Placement Subject Overview
Reading
20 questions
The Reading test assesses the test taker’s ability to derive meaning from a range of texts and to determine the meaning of words and phrases in short and extended contexts. Passages on the test cover a range of content areas, writing modes, and complexities. Both single and paired passages are included.
Students may be placed into RED 0800 Basic Reading I and/or ENG 0995 Basic Reading & Comp from this assessment. Some students may be referred to counseling for further assessment before placement. All developmental Reading courses must be completed before enrolling in any college-level English courses.
Writing
25 questions
The Writing test evaluates your ability to revise and edit multiparagraph text.
WritePlacer Essay
1-hour essay
Taken with the Writing multiple-choice-test
In addition to the multiple-choice test, some students may be required to complete a timed essay to determine placement in English coursework.
The WritePlacer essay measures your ability to write effectively. Your score is based on your ability to express, organize, and support your opinions and ideas. The following characteristics of writing will be considered:
- Purpose and Focus - the extent to which you present information in a unified and coherent manner, clearly addressing the issue
- Organization and Structure - the extent to which you order and connect ideas
- Development and Support - the extent to which you develop and support ideas
- Sentence Variety and Style - the extent to which you craft sentences and paragraphs demonstrating control of vocabulary, voice, and structure
- Mechanical Conventions - the extent to which you express ideas using Standard Written English
- Critical Thinking - the extent to which you communicate a point of view and demonstrate reasoned relationships among ideas.
Students may be placed into ENG 1001 English Composition I, ENG 1205 Written Communication Skills for Business, Industry, and Technology, or ENG 0995 Basic Reading & Comp from this assessment. All developmental Reading courses must be completed before.
Math
When taking a math placement test, the tester is asked if they have taken and passed a year of Algebra in high school. If the student says no, they take the Arithmetic exam. If they say yes, they will take the QRS exam. Should students score high enough on the QRS exam, they will immediately take the AAF exam as well.
Arithmetic
20 questions
The Arithmetic test focuses on computation, order of operations, estimation and rounding, comparing and ordering values in different formats, and recognizing equivalent values across formats. The Arithmetic test assesses the following knowledge and skills:
- Whole Number Operations
- Fraction Operations
- Decimal Operations
- Percent
- Number Comparisons and Equivalents
Students can be placed into MTH 0910 Foundations of Algebra or MTH 1206 Technical Math from this assessment. Some students may be referred to counseling for further testing before placement.
Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QRS)
20 questions
The Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QRS) test assesses the following knowledge and skills:
- Rational Numbers
- Ratio and Proportional Relationships
- Exponents
- Algebraic Expressions
- Linear Equations
- Linear Applications and Graphs
- Probability Sets
- Descriptive Statistics
- Geometry Concepts
Students can be placed into developmental courses (MTH 0910 Foundations of Algebra, MTH 0908 Basic Geometry, MTH 0920 Intermediate Algebra), MTH 1206 Technical Mathematics, or transferrable math coursework (MTH 1000 Math for Liberal Arts, MTH 1008 General Elementary Statistics, MTH 1009 Structure of Number Systems I, MTH 1003 College Algebra, MTH 1004 Trigonometry) from this assessment. Some students may be referred to counseling for further testing before placement.
Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF)
20 questions
The Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF) test assesses the following knowledge and skills:
- Linear Equations
- Linear Applications and Graphs
- Factoring
- Quadratics
- Functions
- Radical and Rational Equations
- Polynomial Equations
- Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
- Trigonometry
Students can be placed into MTH 1005 Pre-Calculus, MTH 1006 Finite Math, MTH 1007 Calculus for Business & Social Sciences, or MTH 2001 Calculus & Analytic Geometry following this assessment.