The mastery of writing skills is mandated for all City College of New York (CCNY) students. All students must meet a University-wide minimum level of proficiency in reading and writing, as well as mathematics, before entering the upper division. In compliance with the City University of New York (CUNY) guidelines and as part of the admissions process to City College, students are required to demonstrate their competence in reading, writing and mathematics. This can be accomplished by one of three ways, National tests, New York State Regents’ Examination or the CUNY/ACT test. For the SAT and ACT, national tests, students who score at the appropriate levels – 480 or above on the SAT Verbal and 20 or above on the ACT Verbal – demonstrate competence in reading and writing. A New York State Regents’ Examination in English score of 75 or above also will demonstrate competency in reading and writing. Students who do not offer the necessary scores on national tests or the New York State Regents Examination must pass the CUNY/ACT Basic Skills Tests administered by the College prior to registering.

CUNY Skills Assessment Tests:
The CUNY/ACT is a basic skills examination in reading, writing and mathematics, consisting of three smaller tests, one in each of the three areas. Students who do not meet the remediation exemption requirements based on SAT, ACT or Regents Examination scores are required to take the CUNY Skills Assessment Tests. Their scores on the three tests will determine their need for remediation. If they pass all three tests and meet all other admission requirements they can enter City College. Students who do not pass all three tests may be able to enroll in the necessary remedial areas at a CUNY community college, or in the associates’ programs at a comprehensive college, or if they qualify, in a City College preparatory program. They must pass all three tests before they can be admitted to City College.

Options for students who fail one or more parts of the ACT Basic Skills Examination:
The University Skills Immersion Program (USIP) is designed to help students gain enrollment into The City College of New York and to also advance in their college careers. Students who have not passed all three ACT Basic Skills Exams are required to attend USIP test preparation workshops for the ACT Basic Skills Exams, unless they place in The CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP).

CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP) is designed for students that place in ESL 10/11, which is the lower level of ESL. ESL 10/11 courses are only offered at Eight CUNY Community Colleges. These students must be sent to CLIP by Freshman Year Programs. The most important thing to know is that in order for a student to go to CLIP, they must have passed Math.

Prelude To Success Program is for those students that failed 1 or 2 of the ACT Basic Skills Exams after USIP or January Intersession. The failed grades must be in the following ranges:

Math 22 – 26
Reading 49 – 60
Writing 6

Community Colleges. Any student that fails all 3 ACT Basic Skills Exams and is not eligible for SEEK, CLIP, Prelude or ESL 30, will be counseled out to a Community College by an Admissions counselor. After completing and passing all 3 exams in a Community College, the students are eligible to transfer back to City College.