Basic Skills AssessmentTesting and Beyond..

While the primary purpose of todays session is to administer the Accuplacer Basic Skills Assessment, our goal is to help you understand your results and how those results impact course selection. We will also provide information and orientation to the registration process, make you aware of campus services available to you and provide an opportunity for you to individually discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your next steps in the process.

Todays session will cover the following:Completion of an academic advising information sheet.Review of the Accuplacer test instrument.Administration of the placement test.Pre-advising meeting to discuss test results and the process of registration.Information packet to help you prepare for a successful college career.

The Purpose Of The AssessmentAssessment Testing is performed to ensure that students have adequate preparation for college-level courses. These multiple-choice tests were developed to provide information about your level of skill accomplishment in Reading, English, and Mathematics. These tests will help us determine which courses are most appropriate for you at this time.

Are You Taking The Appropriate Test?Most new and returning students will be taking the English, Reading and Mathematics portions of the test but some students will be taking only one portion of the test. If English was not the first language you learned, an alternate test might be more appropriate for you. If you have any question about which test you should be taking, be sure to discuss it with the test administrator before you begin your test.

Do you have a student ID number ??When you apply to the college you are assigned a student identification number often referred to as a Banner ID. It starts with the @ sign followed by eight numbers and looks like this: @01234567.If you do not have a number let the test administrator know now. It must be entered before you can begin the test.

The Accuplacer Placement TestThe tests will be administered on this computer. You will read the instructions and questions on the computer monitor and will select your answers using the computer keyboard or mouse. No computer experience is needed. It has been found that each of three test areas usually takes students 15 to 20 minutes to complete. However, you may take as long as you need to complete each test. The tests are untimed.

Each test is designed using adaptive techniques. This means that the computer automatically determines which questions are presented to you based on your responses to prior questions. This technique zeroes-in on just the right questions to ask you without being too easy or too difficult. The greater your demonstrated skill level, the more challenging, will be the questions presented to you.

Test GuessingThis is an adaptive test so you must answer every question when it is first given. You cannot omit any question or come back later to change an answer. If you want to change your answer on a particular question, you must do so before continuing onto the following question. If you do not, the answer is accepted and you cannot return to the question.If you do not know the answer to a question, try to eliminate one or more of the choices. Then pick one of the remaining choices.

Confidentiality

Your test scores and the information you provide when taking the tests will be used by the college for counseling and placement purposes. It may also be used by the college and the College Board or Educational Testing Service for research purposes. Your test information will not be used for any other reason without your permission.

Your ScoresWhen you have completed your test your scores and placements will appear on the screen. Please inform the test administrator that you are finished and he/she will print out the appropriate number of copies. Do not close out the session yet.Score ranges are not geared to the common 0 to 100 range, so a score of 60 may mean something different than you think.

EssayIf your score on the sentence skills portion of the test falls within a range predetermined by the English department, you may be asked to write a timed essay. This will be read by a member of the English department and will be used to determine your English placement.

Advising Profile SheetYou were asked to fill out an Advising Profile Sheet. While you are taking your placement test we will copy it to keep on file and will attach the original to your score sheet. These two documents will provide important information to help us to help you choose the appropriate courses here at Middlesex.

What Your Results Mean:We at Middlesex Community College want to assure that our students are given every opportunity to achieve success so we have set standards for placement in English and mathematics courses. Students who meet those standards will be placed in the appropriate level of that course. Students who score below the minimum score will be recommended for developmental courses to enhance their skills to improve the probability of college success.

Your Individual ResultsThe next slides deal with an overview of possible placements. There is no need to write anything down or to take notes as you will be given a packet that is your to keep that contains this information.

Reading ExemptIf your placement in the reading portion of the test indicates EXEMPT, you are reading at an appropriate level to be successful in college level courses. You will not be required to take any developmental or skill-building courses in this area.

English PlacementIf you have placed into ENG 101, you have met the minimum standard to take college level English. In addition, many courses at MxCC require that you have placed in this level of English as prerequisite to taking courses in other departments.Remember you may be asked to write an essay.

Developmental level English and ReadingIf you have placed into an English course with a number lower than English 101, some developmental or skill-building review work is required.

ENG 003 or ENG 073 are indicated if you need to work on reading skills.

ENG 013 or ENG 063 are indicated if you need to address writing skills

Mathematics PlacementIf your test results indicate that you qualify for MAT 137, MAT 168, MAT 173, or a math class with a higher number, you are recommended for a college level mathematics course.If you are recommended for MAT 075, or MAT 095, you will be placed in courses which will prepare you to take MAT 137 (Intermediate Algebra).

Developmental Course FlowchartIf your scores indicated the need for one or more developmental courses to enhance your skills to prepare for success in college level work, the information that follows will assist you in understanding the sequence of courses needed to keep your college program on track.

The first course in each list indicates the starting course or the one you were recommended for by your Accuplacer test results.

Reading:

English 003 > English 073 > ExemptEnglish 073 > ExemptExempt > (No Developmental Reading Comprehension course required)

English

English 013 > English 063 > English 101*

English 063 > English 101*

*English 101 This is college credit English, required prerequisite to many courses.

MathematicsMathematics 075 > Mathematics 095 > Mathematics 137Mathematics 095> Mathematics 137Mathematics 137: College level intermediate algebra A placement in a course numbered higher than Mathematics 137 is a more advanced college level mathematics course.

Pre-advisingA test administrator will be available to discuss your results after the testing session.

All new students will meet with an advisor at the time of registration to discuss their placement test results and select appropriate first semester courses.

Freshman seminar may also be recommended. It offers 3 college credits and is described on a separate sheet included in your packet.

Packet InformationThe information packet you will be given will review and illustrate the placement test information discussed in this presentation. In addition, it will contain additional useful information that will help you in the process of beginning your college experience here at MxCC. Some examples

Middlesex CC class time blocks to help you in planning your course schedule.A composite sheet that will guide you in transferring information from the course schedule catalog to the course Registration Form.Information on Financial Aid.Current fees and payment plans.

Dates for course registration.Information on campus services geared to helping you through the process of getting off on the right path to achieve college success.

Remember, your pre-advising session is your opportunity to gain information and ask questions on an individual basis. You will have your test results in hand and although we dont claim to know all the answers, we can hopefully direct you to the person or advisor who can.

You are now ready to testRaise your hand to get the attention of the test administrator.Be sure that you are taking the appropriate testMake sure that you enter your Banner ID starting with the @ signTake your time and do your best..

When Your Scores AppearLeave your score page on the screen and get the attention of the test administrator. He/she will process the appropriate number of copies of your results.Please dont prematurely shut down your score page.

Finally You Are Ready To Take The Test

Get the attention of the test administrator and

Good Luck!