TESTING SERVICES
Placement Testing
Information Booklet
& Study Guide
PLACEMENT TESTING CENTERS
Brighton Campus - Room 3-107
585.292.2290
Damon City Campus - Suite 5252
585.262.1619
www.monroecc.edu/go/testing
Contents
Placement Testing Services
Introduction ..........................................................2
Testing and Assessment Center Purpose
Statement ....................................................... 2
Placement Testing Information
Why do I Need to Take a Placement Test? ..............3
What do I Need in Order to Test? ...........................3
When Can I Test? ..................................................3
Where Can I Test? .................................................4
Can I Retest? .........................................................4
Items Prohibited in the Testing Center ...................4
Testing Accommodations for Students with
Disabilities ......................................................4
The Placement Tests .............................................5
Ability-to-Benet (ATB) Testing ..............................5
Preparing For the Placement Test
Introduction ..........................................................6
General Test Preparation Tips ................................6
ACCUPLACER Review Resources ..........................6
CELSA (ESOL) Review Resources ..........................7
ACCUPLACER Sample Questions ..........................7
CELSA (ESOL) Sample Questions ........................10
Answers to ACCUPLACER Sample Questions ....... 12
Answers to CELSA (ESOL) Sample Questions ......12
Placement Testing Services
Introduction
Monroe Community College Testing Services offers placement testing at both
the Brighton and Damon City Campuses. In many cases remote testing can
be arranged for students who live more than 60 miles from MCC.
Testing Services Purpose Statement
Testing Services will:
• Provide a safe and condential setting to maximize each examinee’s
potential to succeed.
• Promote student success by assessing current language and
mathematics skills at the beginning of the educational process.
• Support community development by administering professional license
and certication exams and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).
• Adhere to all of the standards set forth by the National College Testing
Association Professional Standards and Guidelines for Post-Secondary
Test Centers.
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Placement Testing Information
Why do I Need to Take a Placement Test?
Student academic success is predicted by many factors; one of the main
factors is satisfactory course completion. Because of this, MCC must ensure
that all entering students are placed in foundational courses (mathematics
and English) where successful completion is most likely.
Unless the Admissions Ofce grants a test waiver based on specic
academic criteria, all new matriculated students and non-matriculated
students seeking to take courses with a mathematics or English prerequisite
are required to complete placement testing prior to course registration.
Waiver criteria and eligibility can be found on the Testing Services website.
www.monroecc.edu/go/testing
What do I Need in Order to Test?
Students are strongly encouraged to review and get a good night’s rest
before testing. The following are required to test:
• An MCC identication number (M number) provided by Admissions.
• A current photo ID. Acceptable IDs include: driver’s license, student ID,
work ID, etc.
• Permission to test—a notication requesting testing from the Admissions
Ofce or a written Permission to Placement Test slip. Permission to
Placement Test slips must be presented at check-in.
When Can I Test?
Testing is available on a walk-in basis or through online scheduling (subject
to availability). Students can view walk-in hours or schedule an appointment
by going to the Testing Services website www.monroecc.edu/go/testing or by
calling the Brighton Campus (585) 292-2290 or the Damon City Campus
(585) 262-1619.
Where Can I Test?
Placement testing is offered at Testing Services on the Brighton and Damon
City Campuses, and in many cases remote testing for students who live
more than 60 miles from either campus can be arranged.
Brighton Campus Damon City Campus
Building 3, Room 107 5th Floor, Suite 5252
Phone: (585) 292-2290 Phone: (585) 262-1619
Information about off-campus testing for eligible students who live more
than 60 miles from MCC is available on the Testing Services website.
www.monroecc.edu/go/testing
Can I Retest?
Students will take the placement test once for placement purposes.
Placements are valid for 3 years. On rare occasions, under extenuating
circumstances, authorization to retest may be granted. The rare instance
in which a decision is made that a student may retest will be based on an
individual review of the student’s overall academic prole.
Items Prohibited in the Testing Center
Personal belongings, such as electronic devices (including cell phones,
smart watches, and calculators), review materials, bags (including purses
and book bags), hats, and food or drink are strictly prohibited in the testing
center. Coin lockers are available outside the Brighton testing center—a
quarter is required.
Paper, pencil, and other approved materials required for testing will be
provided by testing center staff.
Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students who request testing accommodations must submit documentation
to the Services for Students with Disabilities Ofce at least 30 days prior
to testing. For more information about requesting accommodations, go to
www.monroecc.edu/go/ssd or contact the SSD Ofce.
Brighton Campus Damon City Campus
Building 1, Room 231 Student Services Center
Phone: (585) 292-2140 Floor 5, Room 5252
Fax: (585) 292-3867 Phone: (585) 262-1752
Fax: (585) 262-1733
Placement testing with accommodations may be taken during the regular
walk-in hours or scheduled online at www.monroecc.edu/go/testing
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The Placement Tests
ACCUPLACER is produced by The College Board.
It is an adaptive Internet-Based Test (IBT). The
computer uses the student’s answers to determine
the level of difculty of each successive question.
Tests are not time-limited and scores are
generated immediately after the test is
completed. Reading Comprehension
and Sentence Skills are used for English
placement, and Elementary
Algebra and either Arithmetic or
College-Level Math are used for
math placement.
CELSA is a Computer-Based
Test (CBT) for speakers of
other languages (ESOL)
produced by the
Association of
Classroom Teacher
Testers (ACTT). It is a timed, 45-minute test. Scores are available
immediately after testing.
