ACCUPLACER is an adaptive test used for course placement into English, reading and math courses. It is a computerized test with no time limit. The questions are chosen for you on the basis of your answers to previous questions. This adaptive technique selects just the right questions for your ability level. Since the test is untimed you can give each question as much thought as you wish. You can change your answer to a particular question before moving on to the next question, but you cannot leave a question or come back to it later to change your answer.

The three tests we use for placement testing are:

The Next-Generation Writing test is a broad-spectrum computer adaptive assessment of test-takers’ developed ability to revise and edit a range of prose texts for effective expression of ideas and for conformity to the conventions of Standard Written English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation. Passages on the test cover a range of content areas (including literary nonfiction, careers/history/social studies, humanities, and science), writing modes (informative/explanatory, argument, and narrative), and complexities (relatively easy to very challenging). All passages are commissioned—that is, written specifically for the test—so that “errors” (a collective term for a wide range of rhetorical and conventions-related problems) can more effectively be introduced into them. Questions are multiple choice in format and appear as parts of sets built around a common, extended passage; no discrete (stand-alone) questions are included. In answering the questions, test-takers must determine the best revision or editing decision in a particular case (or that no change should be made to the passage as originally presented). Two broad knowledge and skill categories are assessed:

• Expression of Ideas (development, organization, effective language use)
• Standard English Conventions (sentence structure, usage, and punctuation)

The Next-Generation Reading test is a broad-spectrum computer adaptive assessment of test-takers’ developed ability to derive meaning from a range of prose 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 (including literature and literary nonfiction, careers/history/social studies, humanities, and science), writing modes (informative/ explanatory, argument, and narrative), and complexities (relatively easy to very challenging). Both single and paired passages are included. The test pool includes both authentic texts (previously published passages excerpted or minimally adapted from their published form) and commissioned texts (written specifically for the test). Questions are multiple choice in format and appear as both discrete (stand-alone) questions and as parts of sets of questions built around a common passage or passages. Four broad knowledge and skill categories are assessed:

• Information and Ideas (reading closely, determining central ideas and themes, summarizing, understanding relationships)
• Rhetoric (analyzing word choice rhetorically, analyzing text structure, analyzing point of view, analyzing purpose, analyzing arguments)
• Synthesis (analyzing multiple texts)
• Vocabulary The test is 20 – 25 multiple choice questions.

The Next-Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics placement test is a computer adaptive assessment of test-takers’ ability for selected mathematics content. Questions will focus on a range of topics including computing with rational numbers, applying ratios and proportional reasoning, creating linear expressions and equations, graphing and applying linear equations, understanding probability and set notation, and interpreting graphical displays. In addition, questions may assess a student’s math ability via computational or fluency skills, conceptual understanding, or the capacity to apply mathematics presented in a context. All questions are multiple choice in format and appear discretely (stand alone) across the assessment. The following knowledge and skill categories are assessed: Rational numbers Ratio and proportional relationships.

• Exponents
• Algebraic expressions
• Linear equations
• Linear applications
• Probability and sets
• Descriptive statistics
• Geometry concepts

Retesting: You are allowed to retake the placement tests under certain circumstances. Please consult the course placement chart for details.

Testing for other colleges: Students taking ACCUPLACER tests for another college will have to make an appointment. Please make sure you know which tests you need as well as a contact for us to send the results to. A $25 proctoring fee is required.

Are you looking for a testing center close to your home? The Proctoring Network can help put you in touch with a college testing center. Contact one of the listed colleges to get information about placement testing for other colleges, proctored exam services for online classes or other testing needs. Prospective students from around the country can arrange to have their placement testing done in advance, close to home and then have the placement test results mailed or faxed to Mesa Community College, Testing Center. Any test results mailed or faxed to MCC must include the name of the student and Maricopa College student ID number. The test we will accept for course placement is ACCUPLACER.