TESTING SERVICES
TESTING SERVICES
(formerly
Basic Skills Assessment
and
Placement Tests)
What is Accuplacer?
Accuplacer is a set of multiple choice, computer-based placement tests in composition, reading,and mathematics.
YOU MUST APPLY FOR ADMISSION AND BE ENTERED IN OUR COMPUTER DATABASE BEFORE TAKING THE ACCUPLACER. IF YOU HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR ADMISSION YET, PLEASE APPLY NOW TO AVOID DELAYS.
(If you are required to submit ACT or SAT scores, you must submit them -- depending upon your scores, you may not need Accuplacer, or you may not be eligible to take Accuplacer.)
For UALR entering freshmen who don't have current ACT or SAT scores
Accuplacer can be used INSTEAD of the ACT or SAT for the following students:
International students
Students age 25 or older
For transfer students, and for students with ACT or SAT scores
who want to enhance their course placement
Accuplacer can also be used as a PLACEMENT TEST or a CALCULUS READINESS TEST for students with certain ACT or SAT scores, or for transfers who aren't required to submit admission test scores. Click here for information.
(If you have appropriate ACT or SAT scores, or if you are a transfer student, you may take Accuplacer as a placement test or calculus readiness test, even if you are younger than 25.)
If you need to take Accuplacer to attend some university other than UALR
If you plan on attending some other university but you would like to take Accuplacer at UALR, see the information at the end of this section.
What are the advantages of choosing Accuplacer instead of ACT or SAT?
Accuplacer is offered more frequently. You receive your scores immediately.
Accuplacer has no time limit. (You probably will need about one to two hours to finish.)
What are the disadvantages of choosing Accuplacer instead of ACT or SAT?
You may take Accuplacer ONE TIME ONLY. ACT and SAT can be repeated.
Some scholarships and academic programs require ACT or SAT scores.
Accuplacer results are good only at UALR and are not transferable.
What kind of computer skills do I need to take Accuplacer?
Point and click a mouse, scroll up and down a page, and type in your name and ID number.
Before you begin your test, you may choose to work through a tutorial. Click here to access online practice tests.
What does Accuplacer cost?
The entire set of three tests (composition, reading, and math) is $30. Students who are using Accuplacer as an admission test must take all three parts.
When is Accuplacer offered?
Remember that you must apply for admission and be entered in UALR's computer database BEFORE you can take Accuplacer.
We offer walk-in, first-come-first-served testing Monday through Friday ANY TIME BETWEEN 8:30 A.M. AND 3:00 P.M. DURING MOST DAYS THAT WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS. (Yes, we are here during the summer, except for official holidays.)
If you are making a special trip to take Accuplacer, call us at 501-569-3198 on the morning of the day you plan to test. On occasion, we may be unable to test you (for example, if we have computer problems, if the electricity is off, or if the campus closes due to inclement weather).
The entire UALR campus will be CLOSED on Friday, March 28, 2008, which is during the week of spring break.
During peak times (for example, when a semester is about to begin), we may have lines of students waiting to test. Avoid the rush -- test early! We are here throughout the year. The closer you wait until the beginning of classes, the longer the lines will be!
Click here for information on what to bring with you to the test.
How can I study for Accuplacer?
You can find hundreds of free practice tests online.
The specific Accuplacer tests you will be taking are Sentence Skills, Reading Comprehension, and Elementary Algebra -- any website with practice materials on these tests will be helpful.
(Students who do well on the Elementary Algebra test will automatically take the College Level Math test, which can place you as high a a calculus class. See the link below for Aims Community College.)
Make sure you are studying for the test you will be taking! For example, studying the Accuplacer Arithmetic test won't help you much in preparing for the Accuplacer College Level Math test.
Start with official study material offered by the College Board. Note the following:
You will see study material here for the Sentence Skills, Reading Comprehension, and Elementary Algebra Accuplacer Tests.
You should ignore the information on WritePlacer and Arithmetic. We do not administer these Accuplacer tests.
The College Board study material does not have practice questions for the College Level Math test, but you can find some below. Please read on.
OSU-Okmulgee's website is a good source of online practice materials. (You will need to scroll down to "Links and more information." This site does not have a link to study aids for the Accuplacer College Level Math test.)
Trinidad State Junior College's website contains practice tests and tutorial links.
Aims Community College also has helpful practice materials on their website. There is a study guide for the Accuplacer College Level Math test on the Aims website.
There are many, many other free Accuplacer practice tests online besides these. Feel free to explore as many of them as you like. Go to WWW.GOOGLE.COM and type in Accuplacer Practice. Again, be sure you are looking at the Accuplacer tests that we are administering.
