The Academic Skills Assessment And Course Placement Guide

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Chesapeake College P.O. Box 8 Wye Mills, MD 21679 410-822-5400, 410-758-1537, 410-228-4360 www.chesapeake.

1 Chesapeake College P.O. Box 8 Wye Mills, MD , , The Academic Skills Assessment And Course Placement Guide For Testing Information, please contact: THE TESTING CENTER Learning Resource Center, Room L , , , x344 Fax: testingcenter@chesapeake.edu STUDENT SUCCESS & ENROLLMENT SERVICES Dorchester Administration Building, Room D , , , x250 Fax: THE CAMBRIDGE CENTER The Multi-Service Center , , x602 Fax: Updated 8/7/07 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND PLACEMENT Policies and Procedures...3 Testing Preparation...3 Testing Requirements...3 Exemption Policy...3 Visiting Students...3 Taking Your ASA: Wye Mills Campus Taking Your ASA: Chesapeake College s Cambridge Center...4 ASA Testing Regulations...4 ASA Test Administration...4 Types of Tests...4 Score Reporting...4 Total Right Score...4 ABOUT THE ASA TESTS Computer-Delivered Testing...4 Answering the Questions...4 Adaptive Testing...4 Description of Tests: Arithmetic Skills...5 Elementary Algebra...5 College-Level Mathematics...5 Reading Comprehension...5 Sentence Skills...5 TAKING THE ASA TESTS Student Identification...5 Guessing Answers After the Test Your Next Step...6 Course Placement Policy...6 Total Right Score Placement...6 ESL Testing & Placement Retesting Policy...7 SAMPLE QUESTIONS Sample Questions for Arithmetic Skills...7 Sample Questions for College-Level Math Skills Sample Questions for Elementary Algebra Skills...8 Sample Questions for Reading Comprehension Sample Questions for Sentence Skills...9 ANSWERS TO SAMPLE QUESTIONS Arithmetic...9 Reading Comprehension...9 College-Level Mathematics...9 Sentence Skills...9 Elementary Algebra...9 2

3 STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND PLACEMENT Policies and Procedures Chesapeake College is committed to your success. To help you begin reaching your goals, the College offers Accuplacer, a placement test for incoming college students. Chesapeake College refers to this assessment service as the Academic Skills Assessment (ASA). This instrument is used to measure your entry-level skills in math, English, and reading; the results of which allow academic advisors to assist you with your selection of courses. No student will be denied admission as a result of test scores. However, you are required to complete the ASA as a condition of enrollment, and if your test scores indicate a need for skill development, you will be required to complete the appropriate developmental courses. The purpose of this publication is to provide you with answers to questions you may have concerning Chesapeake s assessment and placement policies and procedures. If you need additional information, please contact the Office of Student Success at ext. 250 or the Testing Center at ext Testing Preparation You can prepare to take the ASA by reviewing the Accuplacer Student Guide online at the following website address: Testing Requirements All entering students are encouraged to take the ASA in order to assure accurate course placement. If you meet any of the following conditions and do not meet the criteria for exemption (see Exemption Policy), completion of the ASA is required. The ASA is required for: 1. Students intending to enroll for 7 or more credit/load hours of course work in a given semester. 2. Students intending to enroll in any General Education course. Exemption Policy Again, all entering students are encouraged to take the ASA in order to assure accurate course placement. Under certain conditions, students required to take the ASA may have the requirement waived under the following ASA exemption policy: ASA exceptions for students wishing to take English or math courses: 1. Students who received mathematics and critical reading SAT scores of 550 or higher each or an ACT score of 21 within the last two years. 2. Students who, with documentation, have taken developmental English or mathematics courses may have the appropriate sections of the college placement test waived. 3. Students who have completed appropriate college-level mathematics and English courses may have the applicable section or sections of the ASA waived. In order to do so, students should provide evidence of prior college work. NOTE: Unofficial transcripts may be used for this purpose; however, for prior college-level course work to be accepted for transfer credit at Chesapeake College, official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Registration. Visiting Students Students who are currently enrolled at another college or university and who do not intend to pursue a degree or certificate at Chesapeake College may be exempt from the placement testing requirement. To establish visiting student status, a student must submit a letter of good standing from the home institution, which must include the following: 1. The semester the student plans to enroll and course(s) to be completed at Chesapeake College 2. A statement indicating that the student is eligible to enroll in the course(s) for which he/she is requesting transfer of credit at the home institution. 3. A signature of an official at the home institution granting permission for the transfer of credits. Taking Your ASA - Wye Mills Campus The ASA is administered by the Testing Center located in the Learning Resource Center, Room L-133. Please contact the Testing Center at ext. 344 for hours of operation. Testing is available on a walk-in basis and can take up to two hours to complete. Individuals who wish to test must begin testing at least two hours prior to closing. Test-takers must present the Chesapeake College Placement Test/Re-Test Request indicating which test (s) is Updated 8/7/07 3

