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Student Enrollment Paths

Direct Enrollment


I graduated from an American high school within the last 5 years.

Direct Enrollment allows students who graduated from a U.S. high school in the past five (5) years to enroll in the recommended English and mathematics courses, based upon multiple measures such as high school GPA, SAT/ACT scores, GED scores, etc. These measures will decide a student's enrollment path.

Grade Placement Examples

For example, a student with a GPA of 2.58 and an SAT-ERW score of 389. This student would be placed into ENG 111 with EDE 11.

High School

GPA

SAT-ERW Scores

ACT English & Reading Scores

GED Scores

You should take…

3.0 or higher

480 or above

18 or above

165 or above

ENG 111

2.0-2.99

400-470

15-17

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ENG 111 with EDE 11

1.99 or below

399 or below

14 or below

164 or below

EDE 10

Informed Self-Placement


I graduated from an American high school 6 or more years ago.

If you graduated from a U.S. high school or received a GED more than six (6) years ago, the descriptions below will help you pick the best English course based on your comfort with academic writing and with working independently.

Course Options

EDE 10 will allow you more time to prepare for the college-level reading and writing assignments you will do in ENG 111 and EDE 11.

This will include:

  • Help with understanding assignment requirements and support throughout the process of completing them
  • Instruction in revising and editing your writing
  • Instruction in note-taking and reading strategies for use with college-level texts
  • Many opportunities to receive feedback about your individual strengths and learning needs
  • Many opportunities for reteaching and extra practice
  • Help with time management, planning, and organization

EDE 10 offers the most support from an instructor.

Does this sound like a good level of support to help you be successful in English?

In EDE 11, you will have extra support with your ENG 111 work.

This will include:

  • Help with understanding your ENG 111 assignments and more support when starting them
  • More time for support with revising and editing your writing
  • More time to build a supportive learning community with your ENG 111 peers
  • More opportunities to receive your professor’s feedback about your individual strengths  learning needs
  • Time for reteaching and extra practice
  • Support in learning how to manage your time and follow through with assignments

Taking EDE 11 with ENG 111 gets you started on college credit English while still providing extra support from an instructor.

Does this sound like a good level of support plus challenge to help you be successful in English?

In ENG 111, you will be expected to be ready to handle college-level work. 

The course will require you to:

  • Take the initiative in contacting or meeting with your professor outside of class if you do not understand an assignment
  • Revise and edit your writing with minimal support
  • Apply strategies for completing academic reading independently
  • Seek help from the Tutoring Center for additional support
  • Meet deadlines consistently

Taking ENG 111 gets you started on college credit English and asks you to work more independently.

Does this sound like a good level of support plus challenge to help you be successful in English?

English as a Second (ESL) Language Classes


I speak a language other than English at home, or I graduated from a foreign high school.

If you graduated from a U.S. High school but speak a language other than English and want to check to make sure you are ready for college level classes, you may take the ESL Placement Assessment. Please write to NOVAtesting@nvcc.edu to schedule it.

Once you’ve completed the ESL Placement Assessment, you’ll get an email from ESL@nvcc.edu with a list of recommended classes.  You may contact us at ESL@nvcc.edu with follow up questions.

Course Options

If you think you’re ready for college level English, take a look at these course options.

  • One 5-credit reading class
  • One 5-credit writing class
  • One 5-credit listening & speaking class

Please read the description of what a student should be ready to do to be successful in this class.

Does this sound like you? Be honest! You want to be in a class that will support and challenge you to succeed!

 

ESL 21 & ESL 22 & ESL 24

In this level, you will…

Write longer paragraphs.

Learn more advanced verb forms and sentence structures.

You can already…

Have short conversations about everyday topics.

Write basic sentences easily.

Write more complex sentences with some errors.

You may need help with…

Identifying errors.

Understanding non-academic readings longer than 2-3 pages.

Learning good academic habits & study skills.

  • One 5-credit reading class
  • One 5-credit writing class
  • One 5-credit listening & speaking class

Please read the description of what a student should be ready to do to be successful in this class.

Does this sound like you? Be honest! You want to be in a class that will support and challenge you to succeed!

 

ESL 31 & ESL 32 & ESL 33

In this level, you will…

Learn how to prepare and give presentations.

Write multi-paragraph documents.

Read basic academic texts of 2-5 pages.

You can already…

Identify some errors and correct them.

Talk in class about everyday topics most of the time.

You may need help with…

Reading texts longer than 1-2 pages.

Learning how to identify your own mistakes and fix them.

Using good academic habits & study skills consistently.

This pairs two 5-credit advanced ESL classes to provide a strong foundation of reading and writing skills designed for multilingual learners.

Please read the description of what a student should be ready to do to be successful in this class.

Does this sound like you? Be honest! You want to be in a class that will support and challenge you to succeed!

 

ESL 41 & ESL 42

In this level, you will…

Learn how to write 5-paragraph essays.

Practice taking notes on academic subjects.

Learn basic strategies for organizing your writing.

You can already…

Identify errors and correct them with guidance.

Prepare and give presentations of 2-5 minutes.

Write multiple paragraphs on everyday topics easily.

Write about academic topics with support and preparation.

You may need help with…

Learning the process for writing (brainstorming, drafting, revising).

Using good academic habits & study skills consistently.

Listening to academic lectures and taking accurate notes.

Reading shorter (2-5 pages) academic texts and taking accurate notes.

This pairs two 5-credit pre-college ESL classes to provide a strong foundation of advanced reading and writing skills designed for multilingual learners. You’ll benefit from working with trained ESL instructors to help you be successful in your future English courses.

Does this sound like you? Be honest! You want to be in a class that will support and challenge you to succeed!

 

ESL 51 & ESL 52

In this level, you will…

Learn how to use evidence in your papers.

Learn advanced strategies for organizing your writing.

With support, write 3 papers of 3-5 pages in a semester, and at least one longer paper of 5+ pages.

You can already…

Identify most of your errors and correct them independently.

Give presentations fluently and accurately with little preparation.

Listen to academic lectures and take accurate notes.

You may need help with…

Reading mid-length (3-9 pages) academic texts and taking accurate notes.

Practicing academic research skills.

Organizing your work to meet deadlines.

This pairs 3-credit college-level English with a 3-credit support course designed for multilingual learners. You’ll benefit from working with trained ESL instructors to help you be successful in ENG 111.

Does this sound like you? Be honest! You want to be in a class that will support and challenge you to succeed!

 

ENG 111 with ESL 95

In this level, you will…

Work with support to write multiple papers of 3-5 pages in a semester, and at least one longer paper of 5+ pages.

You can already…

Identify nearly all errors and correct them independently.

Write papers of 3-5 pages in a semester.

You may need help with…

Reading longer (10+ pages) academic texts and taking accurate notes.

Practicing academic research skills.

Organizing your work to meet deadlines.

In this class you will be expected to work more independently to read longer pieces of writing, take notes, organize and draft your papers, and manage your time.

Does this sound like you? Be honest! You want to be in a class that will support and challenge you to succeed!

 

ENG 111

In this level, you will…

Work independently to write multiple papers of 3-5 pages in a semester, and at least one longer paper of 5+ pages.

You can already…

Understand assignment requirements quickly.

Write and revise essays independently.

Complete reading assignments outside of class and use reading and note-taking strategies to understand them.

Identify errors easily.

Work independently to meet deadlines.

You may need help with…

Advanced writing skills and strategies.

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