English and Math Placement:Rules for International Students

California Community Colleges no longer use placement tests as the main basis for English and math placement. Two state laws, AB 705 and AB 1705, require colleges to place students mainly by high school records and to let students enter transferable English and math courses directly whenever possible. Colleges may also use Guided Self-Placement (GSP). International students must also meet the college’s admission English requirement first. Students with a lower starting level in English may begin in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, which affects the two-year timeline for community college transfer.

Current Placement Rules: AB 705 and AB 1705

This section explains the placement rules published by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

AB 705 was signed on October 13, 2017, and took effect on January 1, 2018. It requires colleges to maximize the probability that a student enters and completes transferable English and math within one year. For placement, colleges must use one or more of high school coursework, high school grades, or high school GPA. AB 1705 was signed in September 2022 and further implements the requirements of AB 705.

Rule	Main content
Main basis	High school transcript data; self-reported high school information when transcripts are difficult to obtain
Direct placement	High school graduates begin English or math directly in transferable courses
Multiple measures	May only raise a placement recommendation, never lower it
No repetition	Students are not required to repeat courses already completed in high school or college
Self-placement	May be used for students who cannot provide high school information, but may not include test questions
ESL courses	Should maximize the chance that students complete transferable English within three years

The Chancellor’s Office also allows colleges to require students to take a concurrent support course in the same semester as the transferable course. Such support courses may be required only when they are shown to help.

How Colleges Apply the Rules: Irvine Valley College as an Example

This section uses Irvine Valley College as an example of how new students obtain English and math placement.

Irvine Valley College lists three placement methods. First, complete guided self-placement for math and for English or ESL in the MySite student system. Second, submit official transcripts showing the corresponding course was completed at an accredited high school or college with a grade of A, B, C, or Pass. Third, submit a score of 3 or higher on the AP English Literature, English Language, Calculus, or Statistics exam. The second and third methods require a prerequisite review form. Students must first complete the admission application before using any of these methods.

Admission English Requirements and ESL Paths for International Students

This section compares the admission English standards at four colleges. Each college accepts different tests and scores, and handles applicants below the standard differently.

College	Admission English standard (selected tests)	If below the standard or not submitted
Irvine Valley College	TOEFL iBT 52 (tests taken before January 21, 2026) or 3.5 on the new scale, IELTS 4.5, Duolingo 80	No I-20 issued for ESL study
Saddleback College	TOEFL iBT 52, IELTS 4.5, Duolingo 80	ESL I-20 issued, replaced with an associate degree I-20 after completion
Orange Coast College	TOEFL 3.5 on the new scale (iBT 61 before January 2026), IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 95	May first attend the college’s intensive English program (IEC); reaching the Advanced B level meets the requirement
Pasadena City College	TOEFL iBT 45, IELTS 5.0, Duolingo 80	See the college’s conditional admission guidance

Admission English scores and course placement are two separate matters. Irvine Valley College states that submitting English scores does not determine course placement. New students whose first language is not English must complete ESL guided self-placement before registering. Saddleback College states that students who already have English scores may be exempt from some ESL courses.

How Placement Affects a Two-Year Transfer

This section explains how the starting placement level affects the English and math courses required for UC transfer.

UC transfer requires the 7-course pattern, which includes 2 English composition courses and 1 math course, each completed with a C or better. UC advises transfer students to complete English and math early. International students also use these two English composition courses to demonstrate English proficiency. For UCLA and UC San Diego, both courses must be completed with a B or better. For the other seven campuses, a C or better is required.

The state goal for ESL students is to complete transferable English within three years. This means students who start in ESL may need more time to finish the two English composition courses. For the makeup of the core courses, see The 7-Course Pattern. TAG sets its own deadlines for completing English and math; see Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG).

Preparation Before Enrollment

This section lists what international students can prepare before enrollment.

• Language scoresPrepare TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores according to the target college’s admission standard.
• High school transcriptsPrepare official transcripts with certified English translations for admission review and placement.
• AP scoresStudents with AP scores should submit them after enrollment for placement.
• Writing practicePractice academic English writing in advance to prepare for the two English composition courses.