4 required to the Testing Administrator. This form is available from the Office of Student Success. A picture ID must also be presented at the time of testing. Taking Your ASA - Chesapeake College s Cambridge Center The ASA is administered in the Multi-Service Center. Please contact the Multi-Service Center at ext. 602 for testing hours. Testing is available on a walk-in basis and can take up to two hours to complete. Individuals who wish to test must begin testing at least two hours prior to closing. Test-takers must present the Chesapeake College Placement Test/Re-Test Request indicating which test (s) is required to the Testing Administrator. This form is available from the Office of Student Success. A picture ID must also be presented at the time of testing. ASA Testing Regulations Textbooks, notebooks, dictionaries, or other papers of any kind (except scratch paper provided by the Test Administrator for use with the mathematics tests) are not allowed in the testing room. Further, anyone who gives or receives help during the test, or uses notes or books of any kind, will not be allowed to continue the test. Following the test period, no test materials or notes may be removed from the room. Your college may cancel any test score if there is reason to question its validity. Before canceling a score, the college may offer you the opportunity to take the test again. ASA Test Administration The ASA is administered on a computer. You will actually read the instructions and questions on the computer screen and will mark your answer using the computer keyboard or mouse. Types of Tests Five tests are available in the ASA program. The tests include reading comprehension, sentence skills, arithmetic, elementary algebra and college-level mathematics. Score Reporting When you have completed all the tests, you will receive a printed report of your scores. Your Individual Score Report will include your Total Right Score and Percentile Rank. Total Right Score The Total Right Score shows how many of the questions you could expect to answer correctly if you took a test made up of 120 questions. Any test score is an estimate, not an exact measure of your skills. ABOUT THE ASA TESTS Computer-Delivered Testing You will take the tests using a computer. You will communicate with the computer by using the keyboard or the mouse to enter your answers to the questions and to supply other information. The test instructions are easy to understand. Entering information is also very easy. A Test Administrator will always be available if you have any questions or problems. The Test Administrator can resolve any difficulties that may occur. Answering the Questions Because you take the ASA on a computer, you don t have to answer as many questions as on traditional paper and pencil tests. The numbers of questions on the five tests range from The questions will appear one at a time on the computer screen. Most questions are multiple choice and all you will need to do is use the space bar or mouse to select the desired answer. When you have completed the question and confirmed your answer, a new screen will appear with your next question. Adaptive Testing 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 difficult. The greater your demonstrated skill level, the more challenging the questions that will be presented to you. 4

