ACCUPLACER ONLINE - STUDENT GUIDE

 About the Assessment

The College Board developed the ACCUPLACER Computerized Placement Tests (CPTs), with the help of committees of college faculty, to provide information about your level of skill accomplishment in reading, English and mathematics. Your college may use the scores you receive and other information that you provide to help determine the English, mathematics, and reading courses most appropriate for you at this time.

There are eight computerized placement tests available in the ACCUPLACER program. Your college will determine which of these tests you should take. The tests cover several skill areas including reading, English, arithmetic, elementary algebra, and college-level mathematics

When you have completed the tests, you may see a report of your scores on the screen and you may receive a printed report of your scores. The type of reporting depends on how your college has set up the testing. When you have completed the testing follow the instructions of the Test Administrator. Your scores can only be obtained through your college. Your test administrator will tell you how and when you can obtain your score.

You can find out more about how to interpret your scores in the section on "Interpreting Your scores" in this guide.

It is important that you answer each question to the best of your ability. Scores will be used in part to determine course placement. Failure to do your very best may result in course placements that are too low for your current skill level.

Your college will let you know if you need to take one or more of the ACCUPLACER tests.

Click here for a copy of this month's Assessment/Test Schedule

Cerritos College does not charge for taking ACCUPLACER.

If you have a disability or temporarily disabling condition that will prevent you from taking the tests under standard conditions, inform the Test Administrator before taking the test. These requests should be made directly to the Test Administrator at your college. No additional charge should be made for these special arrangements.

On the day of the test, you should be sure to take your student ID number and your Social Security number.

When you arrive to take the assessment, the Test Administrator will ask you to provide photo identification. You will then be seated to take the assessment on a computer.

Before taking the tests you will be asked to confirm that you have read the testing regulations and that you agree to comply with them. A copy of the regulations is included with this Student Guide.

Your test scores and the information you provide when taking the tests will only be provided to The College Board, to the college at which you are taking the tests or at which you are enrolled, and to the state to meet state information requirements. The information may be used for counseling, advisement and placement purposes and may be used to document whether or not you have met state testing requirements. It may also be used by The College Board for research and training purposes. Your test information will not be disclosed for any other purpose without your permission. If you have any questions about confidentiality, please see your Test Administrator.

If you are not comfortable using a computer keyboard or mouse, you may want to take the tutorial available on the Internet at http://www.collegeboard.org. Ask a friend or advisor to help you. If you do not have access to a computer, find out if there is a computer available on campus with Internet connections available for your use.

You will take the tests 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. The Test Administrator has the ability to resolve any difficulties that may occur.

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 eight tests range from 12-25. The questions appear one at a time on the computer screen. Most questions are multiple choice, and all you will need to do is use the Enter key or mouse to select an answer. 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, once you have selected and confirmed your answer, you can not return to that question.

Taking the Tests

You will be asked to enter some background information such as Social Security number, name and address. You will also be asked to confirm that you agree to follow the testing rules and conditions for the ACCUPLACER program. 

 Taking the Assessment

When you have agreed to the rules and conditions for the ACCUPLACER program by clicking on the "yes" button, you will be sent to the first page of the first test you are taking. This page provides the instructions for taking the test and a sample question. After you have read the directions and reviewed the sample questions, select the "Continue" button and take the actual test.

Test Format

ACCUPLACER OnLine presents one question at a time. Each page presents the question and several possible answer choices. The page may also include additional information that is needed to answer the question such as a reading passage, picture or table of information. 

To select an answer, use the mouse to move the arrow pointer to the circle button next to the answer you wish to choose and click on the button. The circle will then will be filled indicating that this is the answer you have chosen. Click on the next button to move on. A box will come up on the screen asking you to confirm your answer or giving you the opportunity to cancel and go back and choose a different answer. If you wish to confirm, simply click on OK, if you want to cancel and go back and choose a different answer click on cancel and select a new answer.

You can also use the keyboard to select an answer. Using the Tab button, highlight the answer you wish to select and press the Enter key. A box will come up on the screen asking you to confirm your answer or giving you the opportunity to cancel and go back to choose a different answer. If you wish to confirm, simply press enter, if you want to cancel and go back and choose another answer press the tab button once then press Enter.

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 you can not leave a question out or come back to it later to change your answer. Once you go on to the next question, you can not return to the question.

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.

At the end of the test, you will either see a page indicating that you have completed all the testing or one indicating the test that you have just completed followed by the next test you will take.

This test measures your understanding of sentence structure --- how sentences are put together and what makes a sentence complete and clear.

 Before you begin there will be two sample questions with the correct answers indicated. In some questions you will be asked to select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first one.

Ms. Rose planning to teach a course in biology next summer.

planning

are planning

with a plan

*plans

The correct answer is plans. The sentence should be "Ms. Rose plans to teach a course in biology next summer."

 In other questions you will be asked to rewrite a sentence in your head. You will be told how to begin your new sentence. Your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the sentence given you.

Sample Question

Being a female jockey, she was often interviewed.

Rewrite, beginning with

She was often interviewed . . .

The next words will be

on account of she was

by her being

*because she was

being as she was

The correct answer is because she was. The sentence should be "She was often interviewed because she was a female jockey."

 Reading Comprehension Test

This test measures your ability to understand what you read.

Before you begin there will be two sample questions with the correct answers indicated.

Some questions will ask you to read the statement or passage and then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

There are two types of pottery that I do. There is production pottery---mugs, tableware--- the kinds of things that sell easily. These pay for my time to do the other work, which is more creative and satisfies my needs as an artist.

The author of the passage implies that

artists have a tendency to waste valuable time

*creativity and mass-production are incompatible

most people do not appreciate good art

pottery is not produced by creative artists

The correct answer is creativity and mass-production are incompatible.

The author of the passage implies that creativity and mass-production are incompatible.

 In other questions, two underlined sentences are followed by a question or statement. Read the sentences, then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the statement.

Sample Question

The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in fifteen years.

Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this year.

What does the second sentence do?

It restates the idea found in the first.

*It states an effect.

It gives an example.

It analyzes the statement made in the first.

The correct answer is It states an effect.