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Academic Skills Assessment

Academic Skills Assessment Hours

May 28 - August 2, 2013:

(Closed July 4, 2013)

• Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• Saturday: 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Academic Skills Assessment Information

Requirements for Assessment
Retest
Test Overview
Test Preparation
Assessment at Other Colleges
Accuplacer Cut Scores for HCC Courses

Requirements for Assessment

Degree and Certificate-Seeking Students

All new students seeking a degree or certificate are required to complete the iPlan Enrollment Process.  Please contact the Admissions Office at 443-412-2109 for more information about iPlan options.

Step #5 of the iPlan Process requires all new students to complete the Academic Skills Assessment unless they are exempt.  Students who choose the Self-paced iPlan option may complete the Academic Skills Assessment at the Test Center during the hours of ASA administration.  Students who participate in a Group iPlan session will test on the scheduled date in a group setting.

Students who meet ANY of the following criteria are exempt from a portion of, or all, of the Academic Skills Assessment test.  Students should submit their official SAT scores to the Registration and Records Office.  The table below indicates the exemptions for taking the Academic Skills Assessment:

Assessment scores, SAT scores and ACT scores are valid for a period of two years.  If you do not begin the appropriate course sequence within the two-year time period, you must repeat the assessment.  Assessment results may restrict you from registering for college-level classes. 

Continuing Education Certificate-Seeking Students

All Continuing Education Certificate-seeking students planning to register for English Composition, Office Communication Technologies or a Math course must have the related skill assessment. Contact the Continuing Education Department at 443-412-2376 to find out the required assessments needed to register for classes.

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Retests  

You may retest 24 hours after the initial test.  After two attempts within a two year period a $25 proctoring fee will be assigned for all subsequent attempts.  For more information, contact the Test Center at 443-412-2352.  

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Test Overview

For reading, writing, and math assessment, Harford Community College uses the ACCUPLACER™ battery of tests.  This is a computer-adaptive test.  The test consists of Reading, Writing, Algebra, and Arithmetic modules.  Depending on your experience with algebra, you may be given either or both of the math modules.  You may not use your own calculator; however, we give you a simple, four-function calculator to use.  The test, although untimed, usually takes about 1½ hours to complete.  Because the test difficulty adapts to the test-taker’s skill level, it is a very accurate way of assessing knowledge.

The ACCUPLACER™ test requires no real computer skill to complete.  All questions are answered by simply clicking the mouse on the correct answer.  Tests begin with sample questions designed to illustrate the types of test questions the examinee will see during the test.  Proctors are always available to assist students with questions or difficulties.  There is no time limit for the academic skills assessment.
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Test Preparation

Harford Community College uses the ACCUPLACER tests to evaluate students' readiness for specific courses.  To prepare for this test, you may look at several sources:

• The CollegeBoard has developed a site to help students prepare for the ACCUPLACER™ test: 

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/accuplacer/index.html

    -    Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Practice.pdf                         

    -    Accuplacer Sentence Skills Practice.pdf

    -    Arithmetic Practice Questions.pdf

    -    Elementary Algebra Sample Questions.pdf

    -    College level math.pdf

    -    Answers.pdf

• ACCUPLACER has released the Official ACCUPLACER Study App for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. For only $1.99, students can brush up on their skills and become familiar with the style and content of questions asked on an ACCUPLACER test.  Purchase the iPhone App

• HCC's academic preparation courses

• Commercially available SAT preparation guides

• Helpful sites: 

http://interactmath.com, www.khanacademy.org (These sites are general math review sites and are not specifically designed to prepare students for college placement tests)


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Assessment at Other Colleges or ACT scores

Because of a statewide community college agreement, Harford Community College may accept assessment scores from other colleges.  Scores will be accepted only if they place the student at college level according to the Maryland statewide guidelines.  ACT scores may also be accepted.  Individual scores of 21 in reading, English, or math are accepted; we do not accept the ACT composite score.  If you believe that you may have valid scores from another institution or from ACT, you will be asked to provide documentation, such as a copy of the score report or a copy of your ACT scores.  For information on scores from other colleges or ACT scores, contact the Center at 443-412-2352.

Your HCC assessment scores may be transferable to other colleges within or outside the state.  HCC Test Center staff will forward your scores to your transfer institution after you supply certain information.