- Admissions
- Online Programs at KCC
- 15 to Finish
- Badger to Owl Connection
- AmeriCorps School of National Service
- Campus Tours
- Course Cost Estimator
- Explore Klamath
-
Financial Aid
-
Scholarships
- Applying for Financial Aid
- Student Code of Conduct
- Cohort Default Rate
- Cost of Attendance
- Course Cost Estimator
- ECMC Solutions
- Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program
- Disbursement Information
- Exit Counseling
- Financial Aid Forms
-
Gainful Employment Consumer Information
- HEERF and CARES act reporting
- Maintaining Your Eligibility
- Net Price Calculator
- Special Circumstances
- Student Employment
- 2025-26 Direct Loan Entrance Counseling
-
Scholarships
- First Year Experience
- Maximize Your Funding at KCC
- Transfer Programs
- Tuition and Fees
- Veterans Services
- International Students
- Writing Placement
At KCC, writing placement is designed to help you begin in the course where you are most likely to succeed. We use a step-by-step directed self-placement process that considers multiple pieces of information, allowing you to move through the steps at your own pace until you feel confident in your decision.
International students should work closely with the International Programs Office as part of this process to ensure a streamlined placement based on English proficiency scores and prior coursework.
Disability-related accommodations for placement tests are available on a case-by-case basis by contacting the Disability Coordinator. Visit Accessibility Services and Resources to learn more.
STEP 1: Course Options
The options below are organized into initial writing courses and support courses. Initial writing courses include both college-level (WRI 121Z, WRI 117, and WRI 115) and preparatory options (WRI 090), while support courses (WRI 121Q and WRI 100) provide additional structure, time, and feedback alongside writing-intensive coursework. Reviewing these options and meeting with your advisor can help you identify a pathway that best fits your goals and current level of preparation.
Initial Writing Courses:
| Course | What This Course Offers |
|---|---|
| WRI 121Z – Composition I |
Introduces college-level academic writing, reading, and revision. Fulfills writing requirements for most degree and transfer programs and serves as the entry point for many students' writing sequence. |
| WRI 117 – Introduction to Technical Communication |
Builds career-specific writing skills. Designed for some career and technical (CTE) programs; not intended for transfer. Note: This course may not be offered every term. |
| WRI 115 – Introduction to College Writing |
Builds academic writing skills that prepare students for WRI 121Z and supports many career and technical programs. Provides additional time and guidance to develop experience with college-level expectations. Note: This course may not be offered every term. |
| WRI 090 – Writing Fundamentals |
Strengthens foundational reading and writing skills in preparation for college-level coursework. Supports students who want to build confidence and develop their skills. |
Support Courses:
| Course | What This Course Offers |
|---|---|
| WRI 121Q – Corequisite for WRI 121Z |
Provides a 1-credit support course taken concurrently with WRI 121Z. Offers extra time, structure, and feedback while working with the same instructor. |
| WRI 100 – Co-Requisite Writing |
Provides a 1-credit support course taken alongside writing-intensive courses such as WRI 090, WRI 115, WRI 117, or WRI 227Z. Offers additional structure, practice, and feedback for students seeking added support. |
If, at any point during the writing placement process, you would like more clarity about your options, including whether a course with additional structure and support such as WRI 121Q or WRI 100 would be a good fit, you may choose to complete the Reading and Writing Experience Questionnaire. This brief tool can be used at any step of placement and is designed to help you reflect on your experiences, compare course options, and support a productive conversation with your advisor about the path that best fits how you learn.
To see how different writing course options align with the placement steps, refer to the Writing Placement Pathways at a Glance table. This table provides a simplified overview you can use at any point as you move through the placement process.
STEP 2: Prior College-Level Writing Experience
Have you passed a college-level writing course (100-level or higher) with a C or better, or earned equivalent credit through AP, IB, CLEP, or similar exams?
- Yes → Placement into WRI 121Z
- No or not sure → Go to Step 3 or meet with your advisor for clarification
STEP 3: High School GPA
Did you graduate from high school within the last 7 years?
- YES → What is your cumulative high school GPA?
| High School GPA | Placement |
|---|---|
| 3.0 or higher | WRI 121Z |
| 2.6–2.99 | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q recommended) |
| 2.0–2.59 | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q strongly recommended), WRI 117, or WRI 115 |
| Below 2.0 or GPA unavailable | Go to Step 4 |
- NO → Go to Step 4
STEP 4: ACT / SAT
Did you complete the ACT or SAT within the past 5 years?
