ACCUPLACER is developed by the College Board, a not-for-profit, member-led, dynamic, and mission-driven organization that’s composed of more than six thousand secondary schools and districts, higher education systems, universities, and 2- and 4-year colleges.
ACCUPLACER helps students and educational institutions with placement tests, how to incorporate variables like GPA into proper academic placement, and how to apply values relating to students’ experiences and backgrounds.
ACCUPLACER offers modular and customized diagnostic placement tests that meet national, state, and/or local requirements and standards and offers students useful preparatory tools such as free practice tests and sample questions.
ACCUPLACER is making it easier for counselors, advisors, and educators to determine if students are prepared enough to successfully attend credit-bearing college-level courses or if they require extra developmental or transitional remedial courses before they can enroll in a college’s academic course.
ACCUPLACER’s diagnostic tests provide detailed analyses of an applicant’s strong and weak points so they can work on their college preparedness and enhance their academic performances.
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These placement tests are untimed and include multiple-choice questions in the academic subject areas of Writing, Reading, and Mathematics. The tests can be used both in high schools and in postsecondary educational institutions.
The diagnostic tests provided by ACCUPLACER make it easier for educational institutions to measure a student’s proficiency in math, reading, and writing; evaluate a student’s academic weaknesses and strengths while they’re in high school, applying to college, or attending college courses; apply greater precision when dealing with academic interventions; handle a student’s remediation issues; develop early mentoring and/or tutoring strategies, and let students identify better and earlier which academic or skill areas they should focus on for academic improvement.
At the ACCUPLACER WritePlacer® Test, students have to write an essay that’s scored electronically to assess their writing abilities. Schools may use the WritePlacer assessment also for English learners.
ACCUPLACER ESL is a testing tool for ESL (English as a Second Language) and EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students. It helps learners of 
the English language also with language courses. ACCUPLACER ESL includes five elements: English Sentence-Meaning, English Language-Use, English Reading-Skills, English Listening-Skills, and WritePlacer-ESL/EFL.
Then The College Board developed ACCUPLACER/MyFoundationsLab®. This is a rather comprehensive intervention system (given online) that measures and enhances a student’s skills in math, reading, and writing.
Students will receive individualized learning paths based on the initial ACCUPLACER scores via MyFoundationsLab. This way, they can work on their academic skills and improve their understanding of core concepts. Educational institutions have the option to customize and adjust this diagnostic tool as they prepare students for success in college and beyond.
The ACCUPLACER CPS (Computer Skills Placement) Test assesses a student’s proficiency in basic keyboarding and computer skills. This test helps schools to place students adequately in their academic computer courses or to waive a computer and/or keyboarding skills requirement. ACCUPLACER CSP is offered in a 30-question fundamental version or in a 70-question advanced version.
ACCUPLACER Local Test – This feature allows educational institutions to create individual multiple-choice/multiple-response assessments that will be scored instantly. Local tests help institutions reduce all sorts of costs related to booklets, they will reduce their carbon footprints, and reduce their administrative costs.
ACCUPLACER tests are computer-adaptive meaning the questions students see are driven by their responses. The difficulty level increases or decreases based on prior answers. So students should read all questions carefully before selecting an answer. How many questions are on the ACCUPLACER tests depends on the test that’s taken. The tests may contain from 12 to up 40 questions. There is no passing or failing the ACCUPLACER tests. It is, however, important to take and complete the tests so both schools and students will get accurate information related to a student’s academic skills and knowledge.
Classic ACCUPLACER Tests
Classic ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Test – The classic ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Test assesses a student’s ability to carry out arithmetic basic
operations and how well they can solve fundamental arithmetic problems. This section includes 3 types of basic arithmetic questions relating to the following operations:
- Whole numbers & fractions. Included topics: addition and subtraction; multiplication & division; mixed numbers & equivalent fractions; estimation.
- Decimals & percents. Included topics: addition & subtraction with decimals; multiplication & division with decimals; percent & decimals; fraction & percent equivalencies; estimation.
- Problem-solving & applications. Included topics: rates, percents, & measurements; basic geometry; distribution of a quantity into fractional parts.
ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebraic Test – In Elementary Algebra, students are tested on their ability to carry out fundamental algebraic operations and to what extent they can solve problems that involve basic algebraic concepts. This test comes with 3 types of questions related to elementary algebra:
- Operations including integers & rational numbers – Included topics: computation including integers & negative rationals; using absolute values; ordering.
- Operations including algebraic expressions – Included topics: evaluating simple formulas & expressions; adding & subtracting polynomials and monomials; multiplication and division of monomials & polynomials; evaluating positive rational roots & exponents; simplification of algebraic fractions; factoring.
- Solving word problems, equations, and inequalities – Included topics: the solution of linear equations & inequalities; solution of quadratic equations through factoring; the solution of verbal problems in algebraic context including transforming written text to algebraic expressions; geometric graphing.
