Placement Guidelines
First-Year Writing Program
Placement is determined by the below test scores and not an entrance exam. Students who do not receive credit for ENG 101 based on one of the tests scores listed below need to enroll in ENG 101 to fulfill their first-year writing requirement.
Students who submit one of the below test scores will receive credit for ENG 101 as fulfillment of the first-year writing requirement. Credit is automatically awarded to a student’s degree audit when qualified scores are submitted to Undergraduate Admissions.
Students should still consult their academic advisor and check their degree audits before the semester starts to verify if credit is awarded. If credit is awarded, students do not need to enroll in ENG 101 to fulfill the first-year writing requirement.
Students transferring composition course credit or a degree from another institution should review our transfer credit guidelines.
| TEST Only one score is needed from either test to be exempt from ENG 101 | Required Score for ENG 101 Credit Effective for students entering Fall 2025 |
| ACT – English | 33 or above |
| AP – English Language & Composition | 5 |
| International Baccalaureate – English A2 (Higher Level): Language & Literature | 4-7 |
| SAT Scores: Our program does not provide ENG 101 credit based on SAT scores for tests taken in 2024 and later. Students who took the traditional SAT (paper format) before 2024 can receive credit for ENG 101 if they scored 39-40 on the Read sub-section of the Reading and Writing section of the test. To find your SAT-Reading score, please watch this tutorial. | |
Students with scores below the approved required score could receive English elective credit. You can learn more by reviewing our FAQ. For any other questions, please reach out to us at firstyearwriting@ncsu.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an English placement test?
No. The First-Year Writing program does not require incoming students to complete a placement test. Placement is based on standardized test scores (see above) to Undergraduate Admissions.
If you would like additional assistance assessing your preparation for ENG 101 and selecting an appropriate course and learning environment, please contact us at firstyearwriting@ncsu.edu.
What test scores are NOT used for First-Year Writing placement at NC State?
Scores on the following tests are not used to fulfill NC State’s first-year writing requirement.
- CLEP
- SAT-II Writing
- ACT-Reading
- AP English Literature & Composition
- IB English A1 (High or Standard Level) Literature
English Elective Credit Based on Approved Standardized Test Scores
Students who scored below the required scores needed to receive credit for Eng 101 instead can receive 4 hours of elective credit for ENG 100: Reading and Writing Rhetorically. Credit is awarded automatically based on scores submitted to Undergraduate admissions.
- Students who score a 3-4 on the AP English Language & Composition exam will receive elective credit.
- Students who score a 5-7 on the IB English 2 (Standard Level) Language & Literature exam will receive elective credit.
Visit Undergraduate Admissions to learm more about other English credit opportunities for AP and IB.