CUNY ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR SENIOR (4-YEAR) COLLEGES
CUNY MATH PROFICIENCY STANDARD FOR 2012 APPLICANTS
CUNY has announced revisions to its math proficiency standard, which will affect applicants for freshmen and
transfer admission in Fall 2012 and thereafter. Applicants for freshmen and transfer admission for Fall 2012 and
thereafter may demonstrate proficiency in mathematics for all CUNY colleges by scoring 80 or higher on the
Integrated Algebra Regents, and successfully completing Algebra 2 & Trigonometry or a higher-level course. For
additional information, including exceptions to the new standard and alternative ways students may meet the new
standard, including through the SAT, ACT, and CUNY Assessment Test, visit the CUNY admissions website.
WHAT ARE CUNY'S SKILLS REQUIREMENTS?
You can demonstrate that you meet the University's skills proficiency requirements based on your SAT, ACT, or NY
State Regents test scores. Otherwise, you may take the appropriate CUNY Assessment Test offered at the testing
center at CUNY colleges.
Reading and Writing
Students are considered proficient in reading and writing if they can document any one of the following:
SAT I verbal score of 480 or higher or critical reading score of 480 or higher
ACT English score of 20 or higher
N.Y. State English Regents score of 75 or higher
CUNY Assessment Tests: Reading Test score of 70 or higher and Writing Test score of 56 or
higher.
To be eligible to register for the first college-level composition course, students must be proficient in both
reading and writing.
Mathematics
Proficiency requirements in mathematics differ from college to college. Students may fulfill these requirements based
on their SAT Math score (SATM), ACT Math score (ACTM), NYS Regents score on the Math A, B, Sequential II or III
exam (NYS Regents), or the CUNY Assessment Test score in Mathematics (Math 1 and Math 2). Please consult the
chart below for the math proficiency requirement for each college:
Proficiency Requirements in Mathematics
College
SATM
ACTM
NYS Regents
Math 1
Math 2
(see NOTE below)
Baruch
510
21
75
45
45
Brooklyn
510
21
75
45
45
City
510
21
75
45
45
Hunter
510
21
75
45
45
Lehman
510
21
75
45
45
Online Baccalaureate, SPS
510
21
75
45
45
Queens
510
21
75
45
45
York
500
21
75
45
45
College of Staten Island
500
21
75
35
40
John Jay
500
21
75
35
40
Medgar Evers
500
21
75
35
40
NYC College of Technology
500
21
75
35
40
Borough of Manhattan
480
20
75
35
40
Bronx
480
20
75
35
40
Hostos
480
20
75
35
40
Kingsborough
480
20
75
35
40
Laguardia
480
20
75
35
40
Queensborough
480
20
75
35
40
Note:
Math Regents Proficiency criteria effective for fall 2012 and thereafter: Applicants for freshmen and
transfer admission for fall 2012 and thereafter may demonstrate proficiency in mathematics for all CUNY
colleges by scoring 80 or higher on the Regents examination Integrated Algebra, and successfully
completing Algebra 2 & Trigonometry or a higher-level course.
CUNY's Skills Assessment Tests (CATs)
Students who do not achieve the required scores on SAT I or Regents Exams can satisfy the skills proficiency
requirements by passing the CUNY Assessment Tests in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Detailed information
about each of these tests is available below.
Mathematics Course Placement Testing
All new students - whether or not they are math proficient-are required to take the CUNY Assessment Test in
Mathematics. Test results will be used to place students in the appropriate mathematics course at their college.
At this time transfer students who have met the math proficiency requirement at the college they will be attending are
generally not scheduled for math placement testing. However, if they wish to register for a math course in their first
semester, they should contact the Testing Office (see Campus Contacts).
HOW DO SKILLS REQUIREMENTS AFFECT ADMISSION TO CUNY FOR FRESHMEN?
Baccalaureate Programs (BA, BS, BFA DEGREES)
Candidates for freshman admission to a bachelor's degree program must show that they are proficient in reading,
writing and math to be admitted. Candidates who are not proficient in one or more skills have several options:
Enroll in an immersion program at the senior college;
Enroll in the necessary remedial courses at a CUNY community college, or in an associates' program at a
comprehensive college.
If you are not skills proficient, you should speak to an admissions counselor to get more information about the best
choice for you.
Three groups of students may be admitted to a bachelor's program without first demonstrating skills
proficiency:
1. Applicants who already have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited program. (However, ESL
students may be asked by their college to take a placement test in reading and writing to assess their English
language skills);
2. Applicants who meet the college's proficiency requirement in math, who meet the University's definition of
ESL and who meet all other admissions requirements may be admitted. These students must pass the CUNY
Assessment Tests in reading and writing within two years of initial enrollment;
3. Applicants who qualify for the SEEK program. SEEK students must meet the University's proficiency
requirement in reading and writing within one year of initial enrollment, and must meet the college's
proficiency requirement in mathematics within two years of initial enrollment.
