Placement
Get Started at CNM with Placement Tools
If you are new to CNM, you may be wondering what courses to enroll in and what courses are required for your degree program. The CNM Assessment Center offers free placement tools to help you get started: The Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and the ALEKS PPL.
Additional Placement Options
Alternative Methods
In addition to the main DSP and ALEKS PPL, other common placement options include:
- Providing Accuplacer scores to CNM (must have been taken in the last five years).
- Please note: CNM no longer offers the Accuplacer at our Assessment Centers.
- Providing ACT and SAT scores to CNM
- Graduating from high school (for non-math placement)
- Your high school GPA must be 2.5 or greater
- You must have graduated with a conferred diploma
- You must submit an official transcript to CNM. You may also have an unofficial transcript reviewed by an Academic Advisor.
- Enrolling in the required prerequisite courses at CNM and passing with a grade of CR or C or higher.
- Completing the required prerequisite courses at another institution with a grade of CR or C or higher.
The advanced degree attribute is also used as a type of placement. You can provide confirmation through the admissions process of an advanced degree:
- Associate degree meets IRW courses and ENGL 1110
- Baccalaureate degree or higher meets all developmental courses and ENGL 1110, BCIS 1110, MATH 1101, MATH 1215, BIOL 1140 & BIOL 1140L, CHEM 1120 & CHEM 1120L
For assistance with placement using the alternative methods mentioned above, please speak with CNM Advisement. Your Advisor can review your unofficial transcripts and provide placement guidance. For more information about unofficial and official transcripts, visit CNM's Transcripts webpage.
Placement Tests
CNM also offers tests for placement in Biology, Spanish, and French. Most placement tests are free and can be taken remotely or in-person with a scheduled appointment unless otherwise noted.
The Avant Spanish Heritage placement test is a required diagnostic tool used for entry into the Spanish Interpreter Certificate Program. Students meet with their advisors to discuss score results and next steps for the program.
Areas Tested:
- Content and organization
- Language structures
- Vocabulary
- Writing, including spelling and mechanics
- Speaking, including pronunciation and fluency
Please note: there is a $25 administrative fee if taken in-person or $43.90 if taken remotely. Textbooks, notebooks, and paper are not allowed. This test is only available at the Main Campus assessment center or remotely.
The French placement test consists of 25 multiple-choice questions and is used to determine course placement at CNM depending on your current French language skill level; it does not give you credit for any French course.
Important Details:
- All French courses have a prerequisite or co-requisite of IRW 0980.
- If you score a 21 or higher, you will be placed in French 1120
- If you score a 20 or lower, you will be placed in French 1110.
- Test scores are valid for one year.
If you do not earn the score you want, you must wait 24 hours before retesting. Only two attempts are allowed within a one-year period. This test is given at any CNM Assessment Center on a walk-in basis except the South Valley Campus.
The Biology placement test is intended for students with significant prior experience in Chemistry and Biology. We recommend you have a grade of “B” or better in high school Biology and Chemistry or have significant background experience in these two areas.
If you pass the test with a score of 64, the following courses will be waived:
- BIOL 1140/1140L
- CHEM 1120/1120L
- prerequisites for BIOL 2310/2310L
- prerequisites for BIOL 2210/2210L
- Biology and Chemistry prerequisites for NUTR 2110
If you do not earn a score of 64 or higher, you must wait 24 hours before retesting. Only two attempts are allowed per student ever.
Check out our Biology Placement Information PDF for details and preparatory materials.
The Spanish test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions with a one-hour time limit. It is used to determine course placement at CNM depending on the Spanish language skill level. The test does not give you credit for any Spanish course. All Spanish classes have the pre-requisite of IRW 0980.
Test Scores and Course Placements:
- If you score a 0 - 50, you will be placed in Spanish 1110
- If you score a 51 - 70, you will be placed in Spanish 1120
- If you score a 71 - 80, you will be placed in Spanish 2110
- If you score a 81 - 100, you will be placed in Spanish 2120
Test results are good for one year. If you do not earn the score you want, you must wait 24 hours before retesting. Only two attempts are allowed within a one-year period.