Chapter 10: Placement Assessment
Alise Lamoreaux and Dave Dillon
“Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings.”
– C.D. Jackson
Congratulations! You are accepted into college. Now what? Before you can begin signing up for classes, most colleges will require you to take placement tests.
Some Things to Think About:
- What are the purpose of the placement tests?
- Can a student fail the placement tests?
- Where are the placement tests given?
- What does a student need to do to sign up to take the placement tests?
- How much does it cost to take the placement tests?
- Can a student re-take the placement tests if they are not happy with the score?
- How long are the placement test scores valid?
- Can a student study for the placement tests?
Community colleges tend to rely on placement testing because students entering these colleges have a variety of backgrounds and skill levels. The test results may mean a student can skip introductory level classes or that students need to refresh or build skills in a specific area. However, if students get a low score on the tests, they may need to take extra classes to be able to register for a certain class in a specific program.
Across the college campus, in many different classes, a student will be asked to read and write on a daily basis as part of the class activities. Even a speech class will require writing! As a result, many classes have a prerequisite requirement for writing.
Many students have not taken a math class recently, or been using more than basic math in their daily lives, and may need to refresh or build their skills to be able to handle the course requirements of college. Also, certain programs emphasize specific math skills in order for students to be successful in those programs of study. Culinary arts students must be proficient with the math skills needed for menu planning and food cost analysis. Those are different skills than a nursing student. A nurse needs to be proficient in math related to dosage and other measurements. The purpose of the placement tests is to help students identify their abilities. It is important for students to take the placement tests seriously since the test scores will influence course selection. Scoring well on placement tests can save a student time and money.
Which Student in the Video Reflects Your Attitude About College Placement Tests?
Video: College Placement Test Video, Golden West College.
Can a Student Study for College Placement Tests?
Students often wonder if they should study for assessment tests. Studying and becoming familiar with the type of test you will be taking is a good idea. Many college assessment websites include sample questions. If a student is unhappy with their assessment score, retesting options sometimes exist, but vary from college to college. Check the policy of the college you are choosing to attend before you take the test! Poor performance on a placement tests may end up costing you extra time and money. If the you haveto ta