Course Placement
Accuplacer Assessment Tool
What is the Accuplacer Assessment Tool?
The Accuplacer assessment tools is used to determine your starting place in English and Mathematics. It is also used as a prerequisite to additional courses you may take. There is no “passing” score. Scores indicate areas in which you are strong and areas in which you may need to improve your skills.
Accuplacer is a computer-based assessment and is not timed. Whatever the results, Skagit Valley College has a starting place for you. For general information about the assessment, see: https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/
Registering for and Taking the Accuplacer Test
In-person placement tests are available at both the Mount Vernon and Whidbey Island Campuses. Make sure to bring a valid photo ID (school ID, driver’s license, passport, or government-issued ID).
Remote placement tests are available to students. Remote testing sessions require a computer with a webcam and microphone. If you register for a remote test session, please send your name, current email address, phone number, ctcLink ID number, date of birth, and what you need placement for to: testing@skagit.edu.
Please check the email you used to register for the ACCUPLACER test. If you don’t receive the email from the Testing Center in your inbox, check your junk file. Please sign up for only one Accuplacer testing session at the time. We have limited availability. When you schedule more than one test session it limits the spaces available for other students to schedule an Accuplacer testing appointment. Guests and children are not allowed inside the testing room during a testing session in progress. To register for an Accuplacer Test, you will need your ctcLink ID number.
Taking the Accuplacer Test as a Non-Student
If you are not planning to attend SVC but need to take the Accuplacer test, there is a $25 test fee which is payable at the Cashier’s Office. Proof of this payment and a phone number or social security number is required to schedule your test. To schedule a test, you will need to contact the Testing Center via phone at 360.416.7820 or email at Testing@skagit.edu.
Preparing for the Accuplacer Test
Study to take the Accuplacer test! We do recommend you prepare to take the assessment before you actually do, so your results are accurate reflection of your knowledge.
Here are links to study guides from Accuplacer for your reference:
- Reading Sample Questions
- Arithmetic Sample Questions
- Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistic Sample Questions– Start with this practice guide for math!
- Advanced Algebra and Functions Sample Questions
Accuplacer also offers a free website to help you prepare for the assessment at https://accuplacerpractice.collegeboard.org/login.
Here you will create an account, select Accuplacer Next Generation as your test, and start studying! FYI, at SVC, we do not proctor the Writing section of the test.
Other sites we recommend for studying include:
- WAMAP.org: An online diagnostic test designed to prepare you for the placement exam. To begin:
- Click the “Create an account and enroll” button at the bottom of the page
- Fill in the boxes to quickly and easily create a free WAMAP account
- You will be taken directly to Skagit Valley College’s practice site for the Accuplacer test
- http://www.khanacademy.org
- http://www.sosmath.com
- http://mathforum.org
Retaking the Accuplacer Test
You may request a re-assessment in any of the Accuplacer subjects. Students will be placed into classes using the highest score.