5 Description of Tests Arithmetic Skills The Arithmetic test measures your skills in three primary categories. The first is operations with whole numbers and fractions. This includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and recognizing equivalent fractions and mixed numbers. The second category involves operations with decimals and percents. It includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as well as percent problems, decimal recognition, fraction and percent equivalencies, and estimation problems. The last category involves applications and problem solving. Questions include rate, percent, and measurement problems; geometry problems; and distribution of a quantity into its fractional parts. Sixteen questions are asked. Note: It is important that the background questions be answered accurately since the answers are used to determine which of the tests are delivered. Elementary Algebra There are also three categories in the Elementary Algebra Test. First, operations with integers and rational numbers include computation with integers and negative rationales, the use of absolute values, and ordering. The second category is operations with algebraic expressions. This tests your ability with the evaluation of simple formulas, expressions, and adding and subtracting monomials and polynomials, the evaluation of positive rational roots and exponents, simplifying algebraic fractions, and factoring. The third category tests abilities in equation solving, inequalities, and word problems. These questions include solving verbal problems presented in algebraic context, geometric reasoning, translation of written phrases into algebraic expressions, and graphing. Twelve questions are presented, and a calculator is provided for your use. College-Level Mathematics The College-Level Mathematics test assesses proficiency from intermediate algebra through pre-calculus. Six categories are covered. Algebraic operations include simplifying rational algebraic expressions, factoring and expanding polynomials, and manipulating roots and exponents. The category of solutions of equations and inequalities includes the solution of linear and quadratic equations by factoring; expanding polynomials, and manipulating roots and exponents. Coordinate geometry asks questions about plane geometry, the coordinate plane, straight lines, conics, sets of points in a plane, and graphs of algebraic functions. Applications and other algebra topics asks about complex numbers, series and sequences, determinants, permutations and combinations, fractions, and word problems. The last categories, functions and trigonometry, present questions about polynomial, algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Twenty questions are asked, and a calculator is provided for your use. Reading Comprehension This test is designed to measure how well you understand what you read. It contains 20 questions. Some ask you to decide how two sentences are related. Others ask you questions about reading passages of various lengths. You will be asked to interpret and draw conclusions from what you have read. Sentence Skills Two kinds of questions are given in this test. You will be asked to correct a sentence by choosing a word or phrase to substitute for an underlined portion of a sentence. In the other type of question, you will be asked to rewrite a sentence in a specific way without changing the meaning. You will be presented a total of 20 questions. TAKING THE ASA TESTS Student Identification You must know your social security number in order to take the test. Your social security number serves as your student identification number for your test results. Guessing Answers Because this is an adaptive test, questions are chosen for you based on your answers to previous questions. Because the test works this way, you must answer every question when it is first given. You cannot skip any question or come back later to change an answer. 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. 5

6 After the Test Your Next Step After the test, you may meet with an advisor without an appointment in the Office of Student Success (Wye Mills campus) or at the Cambridge Center to review your scores and prepare an academic plan. Course Placement Policy Your ASA scores will help you and your advisor place you in the appropriate courses. Placement in developmental courses may be optional or required depending upon your ASA scores, academic goals, and student status. 1. Developmental courses serve as prerequisites to credit-level mathematics and English courses. Students intending to enroll in credit-level mathematics or English courses, who have not been otherwise exempted from the requirement to take the ASA, must complete all indicated developmental prerequisites prior to enrolling in credit-level mathematics or English courses. 2. Students enrolling for 7 or more semester hours must begin immediately taking required developmental courses as indicated by their ASA scores and the requirements of their program. Progress toward developmental course completion should continue, uninterrupted, until all developmental requirements have been fulfilled. The following shows the ASA score ranges for each placement test and the corresponding developmental requirements and recommendations. Refer to the current catalog for course descriptions. Total Right Score Placement Elementary Algebra 0-31 MAT 023 required MAT 031 required MAT 032, 200 or 204 Note: MAT 032 is prerequisite for MAT 110, 113, 115, 120 or 210 College-Level Math 0-31 Elementary Algebra Score Used Mathematics appeal MAT 110, 113, 115, 200, 204, or MAT 140 Reading Comprehension 0-40 ENG 060/ ENG 070/ ENG May appeal if Sentence Skills score is at least No Development Required Sentence Skills 0-50 ENG 061/ ENG 071/ ENG May Appeal if Reading Score is at least No Development Required ESL Testing & Placement Students with English as their second language are administered the LOEP (ESL) portion of the ASA based upon the English background question. The following ASA scores apply: LOEP: Reading Skills 0-40 Continuing Education * ESL 060 Basic Reading Skills ESL 062 Intermediate Reading Skills 80 and above Use ASA Score 6

