THE ENGLISH PLACEMENT TEST (EPT)
WHAT IS THE EPT AND HOW IS IT USED?
EPT stands for English Placement Test. The test is mandated by the State of California and is used to place
students in English courses that meet their particular needs. It also gives English instructors a profile of their
students’ strengths and weaknesses in reading and writing.
The EPT is a two-hour exam, which consists of two thirty-five minute objective sections and a forty-five minute
essay.
WHO MUST TAKE THE EPT?
The test is required of all students who have not already taken English 99, 110, or the equivalent. However,
students are exempt from the EPT if they have earned any one of the following:

A score of 3, 4, or 5 on either the Language and Composition or Literature and Composition examination
of the College Board Scholastic Advanced Placement Program.*

A score of 4 or better on the International Baccalaureate (IB).***

A score on the CSU English Equivalency Examination that qualifies the student for “Pass for Credit” or
“Exemption.*

A score of 22 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) English Usage Test taken prior to
October 1989.

A score of 24 or above on the enhanced ACT English Test taken October 1989 or later.

A score of 470 or above on the Verbal section of the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) taken
prior to March 1994.

A score of 510 or above on the Verbal section of the College Board SAT I Reasoning Test taken between
March 1994 and March 1995.

A score of 550 or above on the Verbal section of the College Board SAT I Reasoning Test taken between
April 1995 and January 2005.

A score of 550 or above on the Critical Reading section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
taken March 2005 or later.

A score of 600 or above on the College Board Achievement Test in English Composition with Essay
taken prior to January 1994.

A score of 600 or above on the College Board SAT II Writing Test taken between January 1994 and
March 1995.

A score of 660 or above on the College Board SAT II Writing Test taken between March 1995 and
March 1998.

A score of 680 or above on the College Board SAT II Writing Test taken on or after April 1, 1998.

A score of 5 or 6 on the KHSD Golden State Exam.

A score of 50 or better on the ACT ASSET English Test.

A passing score on the Bakersfield College English Placement Test.**
(Student must bring documentation to Department of English.)

Completion of a college course that satisfies the CSU General Education
requirement in English Composition, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C or better.

Placement in the “Demonstrates Readiness for College Composition” category on the Early Assessment
Program (EAP) English taken in conjunction with the 11th grade California Standards Test in English
language Arts.
*These scores also give students credit for English 110 and 101.
**We accept all scores from the English Placement Test at Bakersfield College for placement into our English
classes.
***This score also gives students credit for English 110.
Students who have earned any of the scores above are also exempt from English 99 and are eligible for English
110. Before these students register for English 110, they must submit evidence of these scores to the Records
Office (SA103).
For transfer students, completion and transfer of a college course to the CSU is applicable as long as the course
satisfies the General Education Transfer Curriculum requirement in English composition, and provided that such a
course was completed with a grade of “C” or better.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO DO NOT TAKE THE EPT?
Because it is in the students’ interest to take the EPT at the earliest possible opportunity, the university requires
students to take this test prior to attending orientation and enrolling at CSUB. Students who have not taken the EPT
and are not exempt from the requirement will not be allowed to register for any classes.
HOW CAN STUDENTS REGISTER FOR THE EPT?
Students must register for the English Placement Test in the Testing Office (654-3373), which also has a list of the
dates on which the test will be given.
HOW ARE THE EPT SCORES INTERPRETED?
Total EPT score
Required Placement+
147-180
English 110
142-146
English 99
120-141
English 80 or English 90 (for ESL students)
+
Based on their total EPT score, students can take the course designated here or any course with a lower number.
Students will receive their official test results in the mail from the Educational Testing Service. Students may
contact the English Department or their advisor for placement in the appropriate course. On the local level, we
occasionally use only the scores on the objective portion of the test for placement, but students must be prepared for
their total scores (and their placement) to change when we receive the essay scores from ETS.
Students who have questions or who want their scores interpreted should see Dr. Kim Flachmann in Faculty
Towers 102-B or Dr. John Dirkse in Education Building 229.