Ability-to-Benet (ATB) Testing
Students who do not possess a U.S. high school diploma or equivalent may
be required to complete a version of the CELSA and/or ACCUPLACER to
qualify for nancial aid benets.
ATB Minimum Passing Scores:
• AccuPlacer Reading Comprehension - 55
• AccuPlacer Sentence Skills - 60
• AccuPlacer Arthmetic - 34
OR
• CELSA - 43
• AccuPlacer Arthmetic - 34
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Preparing For the Placement Test
Introduction
Placement test scores determine where you can begin your course of study.
Before testing, it is important to review.
General Test Preparation Tips
Tips you can follow to prepare for your test:
• Study.
• Strategically plan your study time and space.
• Avoid multitasking while studying.
• Take practice tests.
• Get at least 7 to 9 hours of rest the night before the test.
• Be sure to eat a balanced meal.
• Use positive self-talk (i.e., “I will do the best I can.”).
More study tips can be found at www.HowToStudy.org
Online ACCUPLACER Review Resources
Visit the Testing Services website www.monroecc.edu/go/testing
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CELSA (ESOL) Review Resources
The best preparation for the ESOL placement test is using English every day
to challenge yourself in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Study of
vocabulary and grammar in context may also be helpful. Useful materials
are books, newspapers, magazines, lms, TV, and internet resources.
MCC’s ESOL homepage contains sample questions and many helpful study
resources. www.monroecc.edu/depts/esol/links.htm
ACCUPLACER Sample Questions
(Answers on Page 12)
ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension
1) 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.
Myths are stories, the products of fertile imagination, sometimes
simple, often containing profound truths. They are not meant to be
taken too literally. Details may sometimes appear childish, but most
myths express a culture’s most serious beliefs about human beings,
eternity, and God.
The main idea of this passage is that myths
A. are created primarily to entertain young children
B. are purposely written for the reader who lacks imagination
C. provide the reader with a means of escape from reality
D. illustrate the values that are considered important to a society
2) Two sentences are followed by a question or statement about them.
Read each pair of sentences and then choose the best answer to the
question or the best completion of the statement.
The Midwest is experiencing its worst drought in fteen 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 rst.
B. It states an effect.
C. It gives an example.
D. It analyzes the statement made in the rst.
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ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills Sample Questions
3) Select the best version of the highlighted part of the sentence. The rst
choice is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original
sentence is best, choose the rst answer.
Ms. Rose planning to teach a course in biology next summer.
A. Planning
B. are planning
C. with a plan
D. plans
4) Rewrite the sentence in your head [or on scratch paper], 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.
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
Elementary Algebra Sample Questions
5) If a number is divided by 4, then 3 is subtracted, the result is 0. What
is the number?
A. 12
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2
6) 16x - 8 =
A. 8x
B. 8(2x-x)
C. 8(2x-1)
D. 8(2x-8)
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ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Sample Questions
7) All of the following are ways to write 20 percent of N EXCEPT
A. 0.20N
B. 20/100 N
C. 1/5 N
D. 20N
8) Which of the following is closest to the square root of 10.5 ?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 8
ACCUPLACER College-Level Math Sample Questions
9) The graph of which of the following equations is a straight line parallel
to the graph of y=2x?
A. 4x – y = 4
B. 2x – 2y = 2
C. 2x – y = 4
D. 2x + y = 2
E. X – 2y = 4
10) An apartment building contains 12 units consisting of one- and
two-bedroom apartments that rent for $360 and $450 per month,
respectively. When all units are rented, the total monthly rental is
$4,950. What is the number of two-bedroom apartments?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
E. 7
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CELSA (ESOL) Sample Questions
(Answers on Page 12)
Directions: Read the following quickly. Choose the best word to complete
the story or conversation. There are four answers for each question. Only
one answer is correct.
A) John is a student. 1. a. He studies English.
b. He’s
c. She
d. Him
He 2. a. is his class.
b. go
c. likes
d. happy
His teacher is very 3. a. work.
b. school.
c. good.
d. day.
B) My teacher thinks that I do not spend enough time on homework.
Yesterday she 4. a. suggested me that I 5. a. must to study more.
b. said b. should
c. told c. might
d. ordered d. need
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C) Mary and Joe 6. a. live on Main Street when they rst came to this town.
b. lived
c. liked
d. live
After 7. a. her rst child was born, they wanted to move to a larger house.
b. their
c. they
d. there
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Answers to ACCUPLACER Sample
Questions
ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension
1) D
2) B
ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills
3) D
4) C
ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra
5) A
6) C
ACCUPLACER Arithmetic
7) D
8) A
ACCUPLACER College-Level Math
9) C
10) E
Answers to CELSA Sample Questions
A) 1. a, 2. c, 3. c
B) 4. c, 5. d
C) 6. b, 7. b
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Monroe Community College does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national
origin, disability, veteran status, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status,
or domestic violence victim status in admissions, employment, and treatment of students and employees or in any aspect
of the business of the College.
MCC CAMPUS LOCATIONS
Brighton Campus
1000 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York 14623 | Phone: 585.292.2200
Damon City Campus
228 East Main Street, Rochester, New York 14604 | Phone: 585.262.1740
Applied Technologies Center
2485 West Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York 14623 | Phone: 585.292.3700
Public Safety Training Facility
1190 Scottsville Road, Rochester, New York 14624 | Phone: 585.753.3800
Economic & Workforce Development Center
1057 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York 14623 | Phone: 585.292.3770
Study Guide created by
Monroe Community College
Placement Testing Center
