Placement Exam - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the
Placement Exam?
The placement exam is a series of short placement tests used to assess your
knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics skills. A writing sample and
computerized placement test, the ACCUPLACER™, are administered. The Writing
Sample is a locally developed and locally scored measure to assess your
writing skills. The ACCUPLACER™
is a computerized exam used by hundreds of
colleges across the country.
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How Do You Take a
Test Using a Computer?
You will use either the keyboard or the mouse to enter your answers and
supply other information. A Test Administrator will always be present should
you have any questions or problems.
Because you take the ACCUPLACER™ tests on a computer, you do not have to
answer as many questions as on traditional paper-and-pencil tests. The
number of questions on the tests range from 12-20. The questions appear one
at a time on the computer screen. When you have completed the question and
confirmed your answer, a new screen will appear with your next question.
Each test is adaptive. This means that the computer automatically determines
which questions are presented to you based on your responses to prior
questions. This technique selects just the right questions to ask without
being too easy or too difficult.
Each test is untimed so that you can give each question as much thought as
you wish. However, you must complete the entire test session within the 3
and ½ hours allotted by Westchester Community College.
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What Do the Subtests
Measure?
For specific information about what the subtests measure, please
visit our Sample Exam Questions page.
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Are Study Guides Available?
Yes, study guides are available for
the ACCUPLACER™ tests. To access these study guides please visit our
Study Guides page.
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How Are Placement
Scores Used?
Westchester Community College has a mandatory assessment and placement
policy. The purpose of the placement exam is to make sure that you take the
appropriate courses. Based on your results you will be taking regular,
honors, or basic skills courses. You will meet
with a counselor who will use the scores for course placement
in English, mathematics and possibly reading classes. Students who have not graduated from high school or earned a GED will be required to take the Placement Test before being admitted to the college.
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What is the
College's Prerequisite Policy?
The following English, ESL, reading and mathematics classes require an
appropriate score on the placement exam or a passing grade in a prerequisite
course. The courses and their prerequisites are listed as follows:
Course
|
Prerequisite Course
|
| Composition
and Literature 1 |
Basic
Writing II or
Intro. to Academic Writing 2 |
| Intro. to Academic Writing
2 |
Intro. to Academic
Writing 1 |
| Analytical
Reading |
Foundations of College Reading |
| Beginning Algebra |
Pre-Algebra
|
| College
Algebra: Functions and Models |
Beginning Algebra |
| College Algebra with
Trigonometry |
Beginning Algebra |
| Development
of Math Thought |
Beginning Algebra |
| Contemporary Math |
Beginning Algebra |
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Is There a Penalty for Guessing?
ACCUPLACER™ is an adaptive test. This means that the questions are chosen
for you on the basis of your answers to previous questions. Because the test
works this way, you must answer every question when it is first given. You
can change your answer to a particular question before moving on to the next
question, but once you go on to the next question, you cannot return to
previous questions.
If you do not know the answer to a question, try to eliminate one or more or
the choices. Then pick from the remaining choices.
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How Do I Interpret
the Test Scores?
The results of your tests will determine the courses in which you are best
suited for placement. Scores for the tests are reported on a 120-point scale
and represent an estimate of the score students could expect to receive if
they had taken a test of 120 questions. You will have an opportunity
to discuss your test results during your appointment with your counselor.
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Are Testing
Modifications Provided?
If you have a documented disability, and as a result require testing
modifications, contact Professor M. Kalkut, Coordinator for Students with
Disabilities, to schedule an appointment. 914-606-6552. There is a
separate schedule for students needing accommodations. Placement testing with accommodations must be completed at least one week prior to the start of classes. For more information
concerning services for students with disabilities, please visit our
Disability Services webpage.
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Who Must Take the
Tests?
- All full-time students.
- Any student planning on getting a degree.
- Any part-time student registering for an English or mathematics class.
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Who is Waived from
Taking Placement Exams?
Transfer students may qualify for a waiver. A student is waived from taking
the placement exam if s/he received a grade of C or better in an approved
college level English or mathematics course. Students need to send an
official transcript to the Admissions Office for review. Call the Transfer
Credit Evaluator, 914-606-6735, for additional information.
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Is There a Fee for
the Placement Exam?
There will be a testing fee charged at registration. This Placement
Testing/Advisement Fee is a one-time non-refundable charge. For students receiving financial aid, the
$20 fee will be part of the financial aid package.
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How Much Time Does
the Exam Take?
The time allotted is up to 3 ½ hours per session. Please plan accordingly and make sure
that you allow sufficient time to stay for the entire session. The time
allotted for the essay is 50 minutes, and the ACCUPLACER™ is untimed.
However, students need to complete the essay and ACCUPLACER™ subtests within
the 3 ½ hours allotted. The average time it takes to complete each ACCUPLACER™ subtest is 30 minutes.
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What If I Arrive
Late?
The session starts promptly. If you arrive late, you will not be seated and
you will need to come back another time.
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Are Calculators
Permitted?
Calculators may be permitted only if a student has a documented disability
and the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities has previously verified
the documentation.
In other situations, calculators are not available for most test questions.
However, some items have a pop-up calculator to use when
answering the question is based on knowledge of a formula. These items were
written so that the use of a calculator will not help the student answer the
question but rather will assist as a tool for the student to use. For
example, if a student is asked to calculate the area of a rectangle, s/he
must know the formula (length multiplied by width) for calculating the area.
The calculator is available in this case as a tool for multiplying the
length times the width. It will not help the student who does not know
the formula.
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What time do I need to arrive if I am taking a partial exam?
You need to arrive at the time listed to sign in whether you are taking all subtests or selected subtests. Please note that you may need to wait
50 minutes or more before your subtest is administered.
If you are taking the Essay only for English course placement, the exam will be administered first.
If you are taking Accuplacer subtests for reading or mathematics course placement or to qualify for Ability to Benefit, you will need to wait approximately
50 minutes until this section begins. The Accuplacer is administered after the Essay.
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How Do I Get A Copy
of My Test Scores?
ACCUPLACER™ scores are available on completion of the test. Essay scores are available online within one week after the day the test was
taken. Students can access their scores from our
Transcript/Grades Page.
Once there, enter your social security number and date of birth then click
the Display Transcript button. The test scores will be listed at the bottom
of the page.
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How Do I Make An
Appointment With A Counselor?
Appointments are available every month throughout the year except January
and August. To schedule an appointment with an advisor, call the Counseling
Office 914-606-6572. Counselors see students on a first-come, first-serve
basis in January and August.
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What Happens If It
Snows?
For news about foul weather delays or cancellations, listen to:
| WFAS
|
103.9 FM / 1230 AM |
| WCBS |
88.0 AM |
| WHUD |
100.7 FM |
| WOR
|
710 AM |
|
Channel 12 Television |
Or call 914-606-6969 for a
recorded snow delay or cancellation message.
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What Else Do I Need
To Know?
- Photo ID:
You will need to present photo ID.
- Arrival Time: You need to arrive at least 15 minutes before the session
begins to allow time to sign in.
- There are a limited number of computers. Students will be permitted to
take the test on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students who sign-in after
the first 30 registrants will need to wait until a computer is available or
return to take the placement exam at another session.
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