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COMPASS Placement Tests
When Do I Take the
Placement Tests?
Placement tests are required before registering for 12 credit hours or for
English composition (above COM-085) or mathematics (above MTH-090). Students may
be exempt from placement testing based on previous
college credit or ACT scores. Students must complete the enrollment form
before taking placement tests and may do so at the Admissions Office in the
Student Services Center (Building S), Room S101, or by calling (708) 974-2110. You do not need to register for the placement
test. You may come in to the COMPASS Lab, which is located in B101, at your
convenience during the hours that the COMPASS Lab is open. COMPASS is
administered on a first-come, first-served, walk-in basis. There is an $8 fee
for each test, which will be added to your tuition bill.
What Will the Placement
Test Cover?
COMPASS is the computerized placement test that helps place students into
appropriate reading, writing and math courses. The system draws on a pool of
test questions, and then adjusts the level of the test to the skills and
expertise of each individual test taker.
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The COMPASS
Math Placement Test covers five content domains: pre-algebra/numerical
skills, algebra, college algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Results of the
test will determine student placement in mathematics courses. Students may
be required to complete developmental mathematics courses prior to enrolling
in a college-level course.
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The COMPASS
Reading Placement Test is designed to assess students' reading
comprehension. Results of the test will determine student placement in
reading courses. Students may be required to complete developmental reading
courses in addition to regular college-credit courses.
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The COMPASS
Writing Skills Test includes items to assess students' usage/mechanics
and rhetorical skills. Results of writing skills test will determine student
placement in English composition courses. Students may be required to
complete developmental composition courses prior to enrolling in a
college-level composition course.
Can I Prepare for
the Placement Tests?
A study guide, "Charting your success on the COMPASS," is on reserve
at the circulation desk in the Moraine Valley Learning Resources Center/Library
in Building L, and in the office of Multicultural Student Affairs in the Student
Services Center (Building S), Second Floor.
You also can view sample test questions by
going to www.act.org/compass and
clicking on "Sample Questions."
Placement
Test Exemptions
Previously Earned College Credit
If you've previously earned college credit, you may be exempt from some or all
of the placement tests. Just submit a college transcript or grade report showing
a "C" or better in a college-level (101 or higher) English
composition/rhetoric course and/or mathematics course to the Office of New
Student Retention or Academic Advising.
Act Scores
An ACT score of 20 or above in English, reading and mathematics may be used in
place of some or all of the placement tests. To qualify for an exemption,
students need to bring a copy of their ACT scores to the Academic Advising
Center or the Testing Center.
- A score of 20 or above in English and
reading exempts you from the English/reading placement test.
- A score of 20 or above in mathematics
exempts you from the mathematics placement test.
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