Welcome to this overview of the ACCUPLACER!
If you need help studying for an ACCUPLACER test or just want some more information about what the tests are like, you’ve come to the right place.
What’s on the ACCUPLACER?
How to Register
ACCUPLACER Scores
Retaking the Test
ACCUPLACER Online Course
FAQs
What is the ACCUPLACER Test?
ACCUPLACER is actually a selection of multiple placement tests, primarily used by colleges to assess your readiness for certain courses. Depending on the school or organization, you won’t have to take every ACCUPLACER test—you can just take the ones that the school or organization wants.
Beyond schools, there are a few organizations that use these tests in some way:
- Adult Education Programs: These programs may use ACCUPLACER tests to assess the academic skills of adults returning to education, aiming to complete a high school equivalency or improve their literacy and numeracy skills.
- Job Training Programs: Some job training and workforce development programs might use the tests to ensure participants have the necessary basic skills to successfully complete training and move into a specific career path.
- Military: In some cases, the military might use parts of the ACCUPLACER tests to determine the suitability of candidates for certain roles that require specific educational qualifications or aptitudes.
Computer-Adaptive Testing
The ACCUPLACER tests are computer-adaptive tests. Basically, this means that the questions will become harder or easier as you go through the test, based on how well you’re answering the questions.
For example, say you answered the first question correctly. The first question is of medium difficulty, so the next question will be slightly harder. Then, let’s say you answered the second question incorrectly. The next question would then be a medium question, and so on.
What’s on the ACCUPLACER?
There are several different ACCUPLACER placement tests you can take, each with a different number of questions. The questions are all multiple-choice, with the exception of the WritePlacer® test, which is an essay.
The good news is that there is never a time limit for any of the tests! You can take as much time as you need to answer each question to the best of your ability.
Let’s take a closer look at each placement test.
READING
20 questions
The questions fall under these skill categories:
- Information and Ideas
- Rhetoric
- Synthesis
- Vocabulary
WRITING
25 questions
The questions fall under these skill categories:
- Expression of Ideas
- Standard English Conventions
ARITHMETIC
20 questions
It’s important to note that you will NOT be allowed to use a handheld calculator at any point during this test. If a question might require the use of a calculator, one will appear on your computer screen.
The questions fall under these skill categories:
- Whole Number Operations
- Fraction Operations
- Decimal Operations
- Percent
- Number Comparisons and Equivalents
QUANTITATIVE REASONING, ALGEBRA, AND STATISTICS (QAS)
20 questions
Just like the Arithmetic test, you will NOT be allowed to use a handheld calculator at any point during this test. If a question might require the use of a calculator, one will appear on your computer screen.
The questions fall under these skill categories:
- Rational Numbers
- Ratio and Proportional Relationships
- Exponents
- Algebraic Expressions
- Linear Equations
- Linear Applications and Graphs
- Probability and Sets
- Descriptive Statistics
- Geometry Concepts for Pre-Algebra
- Geometry Concepts for Algebra I
ADVANCED ALGEBRA AND FUNCTIONS
20 questions
Just like the other math tests, you will NOT be allowed to use a handheld calculator at any point during this test. If a question might require the use of a calculator, one will appear on your computer screen.
The questions fall under these skill categories:
- Linear equations
- Linear applications and graphs
- Factoring
- Quadratics
- Functions
- Radical and rational equations
- Polynomial equations
- Exponential and logarithmic equations
- Geometry concepts for Algebra I
- Geometry concepts for Algebra II
- Trigonometry
WRITEPLACER
1 essay
There isn’t a strict word count for the essay, but all you need to write is a simple 4-5 paragraph essay, which is around 300-600 words.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
4 placement tests
Language Use
This test measures your ability to use English grammar.
Listening
This test measures your ability to understand one or more English speakers in a monologue or conversation.
Reading
This test measures your ability to read text in English.
Sentence Meaning
This test measures your ability to determine the meaning of English sentences.
How to Register
To get started with the registration process, contact the testing center at the college or university where you wish to take the test. You’ll generally be asked to schedule a testing appointment either online or over the phone.
The fee for the ACCUPLACER will differ for every school/organization.
ACCUPLACER Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
ACCUPLACER Scores
Once you have completed the test, the hard part is over!
You should get a score notification on the screen as soon as you finish the test, and you can pick up a score report before you leave the testing center.
The Reading, Writing, and Math tests each have a score range of 200 to 300. Your final score for these tests is placed on a score band, which gives schools an idea of your skill and placement level.
The WriterPlacer essay has a score range of 1-8, while the ESL tests each have a score range of 20 to 120.
Passing Scores
One of the perks of the ACCUPLACER tests is that there is technically no way to “fail” the test!
How is that possible?
Well, because your ACCUPLACER scores are used by schools as an evaluation tool, there is no predetermined passing score to achieve. Different schools and organizations will be looking for different ACCUPLACER scores, so what counts as “passing” is totally up to those programs.
Retaking the Test
If you did not get the score you wanted on your first try, that’s okay! The school or organization of your choice will provide you with details on retaking the test.
Online ACCUPLACER Test Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online ACCUPLACER prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The ACCUPLACER course includes:
- 74 Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 1,250+ ACCUPLACER Practice Questions
- Over 240 Video Tutorials
- More than 550 Electronic Flashcards
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The ACCUPLACER prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their ACCUPLACER exam. Click below to check it out!
FAQS
How long is the ACCUPLACER test?
There is not an official time limit set for any of the ACCUPLACER placement tests.
What are good ACCUPLACER scores?
Each school decides its own scoring preferences, so a “good” score will be different for every school. However, you should aim to get a score of at least 263 on the Reading, Writing, and Math tests.
Is the ACCUPLACER test hard?
ACCUPLACER tests are computer-adaptive, which means that the difficulty of the test depends on how well you answer each question.
