The Accuplacer test is a college placement test much like the SAT and ACT tests. It was designed for assessing whether students are ready to take community college classes, and is used across the United States. PSEO funding to take college classes is available only to students who either 1) pass one or more Accuplacer test sections at a college level, or 2) pass one or more classes designed to build the skills of students who are very close to passing the Accuplacer test at a college level. These developmental classes are called Jumpstart classes.
In order to take the Accuplacer test, a student must fill out an online MCTC application and receive an MCTC ID number. This can be done while in high school, or while enrolled at TPlus. The Accuplacer is given year round at MCTC, though the schedule changes through out the year. Students who are enrolled at TPlus receive assistance from TPlus staff with completing the MCTC application, traveling to MCTC to take the Accuplacer, and applying for PSEO funding. Recently, MCTC staff have been giving the Accuplacer test twice a year at the Transition Plus building, and it is hoped this service will continue.
There are three general scoring ranges a student's Accuplacer scores can fall into in the areas of reading, writing and math. Scoring at the higher or middle levels on one or more of the sections indicates a student is academically ready, or almost ready, for college classes. It is very difficult for a student to increase their reading, writing and/or math skills to a college level if they score in the lowest area on all three sections of the Accuplacer. The three areas are listed below.
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