Assembly Bill 705 requires that community colleges maximize the probability that a student will enter and complete transfer-level coursework in English and mathematics within a one-year timeframe.  Students will have access to enroll in first-level transfer English/ESL and mathematics courses regardless of prior placement or enrollment in below transfer-level courses or ESL. In addition to a transfer-level placement, students will receive a recommendation on the level of support needed to succeed in the course. Support recommendations are based on high school English and mathematics courses completed, the grades in those courses, and the cumulative, unweighted high school GPA. Students do not need to take a placement test to access first-level transfer courses or receive a recommendation.

Students for whom English is not their first language may need additional support in credit ESL in order to succeed in English A100 or ESL A100. Students can enroll in any ESL course in the sequence, but the College recommends that they complete the Guided Self-Placement Survey to help them select the right course. The survey contains course descriptions, audio samples, reading samples, and student writing samples for every course as a way to guide students in selecting the right course.

Students may submit transcripts to OCC Admissions and Records or self-report their course grades and GPA on the College application. In the case students do not have access to high school transcript information, they will receive a default recommendation for English and math, which provides them access to first-level transfer math and English courses with recommended support.

Students may also receive placement above first-level English and mathematics transfer courses via the alternative methods below. Students must complete the prerequisite clearance request form and provide transcripts and/or test scores in order to receive placement above first-level transfer courses.  

• Successful completion of college courses – students who have successfully completed an English or mathematics course from an accredited college or university that is considered equivalent at OCC.
• Successful completion of high school math course – students who have successfully completed a mathematics course from an accredited U.S. high school that is considered equivalent at OCC.
• AP scores – students who received a score of “3” or above on AP Calculus and/or AP English Literature or AP English Language and Composition.

The Assessment Center does not proctor challenge tests for Chemistry to clear the prerequisite for CHEM A180. Instead, students, who have taken high school Chemistry (2 semesters) and completed it with a B or higher, can clear the prerequisite for CHEM A180 by submitting a prerequisite clearance form and attaching an unofficial copy of their high school transcript.

Students may challenge their placement results if they believe their placement is inaccurate by submitting a prerequisite clearance form or a prerequisite challenge form to the department.

Students are encouraged to visit the Assessment website at https://orangecoastcollege.edu/services-support/assessment-center/ or email occclearance@occ.cccd.edu for more information about the assessment process. International students should contact the Global Engagement Center at (714) 432-5940 or occinternational@cccd.edu for testing requirements.