<p>Hello, my son just took his placement tests today and failed the english and the math and I am freaking out right now because he has to take remedial classes. He's attending San Diego Mesa College and on the paper that they gave him, it says
"M40: Take Math 84, 85, 96, or 98
R4: Enroll in English 48
W4: Enroll in English 49"
Told him that he can challenge the Mathematics and English chair if he feels that he doesn't belong in the remedial classes.</p>
<p>Called the Counselors office, they didn't help.
Wondering if you guys can, Are these short term classes? Do they give credit? Do these affect other classes? Anything he can do to get into the 100's classes? After completion, can he take classes that are counted as by the IGETC of SDCCD? What do I do? :(</p>
<p>Was that office unable to answer your questions? Or what help were you looking for? It is not unusual for public colleges to administer standardized tests to assess readiness for their freshman level curriculum. States vary on whether kids can opt out of the placement tests because of AP test levels or ACT levels or whether “all” incoming students take the tests. Generally yes, upon successful completion of the remedial classes the students move into the freshman 100 level classes. In general they don’t “count” toward college graduation credits, but if someone needs a remedial class generally it’s a good idea. They are generally a normal term as the other classes. The only affect on other classes would be if classes required a preprequisite e.g. a 200 level English class that required a 100 level English class or something like that. What do you want them to do?</p>
<p>Sorry for asking, but why don’t you want him to take them? You don’t want to pay for them? </p>
<p>If he failed the placement test he probably needs remedial classes, and he could benefit from them to be in a more solid situation in future classes. That’s what the placement tests are for. It won’t hurt him to take the remedial courses, it will just make him better prepared.</p>
<p>Let him take the classes where he is placed. If he did poorly in the placement exams–he is NOT ready for more advanced work. Taking a higher level class will impact his GPA if he can’t do the work.</p>
<p>The Fin. Aid that the school is giving him is paying for everything. I’m quite distraught by the idea that taking remedial classes don’t count as college credit and that it will hinder him back from where the rest of his mates are in school. He did excellent in High school with A’s and B’s every year and it’s just really hard to wrap my mind about what’s happening.</p>
<p>Maybe his HS classes weren’t as challenging? Maybe there was a lot of grade inflation? I really wouldn’t worry about it. It’s going to be worse if he isn’t ready, doesn’t take the remedial classes, and then bombs more advanced classes that do count for college credit and could endanger his financial aid.</p>
<p>The “year” thing in college is not as critical as all kids move on a trajectory and they take variable “loads” of credit…some at the low end and some at the high end. So there is no reason to think he’ll be behind his friends in any significant way. High school grades are not always a predictor of what kids have learned and retained so the best thing is to have him take the classes that have been recommended. Hopefully he’ll “sail” through them with great grades and put it behind. You could always go back and look at his ACTs or SATs and see where his scores were. The ACT publishes what they consider “college ready” but I’m not sure about SAT. That might help give some perspective.</p>
<p>Have you called the school and/or looked up the specific courses to see if they truly are remedial courses with Zero college credit? If that is the case, you and he need to talk to someone at the college and see if some sort of schedule can be put together so that he can take those courses and still take 12 credits to get his financial aid. He may have to take summer courses to “catch up” later in order to have the credits needed for graduation. </p>
<p>Still, you don’t want him taking courses when he is not demonstrating knowledge of the prereqs. He could lose it all if he is not where he needs to be for college courses. </p>
<p>My son had to take a beginning comp course that many kids test out of at his college, but it wasn’t essential he take it his first semester or even year, but it was for credit.</p>
<p>You can try to appeal it. After having finished differential equations at the Southern Elbonia College of Mines and Engineering (something like that) I placed into Calc 1 at Cajun State, thanks largely to (a) not having touched calc for 2+ years and (b) taking a multiple choice test (no such critters in Elbonia K-12 or college). Eventually they gave me the credit.</p>
<p>The opposite also works; I tested out of English 101 and 102 as part of the placement test exam but was not eligible to just get the credit because I never took an English composition course in high school (just ‘English’ :)). Silly rules of the 80’s.</p>
<p>I would question, tho, how close the results are to reality.</p>
