Accuplacer Test

The Accuplacer test is an optional test for college students. It tests your skills in English, reading, and math. Although the test is not required, it is very helpful in determining a student’s previous knowledge. The results of the test, along with a student’s goals, interests, and academic background, help college advisors determine which classes you should take. An accurate assessment of your skills in these areas is very important. Therefore, you should do your best when taking the Accuplacer test. However, it should be noted that this test is not scored on a pass or fail scale. The test is strictly for assessment purposes and will not be graded.

If you plan to take the Accuplacer test, you must first make an appointment with your college counseling office. The test is multiple choice and is completed on a computer. It is also adaptive, meaning it assesses your answers to previous questions to select questions are suited to your ability level. This ensures that the questions are not too easy or too hard. Because of this, you cannot skip questions or go back to them. You must attempt to answer them the first time they are presented. You are given as much time as needed since the test is untimed. There is an essay portion, which, depending on the college, may or may not be timed.

The Accuplacer test is broken into six sections: sentence skills, reading comprehension, arithmetic, elementary algebra, college-level math, and a written essay.

The sentence skills portion consists of 20 questions. The first questions involve sentence correction, in which you choose the correct word or phrase to fit a sentence. The second part, construction shift, requires that you rewrite a sentence according to the instructions. These questions test your skills in logic, selecting complete sentences, and identifying relationships between subordinating and coordinating clauses.
The second section of the Accuplacer test, reading comprehension, consists of 20 questions that test your skills in sentence relationships, reading passages, and answering questions related to the passages.
The arithmetic portion of the test contains 17 questions that deal with whole numbers, fractions, percentages, rates, decimals, and geometry.
The elementary algebra portion has 12 questions that involve algebraic expressions, exponents, roots, inequalities, integers, rational numbers, word problems, graphing, and geometry.
The college-level math portion consists of 20 questions and assesses your knowledge of various levels of math from intermediate algebra through pre-calculus. Questions include roots, exponents, factoring, equations, geometry, fractions, word problems, complex numbers, polynomials, logarithms, and trigonometry.
The final section of the Accuplacer test, the written essay, gauges your writing ability. Your essay will be scored based on its organization, focus, supporting statements, development of your ideas, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.

There are several rules you should be aware of for the day you take your Accuplacer test. You will be required to provide a photo ID in order to be admitted to the test center. Textbooks, notebooks, calculators, dictionaries, and paper are usually not permitted. Also, you are not allowed to give or receive help during the test.

You should arrive early to ensure that you find your testing location and the restroom. Being in a hurry and arriving late can make you feel rushed during the Accuplacer test, and you may not feel focused enough to do your best. It’s best to relax during the exam. Try to answer every question. Eliminate answers first and then make your best guess if you are still unsure of an answer. Once you complete the Accuplacer test, it will be scored, and the college will notify you of the results.