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 will not be accepted. Those without an ID will not be allowed to take an exam. Students should arrive at least 15 minutes before the exam begins to complete the registration process. The Testing Administrator will provide test takers with all materials needed to take the exam; no outside calculators, writing utensils, paper or electronic devices will be permitted.  Note: With the exception of the Writing Placement Test, all other placement tests are untimed, but test takers should allow at least 1.5 hours to complete the exams.

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 means that a student will not be able to register for reading, writing or mathematics classes unless the appropriate placement has been achieved by the second day of classes. This rule will be strictly enforced.

After the completion of placement testing, 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 system) for the Math and Reading Placement exams can be obtained by coming to the Center and requesting them in person or by email.  For emailed copies, requests should be sent to testing@svsu.edu along with 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.

While examinees should not cram for the test to avoid placing too high, it is a good idea to review before the test to avoid being placed too low. Students are unlikely to improve their placement unless they prepare. For more information or for a test study guide, go to the Accuplacer website or visit the Math and Physics Resource Center located on the second floor of the Zahnow Library.

Students who wish to take their Accuplacer Placement exams off campus have two options to choose from.

1. They can take their exams at a certified testing center that is located closer to home.
2. They can take their exams at home, as long as they have a computer with a webcam, reliable bandwidth, and a quiet place to test. The Center utilizes Examity as its online proctoring company.  Please note that the test will not work with cell phones or tablets; additionally, students will work directly with Examity for scheduling, payment, and technology issues.

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. For questions regarding vouchers or to request one, please email the Center at testing@svsu.edu or call (989) 964-2820.

Students needing Accommodated Testing should first contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations 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.

If a student cannot come to a scheduled exam, they may reschedule and/or cancel their appointment in one of two ways:

1. They can access RegisterBlast and follow the prompts provided on the right side of the screen. Note: If the test is scheduled for less than 24 hours from the time a tester is trying to reschedule, RegisterBlast will not allow this option. Examinees should utilize the second option for rescheduling at this time.
2. They can contact the Testing Center via email at testing@svsu.edu or phone at (989) 964-2820. If the Testing Center is closed, testers should leave their contact information, their reason for calling and a possible rescheduling date if applicable.

If payment has been made, the Testing Center will try to move the exam to another date so that the tester can avoid having to pay twice for the same exam. If the tester has scheduled for an exam they no longer need, and payment has been made, they can request a refund using the following steps:

1. The Testing Center at SVSU should be contacted no less than two hours before the scheduled exam period.
2. A written request, either in email or letter form, for an exam refund must be submitted to the Testing Center WITHIN 3 DAYS after the testing window has lapsed. The refund request must provide the student’s name, describe which exam they were scheduled for (time, day, etc.), and provide a phone number and email they can be reached at.

Refunds to the original credit or 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 Testing 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. Transfer or non-traditional students who do not have SAT scores and have less than a 2.0 high school GPA, or who are international students, are required to take the Accuplacer Reading Placement Test. No retakes are allowed for this exam.

Process: International students who do not have an SAT score will be tested at orientation. Non-traditional or transfer students must speak with an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising to verify the need for testing and receive permission. Students should schedule their exams by visiting RegisterBlast or by calling (989) 964-2820. Students who live 25 miles or more away may request a voucher to take this exam at a certified testing center located closer to their home or in their own home if they meet the minimum requirements as stated under "Placement Vouchers for Distance Learners". Vouchers must be arranged no less than five business days before they are needed.

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.

Eligibility: First-time college students are placed in their writing classes based on their SAT score and their high school GPA. Transfer or non-traditional students who do not have SAT scores and have less than a 2.0 high school GPA, or who are international students, are required to take the Writing Placement Test. No retakes are allowed for this exam.

Process: International students who do not have an SAT score will be tested at orientation. Non-traditional or transfer students must speak with an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising to verify the need for testing and receive permission. Students should schedule their exams by visiting RegisterBlast or by calling (989) 964-2820. Students who live 25 miles or more away may request a voucher to take this exam at a certified testing center located closer to their home or in their own home if they meet the minimum requirements as stated under "Placement Vouchers for Distance Learners". Vouchers must be arranged no less than five business days before they are needed.

Format: Students will have 80 minutes to compose a single essay to a computer-generated writing prompt.

Testing & Retesting Eligibility: Students are placed in a math class based on their previous test scores. If a student is dissatisfied with their placement, they are permitted to take the Accuplacer Math Exam. Students are strongly encouraged to use the Accuplacer Practice Site prior to testing for maximum effectiveness (see Accuplacer for an online study app or visit the Math and Physics Resource Center on the second floor of the Zahnow Library for additional study help). 

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 be notified and have their registration canceled.

Process: All students desiring to take an Accuplacer Math Placement or Math Retake Test may schedule by visiting RegisterBlast or by contacting the Testing Center. Students who live 25 miles or more away may request a voucher to take this exam at a certified testing center located closer to their home or in their own home if they meet the minimum requirements as stated under "Placement Vouchers for Distance Learners". The $10.00 fee will still be instituted in the case of voucher retakes. Vouchers must be arranged no less than five business days before they are needed.

Format: Accuplacer exams are computerized tests. 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. The exam is untimed and is comprised of two levels of multiple-choice questions that range from pre-algebra to pre-calculus.