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Admissions

Test Requirements and Information

The office of Testing, Evaluation and Assessment administers local, state and national tests for placement and certification. Test programs currently offered include the SAT, ACT, EPT/ELM, WPE, and Chemistry 111A.

Freshman applicants must submit SAT I and/or ACT scores directly to CSULB. Students should take these tests no later than December of the prior year. Registration forms and dates for the SAT and/or ACT are available from high school or college counselors or from a CSU campus testing office. For information about the CSULB Testing, Evaluation and Assessment Department, please see: http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students/testing/.

Students also may contact:

The College Board (SAT)
Registration Unit, Box 6200
Princeton, NJ 08541-6200
(609) 771-7588
www.collegeboard.org

ACT Registration Unit
P.O. Box 414
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
(319) 337-1270
www.act.org

The office of Testing, Evaluation and Assessment at CSULB is located in Brotman Hall 216. For information, phone (562) 985-4007, FAX (562) 985-2415, or visit the Testing Office website at www.csulb.edu/testing.

English Language Requirement

All undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English and who have not attended schools at the secondary level or above for at least three years full time where English is the principal language of instruction must present a score of 61 (iBt) or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Some majors may require a score higher than 61. Some majors and some campuses may require a higher score. A few colleges may also use alternative methods of assessing English fluency: Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP).

Each campus will posts the tests it accepts on its website and will notify applicants about the tests it accepts and when to submit scores.

Systemwide Placement Test Requirements

The California State University requires that each entering undergraduate, except those who qualify for an exemption, take the CSU Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) examination and the CSU English Placement Test (EPT) prior to enrollment. These placement tests are not a condition for admission to the CSU, but they may be a condition of enrollment. These examinations are designed to identify entering students who may need additional support in acquiring college entry-level English and mathematics skills necessary to succeed in CSU baccalaureate-level courses. Undergraduate students who do not demonstrate college-level skills both in English and in mathematics will be placed in appropriate remedial programs and activities prior to the first term of their enrollment. Students placed in remedial programs in either English or mathematics must complete all remediation in their first year of enrollment. Failure to complete remediation by the end of the first year may result in denial of enrollment for future terms.

For further information about test programs at CSULB, call (562) 985-4007, go to www.csulb.edu/testing or go to Brotman Hall, Room 216.

English Placement Test (EPT)

The English Placement Test (EPT) is designed to assess the level of reading and writing skills of students entering the California State University. The CSU EPT must be completed by all non-exempt entering undergraduates prior to enrollment in any course, including remedial courses. Students who score 147 or above on the EPT will be placed in college-level composition classes.

Exemptions from the EPT are granted to students who provide proof of one of the following:

  • A score of "Exempt" or "Ready for college-level English courses" on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken along with the English Language Arts California Standard Test in grade 11
  • A score of "Conditionally ready for college-level English courses" or "Conditional" on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken on grade 11, provided successful completion of the Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC), AP English, 1B English or an English course approved for extra honors weight on the University of California "a-g" Doorways course list.
  • A score of 500 or above on the critical reading section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
  • A score of 22 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) English Test
  • A score of 3 or above on either the Language and Composition or Composition and Literature examination of the College Board Scholastic Advanced Placement Program
  • Completion and transfer to CSU of the credits for 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
  • A score of "Conditionally ready for college-level English courses" or "Conditional" on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken in grade 11 with the California Standards Text in English Language Arts, along with provided successful completion (demonstrated with a grade of 'C' or better" in one of the following four CSU-approved 12th grade English courses: CSU Expository Reading & Writing Course (ERWC) adopted as a full year course in the 12th grade being taught by a certified instructor, AP English, International Baccalaureate English, or Honors English identified on the UC Doorways Web site as earning extra honors credit.

Entry-Level Mathematics (ELM) Examination

The Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Examination is designed to assess and measure the level of mathematics skills acquired through three years of rigorous college preparatory mathematics coursework (Algebra I and II, and Geometry) of students entering the California State University (CSU). The CSU ELM must be completed by all non-exempt entering undergraduates prior to enrollment in any course, including remedial courses. Students who score 50 or above on the ELM will be placed in college-level mathematics classes.

Exemptions from the ELM are granted to students who provide proof of one of the following:

  • A score of "Exempt" or "Ready for college-level Mathematics courses" on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP), taken in grade 11 in conjunction with the CST in Summative High School Mathematics or Algebra II
  • A score of "Conditionally ready for college-level Mathematics courses" or "Conditional" on the CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP) taken in grade 11 along with the California Standards Test in Summative High School Mathematics or Algebra II, provided successful completion of a CSU-approved 12th grade math course that require Algebra II as a prerequisite
  • A score of 550 or above on the mathematics section of the College Board SAT Reasoning Test
  • A score of 550 or above on a College Board SAT Subject Test in Mathematics (level 1 or level 2)
  • A score of 23 or above on the American College Testing (ACT) Mathematics Test
  • A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Calculus AB or Calculus BC exam
  • A score of 3 or above on the College Board Advanced Placement Statistics examination
  • Completion and transfer to CSU of a college course that satisfies the requirement in Quantitative Reasoning, provided such a course was completed with a grade of C or better

Advanced Placement Credit

California State University, Long Beach grants credit toward its undergraduate degrees for successful completion of examinations of the Advanced Placement (AP) Program of the College Board. Students who present scores of three or better will be granted up to six semester units (nine quarter units) of college credit for each AP course. Refer to the Advanced Placement Examination Credit table in the Academic Information section of this Catalog.

More specific information is available from the Office of Enrollment Services at (562) 985-5471 or a student's major department.

International Baccalaureate Credit

Students with scores of 5 or higher (4 in certain subjects) in International Baccalaureate Higher Level courses will be awarded baccalaureate credit of 4 to 10 units, depending on course equivalency. Applicants to CSULB who wish to obtain lower-division course credit for completed International Baccalaureate Higher Level examinations must submit an official IB transcript. Course equivalency for Higher Level examinations completed with satisfactory scores is listed in the International Baccaluareate Examination Credit table in the Academic Information section of this Catalog.

For questions or information, please call the Office of Enrollment Service at (562) 985-5471 or consult the department.


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