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First Time in College

Assessment and Testing for First Time In College (FTIC) Students

If this is your first time in college and you are entering a college-credit program, you are required to take the ACT, SAT, or CPT exams. These test scores are used to:

  • Meet state testing requirements
  • Determine if you are eligible to enroll in certain academic courses. Florida law and general college practice require minimum test scores before a student can register for some classes.

Your scores do not affect:

  • Admission to SCC
  • Selection of a major
  • Ability to transfer to a four-year college or university after completing your degree at SCC

You may have questions about your test scores and how they affect your first semester course selection. You may inquire further about your scores when you meet with a College counselor during orientation.

SAT Scores

If you have already taken the SAT exam:

  • You are responsible for making sure SCC has received your SAT scores before you register
  • Your scores must be current (less than two years old) to meet state requirements
  • You must have a score of at least 440 on the Verbal section to take:
    1. English I and English II
    2. Humanities Courses
    3. Social Science Courses
    4. History Courses
    5. General Biology
  • You must have a score of 440 in math and an "A" or "B" in Algebra II or its equivalent to take:
    1. Intermediate Algebra for college credit

    NOTE: Higher math scores and additional math courses allow students to enter higher-level math classes such as College Algebra or Precalculus.

If you do not meet these requirements, you must either:

  • Take one or two semesters of "preparatory" courses before entering the college-credit courses
  • Take the CPT exam to eliminate the "preparatory" courses

If you have not taken the SAT exam or have not provided your SAT scores to SCC, you:

  • Cannot register for your first semester classes
  • Must retake the SAT test or take the CPT test to meet state requirements

The CPT exam can be taken at the Assessment and Testing Center.

ACT Scores

For students who have already taken the ACT exam:

  • You are responsible for making sure SCC has received your ACT scores before you register
  • Your scores must be current (less than two years old) to meet state requirements
  • You must have a score of 17 on the English subtest and 18 on the reading subtest to take:
    1. English I and English II
    2. Humanities courses
    3. Social Sciences courses
    4. History courses
    5. General Biology
  • You must have a score of 17 in math and an "A" or "B" in Algebra II or its equivalent to take:
    1. Intermediate Algebra for college credit

    NOTE: Higher math scores and additional math courses allow students to enter higher-level math classes such as College Algebra or Precalculus.

If you do not meet these requirements, you must either:

  • Take one or two semesters of "preparatory" courses before entering the college-credit courses
  • Take the CPT exam to eliminate the "preparatory" courses

If you have not taken the ACT exam or have not provided your ACT scores to SCC, you:

  • Cannot register for your first semester classes
  • Must retake the ACT test or take the CPT test to meet state requirements

SCC offers the ACT four times each year. The CPT exam can be taken at the Assessment and Testing Center.

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