Accuplacer Testing

The only students taking an Accuplacer test are students with an alternate HS diploma (foreign, homeschool, etc.), OR students who wish to challenge their placement via academic transcript.

Questions Students May Ask About Placement Testing

  • Should I prepare for my Placement Test?
    • Absolutely! Even just a little bit of review can help you place into a higher level of math or English.
  • How much time should I spend preparing for my Placement Test?
    • You should spend at least a few hours reviewing your math skills. There are many wonderful free, online resources that can help you. The math portion of the placement test evaluates your skills in algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. When you study using the resources below, keep those in mind. You also need to be able to perform functions like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division without the use of a calculator.
  • What? I can’t use a calculator?
    • Since some questions are testing your ability to do arithmetic, you do not automatically get to use a calculator on the placement test. You will, however, see a little calculator icon pop up for selected questions. If the calculator appears, you get to use it! If the online calculator is missing, then you are not allowed a calculator for that question.
  • We’re talking a lot about math. Does that mean I don’t need to prepare for the English placement test?
    • Not at all. The best way to prepare for the English portion of the exam is to read, read, and read some more. This will familiarize your brain with the patterns and conventions of written English. There are also great resources (listed below) that can help you practice your reading comprehension and grammar skills.
  • This seems like a lot of work. Why does the placement test even matter?
    • You only get one try at the placement test, and it determines what courses you take during your time here. Depending on your score, you may have to take one or more semesters of non-credited class. A little review and studying could help you jump right into your program! This saves you both time and money.

Resources to Prepare for the Accuplacer

http://www.hippocampus.org/HippoCampus/
https://accuplacerpractice.collegeboard.org/login
http://www.edready.org/
In addition, the link to the MCC website with information about preparation is here: http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/testingservices/preparing-for-your-test/preparing-for-your-test/

Retest Procedure

Students will take the placement test only once for placement purposes.  On rare occasions, under extenuating circumstances, an authorization to retest may be given.  The option to retest should only be conveyed to the student by the office or individual that approves the retest. Students are responsible for preparing for their test with guidance from Admissions, Advisement and Transfer Services, Downtown Student Services, and/or other MCC student and academic support offices. Students who indicate that they did not study are strongly encouraged by Testing and Assessment Center staff to study and test at a later date.

The rare instances in which a decision is made that a student may retest will be based on an individual review of the student’s overall academic profile. The following situations may reflect the need to grant authorization for retest:

  • Students who are reapplying for admission who have placement testing results that are more than three (3) years old.
  • Necessity to meet new program requirements requiring higher level mathematics than the previous program.
  • Other situations as deemed appropriate by the approval authority.

In all retest situations, the authority granting the retest should strongly encourage students to take appropriate remedial action before retesting. A wait time before retesting is a minimum of two weeks, which will be required, and highly encouraged with remedial study. Authority for retesting is normally granted by the Admissions Office. Chairs of Mathematics, English, and Transitional Studies and their delegates, Advisement and Transfer staff, and Downtown Student Services staff also may approve retests when performing placement-related work with students. Overall academic records should be considered when making this determination, as well as an estimated likelihood of a successful outcome with remediation. Those with authority to approve retests must place the appropriate code in SOATEST. Those testing can also have authorization checked by examining the appropriate INB Banner form, SAAADMS.

Granting additional retests beyond the first are normally authorized under extreme mitigating circumstances and only after the student has shown proof that would demonstrate a high probability of a successful outcome (proof of remediation).

Retesting for ESOL Students:

No retests within a ninety (90) day period, unless student provides a green slip from ESOL Coordinators. In retest situations, an alternate form of the test (Form 2) should be used.

Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) Retest Policy:

ACCUPLACER allows two ATB tests within any 3-month window, and a minimum of two weeks between the test and retest.
CELSA requires a 15-day waiting period to retest on the same form.

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Updated 10/4/2021