Placement Testing and Exemptions
Starting fall 2019, Wake Tech has a new placement policy called RISE that uses unweighted high school GPA to determine placement, instead of testing. If you graduated from a U.S. high school within the last 10 years, you are exempt from taking the RISE Placement Test. You will be placed into courses based on your high school GPA.
If you graduated from high school more than 10 years ago, you still may be exempt from taking the RISE Placement Test if you meet any of the criteria for exemption listed below:
Test Exemption Based on High School Equivalency
Placement may be based on High School Equivalency (HSE) for applicants who have HSE scores taken January 2014 or later with scores as shown below:
| TEST | SCORE |
| GED | 170 or higher on all subject areas |
| HiSET | 15 or higher on all subject areas with a 4 on Essay |
Test Exemption Based on SAT *Score
| TEST | SAT Before Dec 2011 |
SAT Jan 2012 - Mar 2016 |
SAT After Mar 2016 |
| Reading | 510 or higher | ||
| Critical-Reading -OR- Writing |
510 or higher | 500 or higher | |
| Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 480 or higher | ||
| Math | 510 or higher | 500 or higher | 530 or higher |
*Scores must be less than ten (10) years old at the time you apply to Wake Tech. Coursework and GPA must be verified upon receipt of an official high school transcript.
Test Exemption Based on ACT *Score
| TEST | ACT Before Dec 2011 |
ACT Jan 2012 - Feb 2014 |
ACT After Mar 2014 |
| Math | 22 or higher | 22 or higher | 20 or higher |
| Reading - OR - English |
22 or higher 18 or higher |
21 or higher 18 or higher |
20 or higher 16 or higher |
*Scores must be less than ten (10) years old at the time you apply to Wake Tech. Coursework and GPA must be verified upon receipt of an official high school transcript.
Test Exemption Based on College Degree Completion or College Level Course Grade
Placement may be based on college completion of an Associate’s Degree or higher for applicants who submit a transcript showing graduation to Wake Tech Admissions.
Placement may be based on college-level coursework for applicants who have received a grade of "C" or better in a college-level English or Math course from a U.S. regionally- or nationally-accredited institution.
Test Exemption Based on AP Exam Score
Applicants who have taken an AP English or math exam may submit exam scores for review and determination of testing exemption. Check the AP credit policy at collegeboard.org.
Test Exemption Based on Prior Standard Placement Tests
Applicants may submit COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, ASSET, NCDAP ACCUPLACER, and RISE Placement scores for consideration of placement, if scores were received within the last 10 years.
Applicants who have taken a TOFEL Internet Based test with a score of 88 may waive English placement testing.
Wake Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Wake Technical Community College.