<p>Sadly, this happens often in our local high school. Classes have been so dumbed down that smart kids can easily get As or Bs without ever trying - or really learning much for their foundations. The parents are happy, because their offspring are getting great grades, but it sure hits them hard when they take those college placement tests. Roughly 30% of our top math students pass a placement test into college algebra at our local community college. For many majors, college algebra is remedial - and only 30% test into it AFTER finishing our high school math series. We do a little better with English - roughly 2/3rds can pass that test, but again, they’re testing our top kids, so 2/3rds is pretty low.</p>
<p>But they get As and Bs year after year.</p>
<p>The school just says college is tough. While that’s true, challenging the top kids more in high school would produce far better results when they get to college (and make college “easier” too).</p>
<p>Let your guy take the classes he placed into. He could very well need the foundation.</p>
<p>You would be more distraught, if he got grades that placed him or academic probation, if he did not meet SAP (satisfactory academic progress) and lost his financial aid or if he got academically dismissed.</p>
<p>Basically, his placement test demonstrate that he can benefit from having a stronger foundation. While he may not be getting credits right now, he has the rest of his college career ahead of him. Based on the school’s website, these courses have credits attached to them.</p>
<p>MATH 085 Practical Career Mathematics
3 hours lecture, 3 units
Grade Only</p>
<p>Description: This course is a study of the practical applications of linear, quadratic and exponential growth models. Topics also include statistical methods, geometry, right triangle trigonometry and finance math. This course will develop math literacy through the use of current events and real life applications. This course is designed for students who are earning an associate’s degree and who are not planning to transfer to a four-year institution</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Keep in mind that his college transcript is forever. Let him take advantage of the opportunity to be better prepared for the rigor of college work.</p>
<p>I teach remedial,reading and writing at a community college. For the most part, our placement exams do seem to place kids fairly well. Having said that, for students who score close to the cutoff, retaking the test is not a bad idea if the school allows it. </p>
<p>At our CC, there are practice tests for our tests. You might ask if your son’s college offers them. Many students blow off placement tests. My own, I am certain, will b e blowing off his chemistry placement test this Friday. My guess is he will be taking remedial chemistry along with a lower level math class. Sigh.</p>
<p>When did he take the placement tests? Could he just be a little rusty? It might be helpful for him to do a math review using a SAT book or something similar and then retesting.</p>
<p>BTW-- is he from Ca? Did he take the high school summative math test in 11th grade as part of his CST testing? How did he do? This might show where he has some gaps.</p>
<p>Sybbie719, I appreciate all your information, this really turn him right side up knowing that he can get credit while taking these classes.
He has been considering Mechanical Engineering for a long time now, off and on between that and being undecided, so I’m 80% sure about Mechanical Engineering.</p>
<p>
He took it today, told me that he was afraid to wake up past his registration time (10am) and stayed up all night; told me this at 3 in the morning. Woke me up saying he can’t pick any mathematics or english classes and we went to the school to take the test. So put in the factor of sleep deprivation.</p>
<p>If he’s serious about mechanical engineering he should definitely take the remedial math. Engineers need to take math through calculus and differential equations. He needs to be rock solid in his math foundations to succeed in diff eq.</p>
<p>Happykid wiped out on her community college placement tests too. Part of her problem was that they were done on computers and she’d never had a test like that before. Part was that she hadn’t been willing to try the practice exams. When the counselor looked at her test scores and her high school grades she recommended a re-take of the English exam. After doing a couple practice exams at home, Happykid aced the English exam on the next try. </p>
<p>Since your son admits to being nervous about the whole registration thing (his reason for staying up all night) in addition to lack of sleep because he was indeed up all night, it makes sense to ask the counselors to look at his high school transcript and get their advice about re-taking the placement exams. Knowing the format of the exam and having a good night’s sleep could make all the difference.</p>
<p>I’d also recommend that you pay attention to his anxious behavior. Maybe this was just a one-time thing, but it also could be part of a long term pattern. He will need to find good ways to manage his level of anxiety about his schoolwork.</p>
<p>Sacramento State University, after seeing both my sons’ dismal high school transcripts, must have been surprised when they both tested into Calculus and Honors English on their freshman placement tests. However, if they also took a look at their very high SAT scores they would have realized that there was no problems with the placement tests, they were just getting a couple of lazy slackers who they had to take since we live in Sac State’s service area.</p>