Before You Take the Placement Survey
Review this information to make sure you are ready to complete the first step in the placement process.
What is the COCC Placement Process?
- The first step in the placement process is to complete the Directed Self-Placement (DSP) survey. This survey asks questions about your academic history, such as high school GPA and last math/writing course completed.
- Once you complete the DSP, you'll see your results and next steps immediately. If the DSP isn't able to determine your math and writing placement levels, you will need to complete skills-based assessment(s) for math and/or writing.
What to Expect on the Directed Self-Placement (DSP) survey
You’ll need your COCC email address and password to log in.
The DSP survey is untimed. It typically takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete. In some cases, the DSP may not be able to determine your placement levels, and may direct you to take a skills-based math and/or writing assessment. In this case, you will be notified at the end of the DSP survey to call CAP Services to receive links and instructions for our math and/or writing skills-based placement assessments.
You don’t need to study. You will be asked questions about your academic history.
The DSP survey results may not transfer to other colleges or programs. If you want to use your COCC placement results at another institution, check with that institution before completing the COCC placement process. Though it is unlikely another college could use DSP results, they may accept scores from COCC's skills-based assessments.
You can only take the DSP survey once. Since placement scores expire after 2 years, it's best to complete your first math and writing courses before your placement expires. If your placement scores expire, you'll need to complete skills-based assessments for math and/or writing. Contact CAP Services (541-383-7200) to request access to math and/or writing skills-based placement assessments.
If you are currently taking high school or college classes, we recommend taking the online DSP survey closer to the end of your current classes so you can provide up-to-date answers on the DSP. Once you complete the DSP, your answers cannot be changed or updated.