7 LOEP: Sentence Meaning & LOEP: Language Use 0-50 Continuing Education* ESL 064 Basic Writing Skills ESL 066 Intermediate Writing Skills 90 and above Use ASA Score *Students placing in Continuing Education are not eligible to register for credit courses. Retesting Policy While retesting does not typically yield results substantially different from the initial scores, ONE retest is permitted on any portion of the ASA (to be administered no sooner than 24 hours after the initial placement test). A payment of $10 per test portion (or $25 for the entire test) should be paid to the Business Office prior to retesting. (Students enrolled in a developmental course should bring written permission from the instructor in order to retest after a semester has begun. Students should also be advised that ASA scores are valid for two years. If developmental requirements have not begun by then, an ASA retest is required.) SAMPLE QUESTIONS Sample questions are given below. Those presented include only a few areas covered by each test. The correct answers can be found on the last page of the booklet. Sample Questions for Arithmetic Skills Question 1: Solve the following problems and choose your answer from the alternatives given. You may use the paper you have been given for scratch work. All of the following are ways to write 20 percent of N, EXCEPT: (A) 0.20N (B) 20N/100 (C) 1N/5 (D) 20N Question 2: Which of the following is closest to 10? (A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 8 Question 3: Three people who work full-time are to work together on a project, but their total time on the project is to be equivalent to that of only one person working full time. If one of the people budgeted for 1/2 his time to the project and a second person for 1/3 of her time, what part of the third worker s time should be budgeted to this project? (A) 1/3 (B) 1/4 (C) 1/6 (D) 1/8 Sample Questions for College-Level Math Skills (Used for higher-level credit math courses) Question 1: If f(x) = x 4 - x + 2, then f (-x) = (A) x 4 - x (B) x 4 + x (C) x 4 - x + 2 (D) x 4 + x + 2 7

8 Question 2: The equation x 2 + 2ix - 4 = 0 has its roots (A) 5-1, (B) 5 - i, 5 + i (C) 3 - i, i (D) 3 - i, 3 + i (E) 3 - i, i Question 3: For triangle ABC, a = 12, b = 16, and sin B = 2/3. What is the measure of angle A in degrees? (A) 60 (B) 90 (C) 30 (D) 180 Sample Questions for Elementary Algebra Skills Question 1: If a number is divided by 4 and then 3 is subtracted, the result is 0. What is that number? (A) 12 (B) 4 (C) 3 (D) 2 Question 2: 16x - 8 = (A) 8x (B) 8(2x - x) (C) 8(2x - 1) (D) 8(2x - 8) Question 3: If x2 - x - 6 = 0, then x is (A) -2 or 3 (B) -1 or 6 (C) 1 or -6 (D) 1 or -3 Sample Questions for Reading Comprehension Question 1: (Narrative Question) Read the statement or passage and then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the statement or passage. There are two types of pottery that I do. There is production pottery - mugs, tableware, the kinds of things that sell easily. These pay for my time to do the other work, which is more creative and satisfies my needs as an artist. The author of this passage implies that: (A) Artists have a tendency to waste valuable time (B) Creativity and mass-production are incompatible (C) Most people do not appreciate good art (D) Pottery is not produced by creative artists 8

9 Question 2: (Sentence Relationships Questions) Two underlined sentences are followed by a question or statement about them. Read each pair of sentences and then choose the best answer to the questions or the best completion of the statement. The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in fifteen years. Corn and soybean prices are expected to be very high this year. What does the second sentence do? (A) It restates the idea found in the first. (B) It states an effect. (C) It gives an example. (D) It analyzes the statement made in the first. Sample Questions for Sentence Skills Question 1: (Sentence Correction Question) Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer. Ms. Rose planning to teach a course in biology next summer. (A) planning (B) are planning (C) with a plan (D) plans Question 2: (Construction Shift Question) Rewrite the sentences in your head, following the directions given below. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the sentence given you. Being a female jockey, she was often interviewed. Rewrite, beginning with She was often interviewed... The next words will be: (A) on account of she was (B) by her being (C) because she was (D) being as she was ANSWERS TO SAMPLE QUESTIONS Arithmetic 1. D 2. A 3. C Reading Comprehension 1. C 2. B College-Level Mathematics 1. D 2. E 3. C Sentence Skills 1. D 2. C Elementary Algebra 1. A 2. C 3. A (Revised 8-07) 9

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