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First-time Freshman FAQs
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Test Scores – ACT and SAT

If I am applying for CSU admission, do I still need to take the ACT or SAT ? 

Effective March 2022, the California State University no longer  uses  ACT or SAT examinations in determining admission eligibility for all CSU campuses.  If accepted to a CSU campus, ACT or SAT test scores can be used as one of the measures to place students in the proper mathematics and English courses.​

What if I already took the SAT or ACT test and submitted my scores? 

​If you have already taken and submitted your ACT or SAT sc​ores, CSU campuses will not use them in the admission evaluation process to determine who gets admitted. 

If you are accepted to a CSU campus the scores will be used as one of the measures to place you in the proper mathematics and English courses.  You can visit the CSU Student Success site for further information on course placement.

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How will no test score impact my ability to compete for admission at impacted CSU campuses? 

​Impacted CSU campuses will use your “a-g” GPA and supplemental factors to inform campus admission decisions. Factors may include number of courses exceeding minimum “a-g” requirements, household income, extracurricular involvement, and other available information.  Be sure to check the admissions webpage for the CSU campuses in which you are interested in attending to know which specific factors the campus will be using.​​​

Do the admission changes mean it will be easier for students to get into the CSU? 

Changes to the admission policy do not lower the preparation needed to be admitted to or successful at the CSU. Students should still continue to take a complete array of challenging courses in their senior year in order to prepare themse​lves for college.​

How do the admission changes affect homeschooled students? 

Homeschooled students who are working with their local high school to complete an approved curriculum and earn an accredited high school diploma can meet A-G requirements with Pass or Credit grades in coursework completed in spring, summer or fall 2020 terms and winter, spring or summer 2021 terms.

Students completing high school through homeschooling are still expected to meet the same admission requirements as those of students attending traditional schools.​
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Pass/No Pass & Credit/No Credit Grades in High School Coursework

I am a current high school student. How will Pass/No Pass or Credit/No Credit grades impact my ability to apply to the CSU? 

The CSU has temporarily suspended the letter grade requirements for “a-g” courses completed in the winter, spring, summer and fall 2020 terms and winter, spring, and summer 2021 terms. This means that for Fall 2022 and future admission cycles, for courses you took in high school during these terms, Pass and Credit grades will satisfy completion of “a-g” requirements.

I am repeating a course and my grade will now be a Pass (Credit) grade instead of a letter grade. Does this still fulfill my repeat? 

Yes, the Pass (Credit) grade will fulfill the repeat. The prior grade will not be used in the “a-g” GPA calculation.​ ​

I had a grade of less than a C in my first semester of math, chemistry or Language Other than English (LOTE). Will my Pass (Credit) grade validate the first semester? 

​Page 36 in our Freshman Ap​plication Guide has more information about course validation. ​

How will the CSU calculate my GPA if I receive Pass or Credit grades in A-G courses? 

Pass (Credit) grade will meet the A-G subject requirements but will not be calculated in the GPA. The CSU will continue to calculate the GPA for admission purposes using all “a-g” courses that have letter grades in grades 10 and 11, including summer terms following grades 9, 10 and 11.

The final GPA is based on grades earned in all approved college preparatory “a-g” courses taken after 9th grade through graduation.

​Extra points in honors-level coursework will continue to be capped at 8 semesters of honors points maximum in “a-g” courses completed with letter grades.

My school is allowing me to choose if my individual classes get a letter grade or Pass/Fail grade. Is it okay to have a mix of letter and Pass grades for the 2020 and 2021 terms Pass grades are accepted? 

If your high school allows different grading options for different courses, you can choose the grading option that you feel is most beneficial for each course. Keep in mind that Pass grades will not be included in the GPA calculation, nor will they receive an extra point in the GPA if they are approved honors, AP or IB courses.​

Will Pass (Credit) grades earned during the approved terms (winter, spring, summer, fall 2020 and winter, spring, summer 2021) validate D or F grades?  

CSU expects and assumes that high school Pass (Credit) grades will represent work completed at the C- or higher level. Therefore, a Pass (Credit) grade in a higher level math or LOTE course earned in winter, spring, summer or fall 2020 and winter, spring, summer 2021 will validate D or F grades in lower level math or LOTE courses. The Pass (Credit) grade will also validate the omission of lower levels of math (excluding Geometry) or LOTE. Math and LOTE are the only A-G subjects for which UC allows validation.​

Will the CSU require a verification letter or other proof from the high school that their P (CR) grade is equivalent to at least a C- or better? 

The CSU expects and assumes that high school P (CR) grades will represent work completed at the C- or higher level. CSU campuses will assume that the P (CR) grade issued by a high school is equivalent to at least a C- or better grade. CSU campuses will not require any type of verification letter to explain the grading scale.​

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About Future Admissions (Fall 2022 or later)

Does this change affect applicants for fall 2022 or later? 

Yes, for all future applicants the CSU will no longer use ACT or SAT examinations in determining undergraduate admission eligibility to all CSU campuses. For more information on admission eligibility, please visit Freshman Admission Requirements.

How will my Credit (Pass) grades from winter, spring or fall 2020 and winter, spring, or summer 2021 impact my admission to the CSU? 

​CSU will consider course grades of “credit" or “pass" as fulfilling “a-g" requirements for those courses completed during winter, spring, summer or fall 2020 and winter, spring and summer 2021 terms. All other coursework must be graded and a grade of C- or better must be earned for the course to satisfy “a-g" requirements. Grades of credit/pass or no credit/no pass will not be included in the calculation of high school GPA.
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Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses and Exams

How will the CSU treat International Baccalaureate (IB) courses? 

International Baccalaureate courses designated as honors courses on the UC “a-g” course list will continue to be awarded extra grade points for calculation of the high school GPA as long as the course is graded. Keep in mind that Credit (Pass) grades will not be included in the GPA calculation, nor will they receive an extra point in the GPA.

How will the CSU give credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) exams now that the exams have been cancelled? 

Students will still continue to earn general education or lower-division major credits if they have passed or received credit for a CSU-accepted International Baccalaureate (IB) exam.​

Will I still receive honors points for my Advanced Placement courses? 

Advanced Placement courses designated as honors courses on the UC “a-g” course list will continue to be awarded extra grade points for calculation of the high school GPA as long as the course is graded. Keep in mind that Credit (Pass) grades will not be included in the GPA calculation, nor will they receive an extra point in the GPA.​

How will the CSU award credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams now that the College Board has announced changes? 

Student will continue to earn general education or lower-division major credits if they completed AP exams with scores of 3, 4, or 5 in a CSU-accepted Advanced Placement (AP) Exam.​
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