Placement Testing

Testers are required to present a physical photo ID (student ID, driver's license, passport, or state ID) on test day; electronic versions or "photos" of the original ID will not be accepted.  Examinees who arrive without an ID will not be allowed to test.  Students should arrive at least 15 minutes before the exam begins to complete the registration process.  Proctors will provide all necessary exam materials; no outside calculators, writing utensils, paper or electronic devices will be permitted.  Note: Placement tests are untimed, but test takers should allow at least 1.5 hours to complete them.

Placement tests will not be administered in the time period between the second day of classes and the end of the second week of classes in the fall and winter semesters.  This policy will be strictly enforced.

Students are unlikely to improve their placement unless they prepare.  Study materials are available on the Math and Physics Resource Center's website.  Additionally, students may also utilize the free Accuplacer Study App to view both the formatting for the Reading and Math Placement tests as well as sample questions.

After completion, students who have tested in the Center will receive a score report detailing their placement.  Additional score reports (including for those who took the test via the voucher program) may be obtained by email request or by visiting the Center.  Emailed requests should be sent to testing@svsu.edu and include the student's name, date of birth, SVSU student number, and a statement giving permission to the Center to email their scores.  Scores cannot be released over the phone and, due to FERPA, can only be sent directly to the student.  The Center is unable to send score sheets to outside institutions.  Requests may take up to 3-4 business days to process.

Students who wish to take their Accuplacer Placement exams off campus may do so through the Accuplacer Voucher Program.  Vouchers are made by the Testing Center Coordinator and are redeemed by the student.  Under this program, testers have two location options to choose from:

Option 1: At another certified testing center

Accuplacer testing centers are located in or near most major US cities.  Students are responsible for paying any proctoring fees that may be required by the testing facility they choose to take their test at.  The Testing Center at SVSU has no prior knowledge of how much these fees may be as each institution may charge a different amount for proctoring the exam.  If testing at another authorized center, hours are dependent upon the location chosen.  For questions about vouchers, to learn about centers closer to your home, or to receive a voucher, please contact the Testing Center at testing@svsu.edu or call (989) 964-2820.

Option 2: At home

The Accuplacer Voucher Program's at-home testing option utilizes Examity, a 24/7, online, live-proctoring company.  Examity will use the tester's webcam to proctor the exam.  They charge $25.00 for their services.  Minimum requirements to test at home: a computer with a webcam, reliable bandwidth, and a private place to test free of other people.  Please note that the exam will not work on cell phones or tablets; additionally, students will work directly with Examity for scheduling, payment, and technological issues.  For questions about at-home testing or to receive a voucher, please contact the Testing Center at testing@svsu.edu or call (989) 964-2820.

Students needing accommodations should first contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations (ARA) at (989) 964-7000.  The ARA Office will then notify the Testing Center of the necessary accommodations.  After that, the student should register for their exam by using RegisterBlast.

Note: Placement tests are untimed exams.  Testers may take as long as they need to complete them, though it is recommended that they choose appointment windows earlier in the day to ensure the Center does not close before they have finished.  For Accuplacer Math Placement tests, a calculator is embedded into the exam automatically and will appear on certain test questions.

Off Campus Testing

Testers who have opted to take their exams off campus must work with their chosen testing location regarding any appointment changes or refunds.  Center staff are unable to access the scheduling or monetary software of other testing locations.  For Examity, please click on the yellow "Chat with Expert" button on their website if you are in need of assistance regarding appointments.

On Campus Testing in the Center

Rescheduling & Cancellations: Testers may reschedule and/or cancel their appointment in one of two ways -

1. Via RegisterBlast: Directions are located under the "More Information" box on the website.  RegisterBlast will not allow appointment changes within 24 hours of the schedule time.
2. By contacting the Testing Center: The Center can be reached via email at testing@svsu.edu or phone at (989) 964-2820.

Refunds: In cases of appointment rescheduling, if payment has been made, Center staff will attempt to move the exam to another date to help testers avoid paying twice for the same exam.  For cancellations, testers must contact the Center no less than 2 hours before the appointment and then request a refund via email WITHIN 3 DAYS after the testing window has lapsed.  Refund requests must provide the tester's name and student number (if applicable), the exam title, and the appointment date.

Refunds to the original credit/debit card used will be administered within five business days.  Processing fees from RegisterBlast cannot be refunded.  Testers who do not contact the Testing Center during the windows mentioned above will be considered no shows and will not receive a refund.  The Center can only refund the fees that it has collected; processing fees or fees collected by third parties cannot be refunded by the Center.

