Instructions for Taking Placement Assessments

Green River College offers placement assessments online and in-person. Before requesting to take an assessment, please carefully review each of our placement options:

Make sure to select the option that best suits your program. Links to request each assessment remotely are provided at the end of each section.

Note:  The DSP cannot be used for placement in some programs. For a list of these programs, please see the DSP section. 

Retake Information

Students retaking an assessment online must fill out the retake request form. For more details, please see the Retakes section below. 

***The Placement & Testing Center may require students to retake any assessments in-person if testing irregularities are detected.***

In-Person Placement Assessments

Students who would like to take their assessments in-person can come to the Placement & Testing Center located in the Student Affairs building.

  • Please bring a photo ID.
  • No appointment needed

The latest time to start an assessment is 90-minutes before closing. Please see special hours or closures by going to www.greenriver.edu/testing.

Non-Student Green River College Assessment Fee

Those who are taking an assessment for purposes other than Green River College placement (union / apprenticeships / other colleges, etc.) will need to pay a $10 fee per assessment. Fees can be paid at the Student Financials (Cashiers) Office located in room 266 at the Student Affairs and Success building or by calling (253) 288-3399.

If you plan on being a student, or are currently a student, at Green River College you do not have to pay this fee.

Directed Self-Placement (DSP)

Directed self-placement empowers students to make informed decisions about their English course placement. Directed self-placement provides students with the necessary information to choose the English class that best aligns with their experience, goals, and needs. It's crucial to start in the right class to avoid unnecessary stress, anxiety, and resource wastage.

Here's how DSP works:

  1. Understanding Your Needs: Directed self-placement allows you to assess your reading and writing abilities honestly. You'll reflect on your previous experiences, preparedness for academic writing, and expectations for English coursework.
  2. Survey Participation: Take a self-guided survey that takes approximately 30 minutes. Answer questions related to your reading, writing, and overall readiness for academic writing. This step helps you gain insight into your current practices and understand what will be expected of you in college-level English courses.
  3. Course Recommendation: Based on your survey responses, you'll receive a recommendation for a one or two-quarter first-year writing course. Remember that this recommendation is not binding; it's a tool to guide your decision-making process. Consult with your advisor to review the recommendation and make an informed choice.

DSP is suitable for the following students:

Students who have exhausted other placement methods: If you've explored other placement options and they don't apply to you, directed self-placement is the logical next step.

DSP is only for current and prospective Green River College students.

Who is excluded from using DSP:

Students in the following programs are excluded:

  • International Programs (IP) 
  • English Language Learners (ELL)
  • VA benefit users 
  • High School Completion programs (including Open Doors and HS21+)
  • I-BEST programs
  • Adult Family Home
  • For another college or union/apprenticeship

Students falling into any of the categories listed above should take the College Success Reading Assessment.

Request to do DSP

To request instructions to take the DSP online click here: www.greenriver.edu/request  

College Success English Assessment  

College Success is a computer-based multiple-choice assessment of reading skills that determines placement in reading and English courses. College Success is not timed; however, it will typically take about an hour to complete. If you do not finish by the time the Testing Center closes, you will be able to continue testing at a later date. 

English Placement Levels

Placement is available in the following courses with the appropriate minimum score

Score Placement
50-71 TS 062-086* 
72-90 ^ ENGL 097 
91-94 ^ READ 104/ENGL 099 
95-100 ^ READ 104/ENGL 099 or ENGL& 101/ENGL 117 
101-150  ENGL& 101 

^ A score of 72 or higher makes students eligible for the Directed Self Placement assessment for the next higher level course
*International students only: a score of 50-71 places you into IP 098, contact your advisor for registration questions. 

** International students only: a score of 72-81 gives you a choice between ENGL 097 or IP 098, contact your advisor to discuss your options. 

IEP Bridge students must receive approval from IP advisor before taking College Success Reading Assessment.

To request instructions to take the College Success Reading Assessment online click here:  www.greenriver.edu/request  

WAMAP Math Assessment

WAMAP - Practice Site Information

THIS IS A PRACTICE TEST ONLY: 

To take your WAMAP Math Assessment you will need to know the course level you wish to take. It is highly recommended that you use our practice site to help you determine the course level you are prepared for. You can access the WAMAP practice site by following these steps:

  1. Go to www.wamap.org
  2. Click on "Register as a new student"
  3. Enter your information
  4. The Course ID is 12499
  5. There is no Enrollment Key
  6. You may see a "Browser Check" page. If so, click the "Continue with Image-based display" button.
  7. Go back to the login screen; sign-in with username and password you created 
  8. Click on "GRC Math Placement Review"
  9. Click on the class you want to test for
  10. Take a Pre-Test, utilize Practice and Review Videos, and take the Post-Test as many times as necessary to prepare for the actual exam.  You can also go to the Math Learning Center (Cedar Hall 313) to access tutors and other resources to assist you with your math questions. 
  11. When you are ready to take the test that will count for placement, come to the Testing Center or request remote instructions here: greenriver.edu/request

To learn more about the WAMAP Math Assessment, please click this link: WAMAP Math Assessment

Retakes

Retake policies apply to all assessments - scores that do not follow the policy waiting periods are not valid and will not be recorded for course eligibility. 

  • To retake College Success or the same level of WAMAP remotely, complete this form: Retake Request  

  • You will be locked out until your test is reset. Allow two business days for processing (no weekend processing). Once confirmed, you can retake the test.

    Wait times between attempts:

    • 1 day after the first attempt
    • 7 days after the second attempt
    • 30 days after the third attempt

    For a new WAMAP level, wait one day and request a new Access Password. If multiple levels are taken on the same day, only the first attempt counts.

Troubleshooting During Your Testing Session

For assistance during business hours, call (253) 288-3449. If testing outside these hours, email your issue with a screenshot to testingcenter@greenriver.edu and we will respond the next business day.

If you have any questions during this process please do not hesitate to reach out to us.