About Testing Services

Testing Services serves students through the Academic Proctoring Center and supports students completing the placement process at MiraCosta College. 

Placement 

MiraCosta College’s placement process uses multiple measures (high school GPA, math and English courses, and grades) to provide students with information on the best math and English courses to get started with your major and educational goals.

Students provide their multiple measures information (high school GPA, coursework, and grades) during the application process. This information is utilized to generate an automated placement for math and English. Students who provide this information will receive an email shortly after their application has been processed containing their placement details.

 Students who do not provide their high school transcript information on the application can complete the placement process by doing any one of the following:

• Submitting an official or unofficial high school transcript to Testing Services.
• Completing the Multiple Measures Self-Report Update Form.
• Completing a guided self-placement tool for math and/or English/ESL course placement.

English, ESL, and math course placement tools are offered at three Testing Center locations. Students may also request to have the tools assigned to their SURF Student Center to be completed online. 

Testing Services proctors the prerequisite challenge process for Spanish, Japanese, and chemistry. These challenge processes are offered on a drop-in basis at all three campus locations. 

Academic Proctoring Center

MiraCosta Testing's Academic Proctoring Center (APC) provides on-ground proctoring for students enrolled in online or hybrid courses at MiraCosta who have an on-campus testing requirement. The APC works collaboratively with students, faculty, and outside organizations to help arrange exam proctoring for out-of-area MiraCosta students who need exams proctored at eligible sites across the world. Additionally, the APC provides instructor-authorized makeup exam services for students who cannot make a scheduled exam for their on-ground or online class due to extenuating circumstances.

Testing accommodations are available to students referred by Student Accessibility Services. MiraCosta College serves as a test center for the PearsonVue GED test and, by individual arrangement, proctors external examinations for non-students and community members.

Please note: Physical photo identification is required for all testing in the APC.

Testing Center Locations and Contact Information 

• Oceanside Campus, Building 14,  Second Floor, Room 14215. Phone: 760.795.6685
• San Elijo Campus, Room 1114. Phone: 760.944.4449, ext. 7752
• Community Learning Center, Room 312. Phone: 760.757.2121, ext. 8841

California Equitable Placement Legislation

Research shows that students are more likely to complete transfer requirements in math and English when placed and enrolled directly in transfer-level coursework. Passed in 2017, Assembly Bill (AB) 705 requires California community colleges to maximize the probability that a student will enter and complete transfer-level coursework in English and math within a one-year timeframe. AB 1705 goes even further, aiming to close equity gaps by ensuring that students who plan on getting a degree, certificate, or transferring are placed directly into a transfer-level course that meets the requirement for a student’s intended educational goal. AB 1705 mostly affects students whose educational goals require a calculus course.

More information about California placement legislation is available on the AB 705 webpage.