Testing Center Home

Test Information:
MAPP

ACT (Residual)

SAT (Institutional)

COMPASS/ACCUPLACER 

COMPASS Exits

CLEP

Regents' Test

Independent Study Exams

Legislative Exams

TOEFL

GRE

GMAT

Fall 2008 Placement Tests

Call the Testing Center at (678) 466-4495 to schedule a testing date and time for fall semester admissions.  Fall semester starts Monday, August 18, 2008. 

Testing must be completed at least one week before orientation.  To plan your schedule, see orientation dates and times:  http://adminservices.clayton.edu/orientation/orientationdates.htm

 Preparing

We strongly recommend that you prepare for your test especially if you have been out of school for a few years so that your scores will reflect your true level of ability.

The Center for Academic Success, also located in the lower level of the library building, provides free instructional resources for students to work independently in preparation for placement testing or retesting (678) 466-4070.

For math preparation, see the Center for Academic Success' Math Links:  http://adminservices.clayton.edu/caa/mathematics/mathlinks.htm.  Of course you may search the web for other math assistance, such as http://purplemath.com.

View the COMPASS practice link: http://www.highlands.edu/scotter/COMPASS/compass.htm.

Clayton State University's Continuing Education (678) 466-5050 offers short courses that will help you to get ready to test and to return to school.  See Academics in the first few pages of their brochure.

View the ACT COMPASS Windows Version Sample Questions at their website:
http://www.act.org/compass/overview/index.html.

View the CollegeBoard ACCUPLACER information and sample questions at their website: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/accuplacer/.  

An excellent book to prepare you for the COMPASS test is Chart Your Success on the COMPASS by Callahan, Commander, and Cotter.  You may review the copies in the Testing Center, the Center for Academic Success, and the Library, or purchase your own copy from the Clayton State University bookstore for about $52.  For more structured methods of preparing, go to the Center for Academic Success link:
http://ctl.clayton.edu/TestingCenter/placement/preparingforplacement.htm. 

Orientation

Scores from placement and successful admissions testing will be available to your advisor at the orientation. Your advisor will register you for classes, based upon your test scores.  For more information about orientation, see their website:  http://adminservices.clayton.edu/orientation/default.htm
or call Orientation and New Student Programs at (678) 466-5443.

Which test do I take?

Your letter from admissions will tell you whether you need to take the Math Placement Test, the ACCUPLACER, or one or more of the Learning Support Placement/Admissions Tests in Math, Reading, and English, the COMPASS.  You may read more about your classification and testing in the sections below.

ACCUPLACER

The ACCUPLACER is a math placement test to determine what math or math-related courses a traditional freshman or a transfer student should take first at Clayton State University.  The test consists of 12 Elementary Algebra questions and 20 College-Level Math questions.  

There is no fee for the first ACCUPLACER test.  However, a fee of $15 will be charged for the second test and $25 will be charged for each test after the second effective May 2006.  The test is not timed, and it generally can be completed within one hour.  You will receive this information at the time of your test:  Student Instructions & Score Report form.

Traditional Freshmen

Students accepted by admissions and classified as traditional freshmen are required to take the ACCUPLACER before orientation or registration.  

For more information about Traditional Freshman testing requirements, consult the Traditional Freshman Fall 2008 form. 

Transfer Students

Students accepted by admissions and classified as transfer students may be required to take the ACCUPLACER to test to determine readiness for college-level math and math-related courses if these courses are required.  

For more information about transfer students' testing requirements, consult the Transfer Students Fall 2008 form.

COMPASS

Nontraditional Freshmen

To be classified as a nontraditional student, you must have been out of high school for at least 5 years and must have earned fewer than 30 semester hours of credit.  

Your status letter from admissions will generally state that you are required to take one or more of the Learning Support Placement/Admissions Tests in Math, Reading and English, the COMPASS, before acceptance into the University.  The following testing requirements are a part of the admissions process:

• There will be a $15 charge for testing, payable in cash, check, or money order (made out to Clayton State University) at the scheduled test session.
  
• Students pending acceptance into the university will need to meet the following minimum-score requirements in all three areas of the COMPASS test in order to be accepted:

Pre-Algebra        25  
(26 or above on the Algebra section shows Pre-Algebra competence.)

Reading              62

English (Writing)  32

• Students may retest one time for a $25 charge.  The retesting policy will be given to students as they complete the first test.
  
• A waiting period of one semester plus an approved remediation program will be required before students retest a second time.  Only two retests are allowed.
  
• Students who do meet the minimum scores listed above, but who do not meet the following second tier (higher requirements) on the COMPASS will be required to take Learning Support courses:

Algebra                40

Reading               78

English (Writing)  72

Students placed into Learning Support courses will also be allowed one retest for $25; those testing into Learning Support courses will also be required to take the appropriate COMPASS test as a course exit exam.

For more information about nontraditional COMPASS testing, consult this form: Nontraditional Freshman Fall 2008 form.

For more details about Clayton State University's COMPASS Placement/Admissions test, consult this form:  COMPASS Testing Form.

Limited-Admit or Nontraditional-Transfer Freshmen

Limited-admit or Nontraditional-Transfer Freshman are approved for admissions by the Director of Admissions, by the Admissions Committee, or by the President of the University.  Admissions will let you know if you are in either category.

Students in these categories are required to take one or more of the Placement/Admissions Tests in Math, Reading, and English.  The fee is $15 for a COMPASS test.  Results of the COMPASS &/or ACCUPLACER test(s) will determine whether you will be placed in Learning Support class(es).