Use of Smarter Balanced 11th Grade Assessment in Washington Higher Education Placement Process:
Comparisons of Initial and Final Work Group Recommendations
Mathematics
Smarter Balanced
11th Grade Score
Level:
4
3
2
1
Score validity
time frame
Initial Draft
 Fully exempt from remediation
 Placement into any entry college-level math course
(including pre-calculus) without additional testing
 Fully exempt from remediation for placement into
liberal arts math or statistics (Math &107, Math
&146 or their equivalents) without additional testing
 Conditionally exempt from remediation for
placement into other entry college-level math
courses, contingent on successful completion of a
post-Algebra II math course in senior year of high
school
 Conditionally exempt from remediation, contingent
on successful completion of math course in senior
year (Algebra II or higher) or math college readiness
transition course; and end-of-course assessment
 Placement to be determined based on design of
transition course and assessment
 Additional placement information/testing needed for
all entry-level courses
 Provide intensive support (and possible re-testing) in
senior year
1 year
Revised Final:
Placement Options Available
Based on Score
Any entry college-level math course through precalculus I
 An entry college-level terminal math course not
on the calculus pathway
 An entry-level calculus pathway math course,
contingent on a B or better in a calculus pathway
class in the senior year of high school
An entry college-level terminal math course not on
the calculus pathway, contingent on a B or better in
the statewide math college readiness/transition course
or through local institutional processes (transcript, high
school GPA, additional testing, etc.)
Additional placement information, determined by
local institutional processes (transcript, high school
GPA, additional testing, etc.), needed for all entrylevel courses
Students going directly into higher education after
high school, i.e., the fall term of the academic year
following their high school cohort graduation.
English
Smarter Balanced
11th Grade Score
Level:
4
3
2
1
Score validity
time frame
Initial Draft
 Fully exempt from remediation
 Placement into any entry college-level English
course (including but not limited to English
Composition or its equivalent) without additional
testing
 Fully exempt from remediation
 Placement into any entry college-level English
course (including but not limited to English
Composition or its equivalent) without additional
testing
 Conditionally exempt from remediation,
contingent on successful completion of English
course in senior year or college readiness
transition course; and end-of-course assessment
 Placement to be determined based on design of
transition course and assessment (additional
measures to be considered: self-directed placement,
writing samples, reading scores on placement tests
 Additional placement information/testing needed
for all entry-level courses
 Provide intensive support (and possible re-testing)
in senior year
3 years
Proposed Final:
Placement Options Available
Based on Score
An entry college-level English course (including but
not limited to English Composition or its equivalent)
An entry college-level English course (including but
not limited to English Composition or its equivalent)
An entry college-level English course (including but
not limited to English Composition or its equivalent),
contingent on a B or better in a statewide English
senior year college readiness/transition course or
through local institutional processes (transcript, high
school GPA, additional testing, etc.)
Additional placement information, determined by
local institutional processes (transcript, high school
GPA, additional testing, etc.), needed for all entrylevel courses
Students going directly into higher education after
high school, i.e., any term (fall/winter/spring) during
academic year following high school cohort
graduation