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Placement Assessment
COMPASS Placement
Testing
Assessing Student Skills for Entry and Transfer
All students enrolling for the first time at Kalamazoo Valley Community
College who are seeking a certificate or degree and have no previous college
experience should take the COMPASS test to determine their writing,
reading and math levels. COMPASS is a comprehensive computerized adaptive testing system. The purpose
of COMPASS placement testing is to help students enroll in classes
for which they are adequately prepared and have the most opportunity for
success. Counselors use the results to recommend the appropriate level
course work in the academic areas mentioned above.
COMPASS placement testing is given at scheduled group times and
through individual appointments Monday through Friday. There is no fee for
Compass. Students should telephone (269) 488-4100 or stop by
the Student Service Center for more information or to set up an appointment.
Testing is also available at the Arcadia Commons Campus. Students should
check at the reception desk at the
Arcadia Commons Campus for those times.
Although this assessment is not pass/fail and is designed to assess
your current skills in Writing, Reading and Math, we do encourage you to review
these areas prior to testing because that could allow for a more accurate
placement. Your class selections may be limited if the test reveals deficiencies
that need attention before attending college level classes.
For more information on COMPASS and a test study guide, you can go to
ACT COMPASS
website. Once you are at the website, you can
click sample questions.
Additionally, this website will help you to review your math skills;
http://mathematics.clc.uc.edu/hager/index.html
Below are our interpretation guidelines for
Compass test scores and corresponding class placements:
WRITING
01-69: ENG 098 or Fundamentals of English I:
Basic Grammar Review or ENG 099 Reading to Write: Writing to Read: Basic
grammar review; reading comprehension and vocabulary development
70-94: ENG 110 College Writing I: College writing (Prerequisite:
Minimum reading score of 44 or completion of ENG 098 with a 2.0 grade or
better).
95-99: Decision Zone ENG 110 or See Counselor for waiver
test if reading score is 80 or above on COMPASS
READING
01-30: See Counselor: Please make counseling appointment in
Room 1340.
31-43: TRS 094 & TRS 105 Fundamentals of Reading I:
Basic reading skills and vocabulary development, AND College Success Strategies:
Skills and or strategies for academic success in college or ENG 099 & TRS 105
(ENG 099 replaces ENG 098 & TRS 094)
44-60: TRS 096 & TRS105 Fundamentals of Reading II: Reading comprehension
and vocabulary development AND College Success Strategies: Skills and
strategies for academic success in college.
61-79: TRS 102 Intermediate Reading: Intensive work on critical
reading skills and comprehension. (Required for Health Career Students).
80-99: No requirement Score indicates college level reading
TECHNICAL MATHEMATICS
Pre-Algebra
01-26: Math 079 or Math 080 Conceptual Arithmetic: An in-depth
study or Basic Arithmetic: A review
27-43: Math 092 Basic Technical Math: Review course for tech
students
44-99: Math 106 Technical Math: Basic math, includes algebra,
geometry, intro to Trigonometry
Algebra
1-99: Math 106 Technical Math: See preceding description
MATHEMATICS:
Pre-Algebra
01-20: Math 079 or Math 080 Conceptual Arithmetic: An
in-depth study or Basic Arithmetic: A review
21-26: Math 094 Basic Arithmetic/Pre-Algebra: Combines Math 080 &
Math 093
27-43: Math 093 Pre-Algebra: Course prepares students for
fundamentals of algebra
44-78: Math 096 Fundamentals of Algebra: Review of 1st yr high
school algebra or BUS 102 Math for Business/Industry: Includes
percentage, discount, interest, etc.
Algebra
16-33: Math 096 Fundamentals of Algebra: Review of first year high
school algebra
34-64: Math 116 Intermediate Algebra: Review of 2nd year high
school algebra or Math 114 Mathematical Ideas: For College of Arts &
Sciences at WMU
65-78: Math 114 Mathematical Ideas: For College of Arts & Sciences
at WMU or Math 120 Finite Mathematics: Applies Intermediate Algebra to
Business and Liberal Arts or Math 140 Number Concepts for
Elementary/Middle School Teachers
or Math 150 College Algebra: (Pre-Calculus) Elementary functions course
or Math 151 College Algebra: Pre-Calculus/College Algebra w/Applications
79-99: Math 156 Pre-Calculus: Combines advanced topics from College
Algebra & Trigonometry
College Algebra
01-50: Math 150 College Algebra: (Pre-Calculus) Elementary
functions course or Math 151 College Algebra: Pre-Calculus/College
Algebra w/Applications or Math 156 Pre-Calculus: Combines advanced topics
from College Algebra & Trigonometry
51-99: Math 152 Trigonometry or Math 160 Calculus 1 &
Analytic Geometry or Math 220 Probability & Statistics: Introductory
course in statistics for Business and Liberal Arts
*Note: If your score falls in a DECISION ZONE you will need to decide between
two course levels. The lower level
course would offer a review, the higher level course would be more of a
challenge. You may wish to discuss
your options with a counselor. 1/3/2007
The Career Development and Assessment Services Office is housed at the Texas
Township Campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College in room 1340. However,
services and resources are also delivered at business, industrial and
educational sites and at KVCC’s Arcadia Commons Campus.
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