Accuplacer Admissions Test Accuplacer Admissions Test

What Are the ACCUPLACER Tests?
Accuplacer Admissions Test
The College Board© developed the ACCUPLACER© Computerized Placement Tests (CPTs) to provide information about your level of skill and
accomplishment in reading, writing, and mathematics. SMCC uses your scores to help determine appropriate English and math course placement.
Please note: Although the math portion of the Accuplacer is not necessary for general admission to the College, it is necessary for placement into
many courses. Students who are not otherwise exempt are encouraged to take the math portion of the Accuplacer. Students who are not otherwise
exempt, and who choose not to take the math portion of the test, will automatically be placed into Numerical Mathematics, MATH 020, which is the
first of two developmental math courses.
If your primary language is not English you will be asked to take the Listening test. If you Score below 90 on this test, you will be directed towards the
LOEP (Levels of English Proficiency) test. This test consists of: Reading Skills, Sentence Meaning, Language Usage, and a Writing Sample.
Who Is Exempt from the ACCUPLACER Tests?
ENGLISH - Students who have any of the following test scores and/or previous college coursework are exempt from the English portion of the
Accuplacer and are admissible to the college:
• SAT 450 or greater Verbal/Critical Reading places students into college level English.
• SAT 430 Verbal/Critical Reading places students into College Reading Skills, ENGL 050, and Basic Writing II, ENGL 075. Please note that
these are pre-college level/developmental level courses, and do not count toward meeting degree requirements. We encourage you to take
the English (Reading and Sentence Skills) portion of the Accuplacer, as you may place out of this developmental course(s).
• ACT 21 composite places students into college level English.
• ASSET 42 Reading and 45 Writing places students into college level English.
• Compass 80 Reading and 79 Writing places students into college level English.
• Successful completion of a college English Composition course from a regionally accredited institution places students into college level
English.
• TOEFL score of 61 (internet-based), 172 (computer- based), or 500 (paper-based) places student in College level English.
MATH - Students who have any of the following test scores and/or previous college coursework are exempt from the Math portion of the
Accuplacer.
• SAT 490 Math places students into college level math. Students with math SAT scores of 490 or greater are encouraged to take the
Accuplacer test for placement into advanced college math courses.
• SAT 350 Math places students into Introduction to Algebra, MATH 050. Please note that this is a pre-college level/developmental level
course, and does not count toward meeting degree requirements. We encourage you to take the Elementary Algebra portion of the
Accuplacer, as you may place out of this developmental course.
• Successful completion of a college level mathematics courses from a regionally accredited institution place students into college level
mathematics.
• ACT 21 composite places students into college level math.
• ASSET 36 Numerical Skills and 46 Elementary Algebra places students into college level math.
• Compass 51 Algebra places students into college level math.
NOTE: Students always have the option to take the Accuplacer tests for higher level placement assessment.
Discrimination and Affirmative Action Policy Southern Maine Community College does not discriminate and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the
grounds of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital or parental status in all areas regarding student services. If you believe that you have
experienced sexual harassment at the college, please contact the Affirmative Action Officer at 741-5798. If you believe that you have been discriminated against based on a disability,
please contact Mr. Mark Krogman at 741-5629. If you believe that you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of any of the other above grounds or have not been
accorded due affirmative action, please immediately contact the Affirmative Action Officer, Diane M. Vickrey at 741-5798.

How to Take the Accuplacer Test:
1. To find dates for a test go to: http://www.smccme.edu/tests. Walk-in Accuplacer dates will be shown at “How do I sign up to take an
Admissions test.”
2. Tests are administered in the Testing Center, located in the Campus Center on the SMCC South Portland Campus. Please arrive at least 2
hours prior to the end of the published walk-in hours to allow time to complete the test and meet with an Advisor.
3. Bring a picture ID, such as a driver’s license.
4. If retesting, you will need to pay a $10.00 retesting fee at the Student Billing Office (located in the Campus Center). Please bring your receipt.
5. Note: if the College is closed for a Holiday, snow day, etc. the test will not be offered.
*If you live closer to the Bath, ME area, you may take the test at SMCC’s Bath location, The Midcoast Center for Higher Education. Call 207-386-
0013 to schedule an appointment.*
Important Note: Scores will be kept on file for a period of 5 years for any students who take the Accuplacer test through SMCC, but do not attend.
Special Arrangements for Students with Disabilities:
If you believe you qualify for disability services and would like to request accommodations, please contact 207-741-5923. Requests for
accommodations need to be made 3-4 weeks before taking the test.
Re-Testing Policy:
Because testing determines placement and affects admission, students may choose to re-test up to 2 times for a total of 3 ACCUPLACER tests.
Students are required to wait a minimum of 2 weeks before retesting and a $10 fee is charged for each retest. Special consideration with retesting may
be granted based on documented academic progress. Please see Enrollment Services for more details.
Test Tips:
Brush up on your reading, writing, and math skills. Take advantage of the many resources available to help you prepare.
• Do your best – your results are used as part of the admissions process and will determine whether or not you will need to take pre-college
coursework or may begin college level courses.
• Relax! Take your time. This is not a timed test. Allow approximately 2-3 hours for testing. Students taking the LOEP may want to schedule the
Math section on a different day than the other sections, given the length of the Reading, Writing, and Listening sections of the test.
• The Reading and Writing portions of the test will be first, the math sections will follow.
• Students are not allowed to bring calculators. Occasionally, the test will provide calculator for you to use on certain questions.
• Students taking the LOEP test will have access to headphones for the Listening test.
• You will receive the results of your test as soon as you complete the test. An Enrollment Services Advisor will meet with you following the test to
discuss your results and help you plan your next steps.
LOEP Test Preparation Resources:
• Test prep review: http://www.testprepreview.com/accuplacer_practice.htm . Scroll down to the Self-Assessment Modules and take the
following tests: Basic grammar, intermediate grammar, advanced grammar, nouns, basic reading comprehension, reading for the main idea,
reading vocabulary, sentence correction, sentence flow, usage tests 1-3, verbs, writing sections 1-2.
• Online Dictionaries: http://dictionary.cambridge.org ; http://www.m-w.com ; http://www.pdictionary.com/ .
Free Accuplacer Test Preparation Resources:
• www.smccme.edu/tests - SMCC Downloadable Study Guide
• Aims.edu - Use the search box and type “Accuplacer”. The first link you see will be for Accuplacer Study Guides. The guides for the four
tests we use provide helpful information as well as many sample questions.
• Collegeboard.com - Provides examples of real Accuplacer questions. Use the "search" box and type "Accuplacer". The first link provided
("ACCUPLACER test Prep ......") will lead you to a page with a "sample questions" link.
• www.sosmath.com - Great help with basic math and algebra...... go to the site and “click” on “Algebra” (on the top of the page). Choose
topic of interest (includes algebra and arithmetic). Within some of the topic areas, you may have to click on “Rules 8”, “Rules 9”, “Rules 10”
etc. to see sample questions. Other sections will not require this step.
• khanacademy.org - It is like having your own personal math tutor (really!). Listen to a tutor as they give you a personal math
lesson using a “virtual” blackboard. There are hundreds of lessons on various topics for arithmetic, pre-algebra and algebra. You can scroll
down to see all sections or, just before the list of sections, click on the “Jump to Topic” feature to take you to your area of interest.
• Algebrahelp.com - Reviews basic principles, and provides many samples with "step by step" solutions or you can actually type in a
specific algebra problem and the system will provide you with the step by step solution!
Revised: 03/19/2012- S:\Enrollment Services\Advising & Testing\Accuplacer/Accuplacer_Handout