING NEEDS?
A. Yes, there are two groups of students for which testing accommodations are provided:

1) Students who have learning or physical disabilities (contact the office of Disabled Student Services and Programs for more information - 895-2455).

2) Students for whom English is not their primary language and were not in English-only speaking classes during their elementary school years.

Both groups of students will be allowed extra time on any assessments that are impacted by the need for accommodations. Testing done with time accommodations is provided on the main campus in a small group setting.