WHAT IS THE ACCUPLACER TEST?
Accuplacer is an adaptive computer-based test that RVCC uses to determine your course placement. The multiple-choice questions that you see on the test are chosen based on your answers to the previous question. Because the test works this way, you must answer every question when it is first given. You can change your answer to a particular question before moving on to the next question, but you cannot leave a question out or come back to it later to change your answer. Most sections are not timed. For the English and ESL tests, you will need to type a 60-minute timed essay.
DO I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
No. Please allow three hours for testing.
HOW MUCH DOES THE TEST COST?
The first time you test, there is no fee because it is covered by your general services fee. If you decide to retest, there is a $10 fee for each section. Testing Center staff can help you to determine which sections might be appropriate to retest. Before retesting, please refresh your skills.
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE TEST?
To make the best of your placement testing, invest some time to become familiar with the test and to refresh skills that you may not have used recently.
- Get an idea of how the test is constructed
- Review sample essays
- Review sample ESL essays
- See math concepts included in Accuplacer and links to support material
- View videos of math concepts: www.khanacademy.com or www.patrickjmt.com
For additional Math and Writing resources, go to the Academic Support Center.
A free Official Accuplacer Study app is available
WHEN WILL I GET THE TEST RESULTS?
For English/Math testing, a Testing Center staff member will immediately review scores and placements upon completion of the test and suggest retesting portions of the test if appropriate. You may retest a section up to two times and there is a $10 fee for each section that you retest. For ESL testing, students will be required to meet with a faculty advisor for a speaking assessment and placement information. See the testing staff for dates and times of ESL advising.
WHO NEEDS TO TAKE FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT?
If you have taken Spanish, French, German or Italian language classes within the past five years or if one of these is your native language and you plan to continue with that language instruction, you are required to placement test prior to registering for a class.
If you are changing languages or have not taken a foreign language, you may register for a beginner-level class without testing.
