ACCUPLACER PLACEMENT TEST

The Accuplacer is used by Johnston Community College and several other North Carolina community colleges for placement, and it is part of the admissions process.   A student’s test results determine the English and math classes the student will take during the first semester.  Students who demonstrate academic deficiencies in English, reading, and math are placed in appropriate developmental courses at the community college.  Developmental courses are not included in a students’ GPA and students will not earn credit for the courses.

• For English 111 placement, students must obtain a minimum score of 86 in Sentence Skills and 80 in Reading Comprehension.
  
• For Math 161/171 placement, students must obtain a minimum score of 75 on the Elementary Algebra test.
• Students who score 450 on the verbal portion of the SAT will be exempt from developmental English courses and will placed into ENG 111.  Students who score 450 on the math portion of the SAT will be exempt from developmental math courses and will place into MAT 161/171.

If you are interested in attending the review sessions, receiving practice materials prior to taking the Accuplacer, or scheduling a testing session at NJHS see Mrs. Phillips in Room 408. 

The Accuplacer test is given by colleges and technical schools to assess a student's level of competence in a range of areas. The test is taken online and is computer-adaptive, meaning the complexity of the questions is based on the student's prior answers and their grade of difficulty. You're not graded on a pass-fail basis; the test's purpose is solely to compute your skills for placement purposes. To prepare for the test, you should devote more study time to areas that you are weaker in.

Format of Test

o   Before you begin studying for the test, familiarize yourself with its contents. The Accuplacer test contains the following number of questions in each section: 20 in Sentence Skills, 17 in Arithmetic, 12 in Elementary Algebra and 20 in College-Level Mathematics.

Sentence Skills and Reading Comprehension

o   The Sentence Skills portion is broken into sentence structure and construction shift questions. The Reading Comprehension segment entails reading a passage and answering questions based on the content and regarding the relationship of sentences. For these topics, your study guide should include an overview of: vocabulary, grammar, sentence structures (coordination and subordination), reading vocabulary and comprehension.  In addition to going over your text books, a number of websites offer practice questions and assessments.

Arithmetic/Basic Algebra

o   The Arithmetic portions consist of addition, subtraction, multiplication, decimals, division, fractions, per cents, rates, geometry, algebra, graphs and problem-solving questions. For these sections you'll also want to have an understanding of the following: equivalent fractions and mixed numbers; integers and rational numbers; translating written phrases into algebraic expressions; complex numbers; series and sequences; determinants, permutations and combinations; polynomials, exponents and roots; equation systems; coordination; geometry roots; and trigonometric functions.

Additional Strategies and Exam Information

o   It's important to get a good night's rest and eat well the day of your exam. When taking the test, remember that the only part of the exam with a time limit is the essay, so relax and take the time you need to answer difficult questions. Make sure you understand all of the questions and read them carefully before deciding on an answer. Don't skip any questions; since the test is computerized you won't be able to go back to previous questions you've missed. You can further prepare by creating flashcards and holding a study session or using online study materials.