Eligibility

First-time college students are placed in a reading class based on their SAT scores and high school GPA; if no scores have been submitted and the student's high school GPA is under 3.0, they have the option to take the Accuplacer Reading Placement test.  Transfer, non-traditional, and international students without SAT scores and/or have less than a 2.0 high school GPA are required to take a reading test.  No retakes are allowed for this exam.

Process

International students will be tested at orientation.  Non-traditional or transfer students must speak with an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising to receive permission to test.  First-time college students desiring to take the Reading Placement test must contact the Center via email (testing@svsu.edu) or phone (989-964-2820) to verify the need for testing.

Students may take their Accuplacer Reading Placement test in one of the following ways:

1. On campus in the Testing Center: Appointments can be made via RegisterBlast or by contacting the Center by email (testing@svsu.edu) or phone (989-964-2820).  There is no fee to test in the Center.
2. Via the Accuplacer Voucher Program which consists of two location options:
   • At another certified testing center:  To do so, please contact the Testing Center at 989-964-2820 to request an offsite testing voucher.  Pricing is dependent upon the site desired.
   • At home with Examity:  For this option, please note that students must have a computer with a webcam, reliable bandwidth, and a private place to test free of other people.  (Tablets and cell phones are not permitted for testing.)  Examity charges $25.00 for their services and they will use the computer's camera to proctor.  For this option, please contact the Testing Center at 989-964-2820 to request an at-home testing voucher.

Note: Students are responsible for all fees associated with taking exams through the voucher program.

Format

Accuplacer exams are computerized tests. The Reading Placement test is untimed and is comprised of 20 questions. Students will be asked to read a sentence, a small passage, or a short article and answer multiple-choice questions about what they read.

Testing & Retesting Eligibility

Students are placed in a math class based on their SAT/ACT test scores.  If no scores are submitted, students are placed into the Basic Mathematical Skills (Math081) course.  If a student is dissatisfied with their placement, they are permitted to take the Accuplacer Math Placement Exam.  For study materials, please see below.  Please note that SVSU uses the "Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics" and the "Advanced Algebra and Functions" versions of Accuplacer.

• Accuplacer Online Study App: This app is free and may be downloaded to a cell phone, tablet or computer.  It provides a general idea of the topics the student may be tested on.
• Math and Physics Resource Center: The Math and Physics Center's website contains study materials, practice problems, and review worksheets.  Additionally, students may also visit their facility which is located on the second floor of the Zahnow Library for further assistance in studying.

If a student is dissatisfied with their Accuplacer score, they may retake the math test a second time for a fee of $10.00.  Retests cannot be taken within 30 days of the original Accuplacer Test date.  Students who schedule a retake before 30 days will have their registration cancelled.

Process

All students desiring to take an Accuplacer Math Placement or a Math Retake test may take their exams in one of the following ways:

1. On campus in the Testing Center: Appointments can be made via RegisterBlast or by contacting the Center by email (testing@svsu.edu) or phone (989-964-2820).  There is no fee to test in the Center for the first attempt; a fee of $10.00 is collected for retakes.
2. Via the Accuplacer Voucher Program which consists of two location options:
   • At another certified testing center:  To do so, please contact the Testing Center at 989-964-2820 to request an offsite testing voucher.  Pricing is dependent upon the site desired.
   • At home with Examity:  For this option, please note that students must have a computer with a webcam, reliable bandwidth, and a private place to test free of other people.  (Tablets and cell phones are not permitted for testing.)  Examity charges $25.00 for their services and they will use the computer's camera to proctor.  For this option, please contact the Testing Center at 989-964-2820 to request an at-home testing voucher.

Note: Students are responsible for all fees associated with taking exams through the voucher program.  The $10.00 fee is still instituted in the case of retakes via voucher.

Format

Accuplacer exams are computerized tests.  The math test is untimed and is comprised of two levels of multiple-choice questions that range from pre-algebra to pre-calculus.  A calculator is built into the math test software; this is the only calculator a student is allowed for this examination.  Scrap paper and pencils will be provided by the proctor, all of which will be collected at the end of the test.

Students are initially registered for a writing course based on their high school GPA.  At their SOAR Orientation, they complete a guided self-placement process that includes a detailed survey and can also include conversations with advisors and/or English faculty.  This process can allow them to change their initial placement.  There are no placement exams currently used for writing.

Students may access the guided self-placement survey prior to their orientation here; it is recommended that they take their time on the questions posed and think about their previous writing experiences when answering.  Questions regarding the survey can be directed to either Academic Advising at aacsvsu@svsu.edu or Tim Kenyon, the First Year Writing Program Coordinator, at tkenyon@svsu.edu.

International students may also watch a short instructional video entitled "GSP Introduction" if they have questions regarding the survey.