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HELPFUL GUIDE TO PLACEMENT PREPARATION

 

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION

  • Special Accommodations: Should you need special accommodations due to a documented disability, you should contact the Disability Resource Center at (203) 392-6828.  Placement exams can be taken the week preceding any scheduled placement exam date Monday through Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
  • Cancellation Policy:  You have up to 24 hours prior to the exam date to cancel a reservation online. 
  • No-Show Policy:  If you do not show up for your exams, you will be blocked from registering for another exam.  You will need to contact the Placement Coordinator, Christine Barrett at 203.392.6195, to seek permission to re-register.
  • Cell Phones:  Cell phones must be turned off during exams.
  • Calculators:  No calculators are permitted in the mathematics exam.  If a calculator is needed, one will pop up on the computer screen.

 

what will i need on exam day?

  1. Your student ID number (8-digit number starting with the number 7)
  2. A photo ID (license, high school ID, passport, etc.)
  3. Writing utensils (two pens or sharpened pencils)
  4. Arrive about a 1/2 hour early for English placement exam

 

How do I prepare for exam day?

Review pertinent subject matter before the exam.  It pays to prepare.

ENGLISH:  The best way to prepare for the exam is to spend some time thinking about your experiences with reading and writing, both in and out of school.  Make certain you understand what a thesis statement is supposed to accomplish.  Review successful essays you have written or read.  Consider how examples and interpretation were handled in these essays and try to answer questions such as:  Did the writer successfully prove the thesis?  How did the writer use details to prove the thesis?  Paying attention to successful writers' approaches should help you remain focused and successful.

MATH: The math exam is a computer-based exam called Accuplacer, an adaptive test that may include topics from arithmetic, elementary and intermediate algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus.  Review your high school algebra.  You can also buy review books at most bookstores for the various areas covered.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE:  The written portion of the exam consists of multiple-choice questions testing grammar, vocabulary, situational phrases, and reading comprehension.  The best way to prepare for the exam is to review any elementary or intermediate foreign language textbook.  If you score high enough on the written exam, an oral interview will follow if you want to waive the requirement with credit.