Can I get accommodations for a disability?
Of course. Since Accuplacer is untimed, there is no problem if you need additional time. If you need other accommodations, ask Testing Services for a Petition for Testing Accommodations. Also, make sure you have your file completed in the UALR Disability Resource Center. Contact DRC if you have questions.
What must I bring with me to take Accuplacer?
Your test fee. For the entire Accuplacer admissions test, the charge is $30. Please pay by CHECK or MONEY ORDER payable to UALR. We can accept cash if you bring EXACT change. (We don't have a cash register to change large bills.)
Official photo ID with your current legal name. Acceptable photo IDs include a driver's license, UALR ID card, or military ID. Club membership cards and photo credit cards are unacceptable.
Sharpened pencils. (We will provide scratch paper. You are not permitted to take paper of your own into the test room.)
What should I NOT bring with me to take Accuplacer?
Cell phones, pagers, beeping watches, or other electronic devices. They are not permitted in our test rooms, even if you have turned them off.
Food and drinks.
Calculators. If a calculator is permitted on a test you are taking, it will be provided on the computer.
Children. We cannot provide child care for you, and children are not permitted in the testing room.
Using Accuplacer to Bypass Remediation
or as a Calculus Readiness Test
I took the ACT or SAT and was placed into remedial coursework. Can I take part of the Accuplacer to try to avoid these courses?
Yes, if you meet the score requirements below.
I'm a transfer student and didn't have to submit ACT or SAT scores to be admitted. Can I take the Accuplacer Elementary Algebra test to try to bypass remedial coursework?
Yes!
I want to skip over MATH 1302 and go into Trigonometry or a Calculus class. What can I do?
If you have the required ACT or SAT score, you may take the Accuplacer College Level Math test. Depending upon your Accuplacer score, you may be eligible for MATH 1303, 1311, 1342, or 1451.
I've already earned credit for College Algebra (either at UALR or another university). Can I take the Accuplacer College Level Math test to try to skip Trig?
Yes!
What is my next step?
Follow the above guidelines for taking the Accuplacer as an admissions test. The difference is that you take only the applicable part(s) of the test. The charge is $10 per test, with a maximum charge of $30. Remember that you may take each Accuplacer test ONCE only. Refer to the information above about studying for Accuplacer.
|
Accuplacer Test |
Who is eligible? |
Purpose? |
Required score? |
|
Sentence Skills |
ACT English score of 17 or 18 or SAT Verbal score of 430 is required |
To try to bypass RHET 0310 |
87 or higher to be placed in RHET 1311. |
|
Reading Comprehension |
ACT Reading score of 17 or 18 or SAT Verbal score of 400 is strongly recommended |
To try to bypass READ 0310 |
99 or higher to bypass READ 0310. |
|
Elementary Algebra |
ACT Math score of 15 or SAT Math score of 460
is strongly recommended |
To try to bypass MATH 0300 and/or MATH 0301 |
108 or lower places you in MATH 0300. 109 or higher places you in MATH 0301 and automatically moves you up to the College Level Math test. |
|
College Level Math |
ACT Math score of 19, or ACT Elementary Algebra
score of 10, or SAT Math score of 510, or Accuplacer Elementary
Algebra score of 109 is required |
To enroll in MATH 1302 or 1315; or to try to bypass MATH 1302 and go directly into MATH 1303 or 1342; or to bypass 1302 and 1303 and go directly into MATH 1311 or 1451 |
62 or less: MATH 0301. |
What if I plan to attend some other university? Can I take Accuplacer at UALR?
If you plan to attend a university other than UALR -- and that university requires you to take Accuplacer -- it is sometimes possible to test you at UALR. This can be convenient for you if your university is far away.
Here are the procedures:
Contact the university that wants you to take Accuplacer. Tell them that you would like to take the test at UALR.
Ask your university to contact the UALR Director of Testing Services at dmjarrett@ualr.edu
Your university must be willing to provide their Accuplacer passwords to UALR. In this way, your scores are sent directly to your university and are not included in the UALR score database. NOTE: If your university is unwilling to provide their passwords to UALR, we will not be able to administer the test to you here.
Once your university has provided the proper information to UALR, you should contact Dr. Jarrett to schedule your test. Walk-in testing is NOT an option.
Review the information above on how to prepare, what to bring, what not to bring, where to park, and more.
UALR requires appropriate photo ID and charges $10 per test. Check with your university to see how many individual tests they require. If you need 3 tests, for example, your fee will be $30.
You will be given a copy of your score report for your personal use at the end of your testing session. UALR will not have any records of your scores at any time.