ACCUPLACER College-Level Mathematics Test – The ACCUPLACER College-Level Math assessment measures a student’s knowledge and skill to solve mathematical problems involving mathematics concepts at the college level. This test includes five types of questions:
- Algebraic operations – Included here are topics such as simplifying algebraic expressions; expanding polynomials; factoring; roots & exponents.
- Solving equations & inequalities – Include topics are solving linear & quadratic equations; solving linear & quadratic inequalities; algebraic equations.
- Geometry – Included topics: plane geometry; coordinate plane; straight lines; conics; sets of points in a plane; algebraic function graphs.
- Algebraic applications – Included topics: complex numbers; series & sequences; fractions; word problems; determinants; permutations & combinations.
- Functions & trigonometry – Included topics: polynomials; algebraic and exponential functions; logarithmic & trigonometric functions.
ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension Test – The ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension assessment measures students’ ability to understand the text they read; how well they are able to identify the main idea; if they can make inferences well; if they are able to distinguish between a direct statement and supporting elements.
ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills Test – The ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills assessment measures to what extent students can understand sentence structures and what it is that makes sentences clear and complete. Questions address single-sentence logic and the relationship between sentences.
WritePlacer® – ACCUPLACER Essay – The ACCUPLACERWritePlacer assessment involves writing a 5-part essay. The test measures how well students can write effectively, a critical element toward academic success. The score is based on a student’s skill to organize, express, and support opinions and ideas. A student’s position regarding the essay topic is irrelevant to their scores. The following criteria are considered:
- Organization – The essay’s clarity in which students structure their response and use logical sequences of ideas.
- Development & Support – This relates to how well students elaborate on their ideas and how they present supporting elements.
- Sentence Structure – This addresses the effectiveness of their sentence structures.
- Mechanical Conventions – This measures to what extent students use language conventions and mechanics correctly.
- Focus – This relates to the extent students maintain clarity regarding the point of view or main idea.
ACCUPLACER ESL (English as a Second Language) Language Use Test – This assessment measures to what extent students are proficient in using correct English grammar in sentences.
ACCUPLACER ESL (English as a Second Language) Listening Test – This assessment measures to what extent students can listen to and comprehend spoken English. This includes listening to conversations taking place in grocery stores, libraries, or lecture halls.
ACCUPLACER ESL (English as a Second Language) Reading Test – This assessment measures students’ ability to read short passages of English text.
ACCUPLACER ESL (English as a Second Language) Sentence Meaning Test – This assessment measures students’ understanding of the meaning of sentences in the English language.
Next-Generation (Next-Gen) ACCUPLACER Tests
The College Board developed the next-generation ACCUPLACER placement assessments. The tests’ math, writing, and reading contents were redesigned to help educational institutions place students better and more effectively in their academic courses.
The Next-Gen ACCUPLACER tests allow schools to better match a student’s skill level and include tasks and texts that better reflect the content of courses during their first year in college. The new Next-Gen ACCUPLACER tests are aligned to the SAT college entrance exam; improve placement accuracy; better reflect the requirements of higher education institutions and the changing academic landscape. Institutions that use ACCUPLACER may use classic placement assessments or Next-Gen placement tests.
Next-Generation ACCUPLACER Reading Test – This assessment measures to what extent students can derive meaning from multiple passages and how good they are at determining the meaning of phrases and words in various contexts. These passages cover a wide range of content fields, complexities, and writing modes in single and paired passages and are crucial for students looking, for example, to enter the world of nursing. Students are tested in four broad skills and knowledge categories: Information & Ideas; Vocabulary; Rhetoric; and Synthesis.
Next-Generation ACCUPLACER Writing Test – This assessment evaluates students’ ability to edit and revise multi-paragraph texts. Questions on this test include three divisions in two main broad skills and knowledge categories: Expression of Ideas (covering Development; Organization; and Effective Language Use), and Standard English Language Conventions (covering Sentence Structure; Usage; and Punctuation)
Next-Generation ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Test – This assessment is focusing on Order of Operations, Computation, Estimation & Rounding, Recognition of Equivalent Values in various formats, and Comparing & Ordering Values across different formats. This test assesses skills and knowledge in Operations involving Whole Numbers, Fractions, Decimals, Percents, and Number Comparisons & Equivalents.
Next-Generation ACCUPLACER QAS (Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, & Statistics Test – This assessment measures students’ skills and knowledge regarding Rational numbers; Algebraic Expressions; Ratio & Proportional Relationships; Exponents; Linear Equations; Linear Applications & Graphs; Probability Sets; Geometry Concepts; and Descriptive Statistics.
Next-Generation ACCUPLACER AAF (Advanced Algebra & Functions – This assessment measures students’ skills and knowledge regarding Linear Equations; Linear Applications & Graphs; Functions; Factoring; Quadratics; Radical & Rational Equations; Trigonometry; Polynomial Equations; and Exponential & Logarithmic Equations.
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