- YES → What was your most recent score?
| ACT / SAT Score | Placement |
|---|---|
| ACT 23 or higher / SAT 521 or higher | WRI 121Z |
| ACT 16–22 / SAT 491–520 | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q strongly recommended), WRI 117, or WRI 115 |
| ACT below 16 / SAT below 491 | WRI 090 |
| Score Unavailable | Go to Step 5 |
- NO → Go to Step 5
STEP 5: IELTS
Did you complete the IELTS Exam within the past 2 years?
- YES → What was your most recent score?
| Overall Score | Subscores | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5 or higher | No score below 6.0 | WRI 121Z |
| 6.0–6.4 | No score below 5.5 | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q strongly recommended), WRI 117, or WRI 115 |
| Below 6.0 | Below required minimums | Go to Step 6 |
- NO → Go to Step 6
STEP 6: TOEFL iBT
Did you complete the TOEFL iBT Exam within the past 2 years?
- YES → What was your most recent score?
| Overall Score | Subscores | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 79 or higher | Reading: 13+ Listening: 13+ Speaking: 18+ Writing: 21+ |
WRI 121Z |
| 61–78 | Reading: 13+ Listening: 13+ Speaking: 18+ Writing: 21+ |
WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q strongly recommended), WRI 117, or WRI 115 |
| Below 61 | Below required minimums | Go to Step 7 |
- NO → Go to Step 7
STEP 7: Duolingo English Test
Did you complete the Duolingo English Test within the past 2 years?
- YES → What was your most recent score?
| Overall Score | Subscores | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 110 or higher | No score below 105 | WRI 121Z |
| 105–109 | No score below 100 | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q strongly recommended), WRI 117, or WRI 115 |
| 100–104 | No score below 95 | WRI 090 |
| Below 100 | Below required minimums | Go to Step 8 |
- NO → Go to Step 8
STEP 8: GED
Did you complete a GED within the last 7 years?
- YES → What was your most recent official score on the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) test?
| GED RLA Score | Placement |
|---|---|
| 165–200 | WRI 121Z |
| 155–164 | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q strongly recommended), WRI 117, or WRI 115 |
| 145–154 | WRI 090 (WRI 100 recommended) |
| Score Unavailable | Go to Step 9 |
- NO → Go to Step 9
STEP 9: ACCUPLACER WritePlacer
The ACCUPLACER WritePlacer essay measures your ability to write clearly and effectively, which is important for success in college-level courses. Your score is based on how well you:
- Express your ideas
- Organize and develop your thoughts
- Support your points with examples
To schedule the exam, visit the KCC Testing Center.
| WritePlacer Score | What It Means | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 | Demonstrates strong college-level writing skills, including clear focus, development, and organization | WRI 121Z |
| 5 | Demonstrates college-ready writing skills; additional support can strengthen development and revision | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q recommended) |
| 3–4 | Demonstrates developing or emerging college-level writing skills, with support recommended for organization, development, and control | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q strongly recommended), WRI 117, or WRI 115 |
| 0–2 | Demonstrates foundational writing skills and readiness to continue skill development | Go to Step 10 |
STEP 10: ACCUPLACER Reading
The ACCUPLACER Reading assessment is used to better understand how prepared you are to read and work with college-level texts. Reading skills are important because they support success in writing courses and other college classes. This assessment looks at how well you can:
- Understand college-level readings
- Identify main ideas and key details
- Make inferences and follow longer arguments
- Manage the reading demands of college coursework
To schedule the exam, visit the KCC Testing Center.
| Reading Score | What It Means | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 251–300 | Demonstrates college-level reading skills, including understanding complex texts and multi-paragraph arguments | WRI 121Z |
| 241–250 | Demonstrates some college-ready reading skills, including identifying main purpose, point of view, and key ideas in entry-level college texts | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q recommended) |
| 231–240 | Demonstrates developing academic reading skills, including understanding main ideas and relationships within paragraphs | WRI 121Z (WRI 121Q strongly recommended), WRI 117, or WRI 115 |
| 221–230 | Demonstrates emerging reading skills, including locating information and making inferences | WRI 090 |
| 200–220 | Demonstrates some reading skills and knowledge needed for college readiness | WRI 090 (WRI 100 recommended) |