Associate Programs (AAS, AA DEGREES)
Candidates for freshman admission to an associate program do not have to show they are skills proficient to be
admitted. However, entering students who are not proficient based on the SAT, ACT or Regents tests must take the
appropriate CUNY Assessment Tests. Once enrolled in an associate program, students will be required to take one
or more remedial courses to build their skills in any areas in which they have not met the proficiency requirement.
Students usually cannot begin a full program of college-level work in an associate program until they have achieved
proficiency in reading, writing and math.
CUNY ASSESSMENT TESTS INFORMATION
WHAT ARE THE CUNY ASSESSMENT TESTS (CAT) IN READING, WRITING, AND MATHEMATICS?
Reading: The CAT in Reading is an un-timed, multiple-choice, computer-based test of reading.
Writing: The CAT in Writing is a 90-minute written essay test in which students are asked to respond to a reading
passage that they see for the first time when they sit for the test.
Mathematics: The CAT in Mathematics is an untimed, multiple-choice, computer-based test composed of four
sections: numerical skills/pre-algebra, algebra, college algebra, and trigonometry.
WHAT SCORES ON THE CAT IN READING, WRITING, AND MATHEMATICS MUST STUDENTS
ACHIEVE TO DEMONSTRATE MINIMUM PROFICIENCY?
Reading: a scaled score of 70 or more.
Writing: a total score of 56 or more.
Mathematics: the proficiency requirement differs from college to college (see detailed chart above).
WHAT SKILLS DO EACH OF THE TESTS MEASURE?
The CAT in Reading measures reading comprehension. You will be given several readings that may be practical or
drawn from prose fiction, the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences. Questions about the readings will ask
you to refer to what is explicitly stated and to determine the meaning of words through context. They will also ask you
to reason to determine implicit meanings, to draw conclusions, and to make comparisons and generalizations. The
readings are like those commonly assigned in first-year courses in college. For each passage you will be asked a set
of multiple-choice questions.
The CAT in Writing is a standardized writing test that measures your ability to do college-level writing in English and
assess your readiness for introductory college courses. In the test, you are required to read, understand, and respond
to a passage of 250-300 words. The CATW is designed to test your ability to think and write in English, similar to the
way you will be asked to think and write throughout your college career. It consists of a reading passage (the text)
and writing instructions. You must read the passage and instructions and then write an essay responding to the
passage while following the instructions. You have 90 minutes to complete the exam. You may bring a non-electronic
dictionary to the test (a paperback dictionary is recommended), bilingual if preferred.
A sample of the writing assignment (along with the scoring guide and sample papers for each score point) and some
tips on taking the CAT in Writing is included in the Student Handbook < p d f > prepared by CUNY faculty. Read more
>> < p d f >
The CAT in Mathematics is designed to measure students' knowledge of a number of topics in mathematics. The
test is organized into four sections: numerical skills/pre-algebra, algebra, college algebra, and trigonometry.
Numerical skills/pre-algebra questions range from basic math concepts and skills (integers, fractions, and decimals)
to the knowledge and skills that are required in an entry-level algebra course (absolute values, percentages, and
exponents). The algebra items are questions from elementary and intermediate algebra (equations, polynomials,
formula manipulations, and algebraic expressions). The college algebra section includes questions that measure
skills required to perform operations with functions, exponents, matrices, and factorials. The trigonometry section
addresses topics such as trigonometric functions and identities, right-triangle trigonometry, and graphs of
trigonometric functions.
Placement into CUNY's required basic math courses is based on results of the numerical skills/pre-algebra and
algebra sections. The test covers progressively advanced topics with placement into more advanced mathematics or
mathematics-related courses based on results of the last two sections of the test.
WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST ME IN PREPARING FOR THE CATS?
The University has Test Preparation resources available to help you prepare for the CATs.
Each College in the University has a testing information center with resources to help incoming and continuing
students to prepare for the CATs. Find out about a specific college's test preparation resources here >>
Test preparation resources for the CAT in reading, writing, and mathematics are available to all students here >>
ASSESSMENT TESTING AND REMEDIAL COURSES
Exit from Remedial and ESL Course Sequences
All students registered in their college's top-level course in Reading, Writing, or ESL will take the test(s) at the end of
the semester. Students who do not pass the test(s) will not be able to begin college composition (Freshman English)
until they pass. Likewise, no student may be placed in a college-level mathematics course who has not passed or
been exempted from the Mathematics Test.
Faculty at each college decide the requirements for passing each top-level remedial, developmental, or ESL course.
Sometimes, passage of the skills test is required to pass the course; sometimes it is not. In any case, the University
expects that students who pass the reading and writing tests will move directly to College Composition I at their next
registration.
Retesting
Generally, students must receive at least 20 hours of instruction between retests. They may not be retested more
than two times during a semester. Specific rules apply for workshops and summer and winter immersion.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR TESTING
Accommodations based on disabilities will be granted to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act. Students who wish to request such accommodations should consult their college's
Testing Office or Office of Student Services.