Student Success Center
Student resources to help you succeed.
Placement Testing
The purpose of the English, reading, and mathematics placement tests is to assess students' entry-level academic skills and to provide options to strengthen them. Students have a better chance for success in college if their basic skills are strong enough to meet the rigors of college-level classes. All courses in English and mathematics require that students have completed the appropriate placement tests for placement prior to enrollment, as do many other courses in variety of disciplines (for example: biology, chemistry, early childhood education, and information technology services). These requirements are listed under prerequisites in the course description section of the Academic Catalog. For all of these reasons, students should make it a priority to complete the placement tests as early as possible after admission but no later than the point at which they have accumulated nine credits.
- About the Test
- Waiving the Placement Test
- Retaking the Placement Test
- Ability To Benefit
- Placement Testing Dates
COMPASS is a comprehensive computerized adaptive Placement Test developed by ACT. The test assesses basic skills in writing (English), reading, and mathematics, as well as more advanced mathematics skills. The test is untimed.
- Writing (English) Placement Test:
The Writing test is a multiple-choice test that requires students to find and correct errors in essays in the areas of usage and mechanics, including basic grammar, punctuation and sentence structure, and rhetorical skills, including strategy, organization and style. - Reading Placement Test:
The Reading test a multiple-choice test that measures reading comprehension through reasoning, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. - Mathematics Placement Test:
The Math test is a multiple-choice test that evaluates students' ability levels in terms of basic skills such as performing a sequence of basic operations; application skills such as applying sequences of basic operation to novel settings or in complex ways; and analysis skills such as demonstrating conceptual understanding of principles and relationships for mathematical operations. The Math Placement Test evaluates ability in Pre-Algebra, Algebra*, College Algebra, and Trigonometry. (*The test will begin in Algebra, and then progress to either Pre-Algebra or College Algebra based upon the score received in Algebra.)
Please click here for sample questions.
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Waiving The Placement Test:
Students who can document work and/or academic experience that would
suggest the ability to do college-level work can provide such
documentation to the appropriate department chair for
consideration of a waiver of the placement test in English, reading,
and/or math.
An automatic waiver is granted for math if a student has a score of 550 or
above on the SAT Math and for English and reading with a score of 550
or above on the SAT Verbal or Critical Reading score. Waivers are
also granted in math with a score of 21 on ACT Math; for English with a
score of 21 on the ACT English; and for Reading with a score of 21 on
the ACT Reading.
Placement of Transfer Students
Transfer students who have not taken a college-level English or a
college-level mathematics course in the last five years may be required
to validate their skills in those areas.
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Retaking of the Placement Tests
Students who have begun an English, reading, or math course are not
allowed to retake the corresponding placement test(s) to place at a
higher level. Students applying for one of the special admissions
programs may not retake the placement tests to gain entrance into one of
these programs.
A student may retake the placement tests only once and only if one of the
following is applicable, in accordance with COMPASS testing policy:
a. performance on the placement test was influenced by
factors other than ability.
b. a significant change in the examinee's ability has
occurred.
There is a one time fee of $25 to retest.
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The COMPASS Placement test is also an approved Ability-to-Benefit (ATB)
Test.
Postsecondary college applicants who have not earned a high school
diploma or GED must achieve acceptable scores, in one sitting, on an approved test to
qualify for federal aid as ATB students. The minimum COMPASS score
achievement requirements for ATB students are as follows:
Writing Skills (English) - 32
Reading - 62
Pre-Algebra - 25
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Upcoming Placement Test Dates:
La Plata: Students wishing to take their Placement Test at the La Plata campus can sign up online or call the Testing Center (301-934-7657) to make an appointment.
Appointments are available for the following days & times:
- Tuesdays at 10:00am
- Wednesdays at 5:00pm
- Thursdays at 2:00pm
*.
Leonardtown: Students wishing to take their Placement Test at the Leonardtown campus must call the Testing Center (240-725-5340) to make an appointment.
Appointments are available on a daily schedule:
- Monday - Thursday at 10:00am, 1:00pm, and 4:00pm
- Friday at 9:00am and 1:00pm
- Saturday at 9:00am
Prince Frederick: Students wishing to take their Placement Test at the Prince Frederick campus must call the Testing Center (443-550-6040) to make an appointment.
Appointments are available on a daily schedule:
- Monday & Tuesday at 10:30am and 1:30pm - 4:30pm, every half hour
- Wednesday at 10:30am
- Thursday at 1:30pm - 4:30pm, every half hour
- Friday at 9:00am - 10:30am, every half hour
Waldorf Center: Students wishing to take their Placement Test at the Waldorf Center must call the Waldorf Center (301-632-2900).
The following appointments are for 9:30am and 5:00pm, unless otherwise noted:
- Friday, November 14, at 9:30am (ONLY)
- Tuesday, December 16