The purpose of placement testing is to match the academic readiness of the incoming student with the academic requirements of the curriculum. Persons applying for admission into all degree and diploma programs are required to take the Accuplacer Test.* Students who are unclassified (not desiring to be enrolled in a major) will need to take the placement test if they desire to take a mathematics, English, reading or any course for which math or English are prerequisites. Alternate testing formats will be made available
to individuals with disabilities upon request from the Disability Services Counselor. Documentation of disability will be required prior to the establishment of accommodations for placement testing.

All students, except those applying to limited enrollment programs in the Allied Health division, may waive the placement testing requirement if they submit documentation of acceptable SAT, ACT, or other state-approved placement test scores which have been earned within the preceding three years. Transfer credit received from a regionally accredited institution for first-level English and math courses will also be accepted in lieu of placement testing. The student must submit an official transcript to receive transfer
credit and to officially waive the need for placement testing. Students applying for admission to limited enrollment Allied Health programs should consult the program’s admissions brochure for detailed information about placement testing for the program of
choice. These publications are available in the Bailey Student Services Center and are available online at http://www.abtech.edu/Student_Services/admissions/allied_health.asp.

Test Preparation and Re-Testing Procedure

It is incumbent upon students to fully prepare before taking Accuplacer, the college’s placement assessment tool.  Accuplacer is a product of The College Board which also produces the SAT.  Accuplacer tests have very high reliability and validity.  

Students may only take the placement test once in a three year period with the following exceptions:

• Applicants for competitive allied health curricula may take the test once each year during the competition period. 
• Students who tested at local high schools may test when applying for admission to the college.
• Student requests to re-take the test that are approved to do so by the Chair of Developmental Studies, Director of Counselor, or Vice-President for Student Services.  This option should only be used under exceptional circumstances.  If approved, a form will be completed and given to the student for presentation to the assessment specialist at the time of re-testing.

Placement testing is a valuable tool in ensuring that students are enrolled in courses that support student success. Lack of preparation for the assessment may result in additional cost and time for classes. To access review materials please visit Google, and search for "accuplacer practice".

Students may register for the placement test online at http://placementtesting.abtech.edu. Students must present a picture I.D. to take the placement test. Placement testing is available both day and evening hours and the results are provided to the student by an Academic Advisor immediately after the student completes the tests. Based on placement scores, a student will be placed directly into College English and math or into one of the developmental studies courses that are designed to prepare the student for entry into his or her chosen field of study. To support student success, students are required to take the courses into which they are placed.

*Accuplacer is  a product of The College Board which also produces the SAT Accuplacer tests which have very high reliability and validity.

Adult Basic Education Within Basic Skills Department Student Status

Students who place into Adult Basic Education reading will be allowed to enroll in College courses only after they have received appropriate remediation through the Adult Basic Skills program. Students who test into both Adult Basic Education language and mathematics must also receive appropriate remediation prior to enrolling in college courses.

Students who place into Adult Basic Education level math only or Adult Basic Education language only will be allowed to take Developmental Studies and/or curriculum classes with approval of their academic advisor.