What is the Accuplacer?
Accuplacer – Definition
The Accuplacer is a placement test used by community colleges in the United States.
Accuplacer – Meaning
The meaning of the exam name “Accuplacer” appears to be from two words: accurate and placement
So, the exam is designed to make student placement more accurate.
How is Accuracy Ensured?
The Accuplacer by definition is supposed to be accurate because the test is computer-adaptive.
So, the questions are adjusted by computer software as you go through the test.
If you are doing well on the exam, each question should get more difficult as you go through them.
In the event some questions are really easy, you may have answered a few previous questions incorrectly.
Because of the accuracy of the question-adjustment software, you need to be extra careful as you answer each question.
What is the Accuplacer?
The purpose of the exam is to place students into classes according to their ability levels.
The test assesses your ability in three academic areas: reading, writing, and math.
You won’t get a pass or fail result for the test.
Instead, you’ll be told which classes you need to take.
What Does the Accuplacer Mean for Me as a Student?
Yes, it is true that strictly speaking you cannot fail the test.
But be very careful!
If you do poorly on the test, you may not be able to start college.
Instead, you’ll be put into remedial classes instead to improve your skills.
These classes are usually called “developmental classes” because they develop your skills before you start college.
Worst of all, these developmental classes don’t count for credit towards your degree.
The Meaning of Being in a Developmental Class
If you do poorly on the math part of the test, for example, you have to spend a year in an introductory math class brushing up your algebra skills.
On the other hand, poor performance on the reading or writing tests can mean that you have to take an English composition class.
You then need to write a bunch of essays for 6 to 9 months to show that you have improved your English skills.
We think you’ll agree, you want to avoid both of these types of classes!
What Do My Individual Scores Mean?
For more information on the meaning of scores on the exam, please click on the links below
Understanding your Accuplacer Scores – Video
