The CUNY Assessment Testing Program:
Policies and Procedures 2005-2006

Testing Policies

All students pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree program at CUNY must satisfy the reading, writing, and mathematics basic skills requirements of the University. These requirements govern admission to baccalaureate programs and placement into and exit from remedial and ESL course work. The policies and procedures related to the CUNY Proficiency Examination (CPE) are summarized in a separate document, The CUNY Proficiency Examination: Policies and Procedures 2005-2006.

Admission to the University

The policies governing admission to baccalaureate and associate programs are as follows:
Baccalaureate Programs
•  Applicants for freshman and transfer admission must demonstrate minimum proficiency in reading, writing, and math in order
to be admitted (some students are exempt; see below).
•  Proficiency may be established on the basis of the SAT, ACT, or the New York State Regents examinations in English and
math. If proficiency is not demonstrated in this way, an applicant may do so by passing the appropriate basic skills
assessment test or tests.
•  Applicants who do not demonstrate minimum proficiency in all areas may enroll in the University Skills Immersion Program
(USIP), the Winter Immersion program, or the Prelude to Success program if they qualify. They also may opt to matriculate in 
an associate program and take the necessary remedial instruction there.

Associate Programs
•  To be admitted to an associate program as a freshman or transfer, students must demonstrate their level of basic skills
proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics. Proficiency can be established on the basis of the SAT, ACT, or the New
York State Regents examinations in English and math. Individuals who do not document proficiency in a skill area on the
basis of one or more of these tests may do so by taking CUNY’s basic skills assessment test in the appropriate areas. Based
on these tests, the student is either exempted from remedial instruction or placed into one or more courses in reading,
writing, math or ESL.

Math Placement
•  Currently the University requires students who have demonstrated minimum proficiency in mathematics on the basis of the
SAT, ACT or New York State Regents examinations to take the COMPASS math assessment to be placed properly in credit-
bearing math courses. While placement testing for these exempted students before the beginning of classes is desirable,
not all colleges are prepared to do so at this time. Therefore, colleges have the flexibility to establish appropriate placement
testing schedules for exempt students. Currently, placement testing in mathematics is not scheduled for two groups:
1) transfer students from outside CUNY who have completed 45 or
more credits, and 2) intra-CUNY transfers who are math proficient.
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