Student Services: Testing

ASSET and COMPASS Placement Testing

What is Placement Testing?

ASSET and COMPASS placement tests are series of tests that are designed to indicate a student’s academic readiness in the areas of English, reading, mathematics and algebra. Academic advisors use the student’s test results to determine appropriate course placement. Appropriate placement helps to ensure students' success in reaching their educational goals.

 ASSET is a series of timed paper-and-pencil tests consisting of four sections; 25 minutes are allowed on each section. COMPASS is a series of un-timed computerized tests. Talk to your advisor, the Admissions Officer, or the Director of Counseling Services prior to testing if you have questions about which sections of ASSET/COMPASS you need to take.

Who Takes ASSET/COMPASS?

AutoBody students Taxidermy students	Reading , Numerical/Pre-Algebra
BLET students	Reading
College Transfer students General Education students	Writing, Reading , Numerical/Pre-Algebra, & Intermediate Algebra
Dental Assisting applicants Practical Nursing applicants	Writing, Reading & Numerical/Pre-Algebra
Other degree-seeking students	Writing, Reading , Numerical/Pre-Algebra, & Elementary Algebra
Special Credit students	Dependent upon course selection

If you have taken ASSET or COMPASS at another school, you may have those scores transferred to MCC. For those scores to be considered, you must have tested within a 5-year period immediately prior to your enrollment at MCC.

Testing accommodations for students with special needs may be available upon request and with appropriate documentation. Call the Director of Counseling Services at 910-576-6222, Extension 210, for more information. Distance learning students taking online courses may also contact the Director by phone or by email (gaddym@montgomery.edu).

When do you need to take ASSET/COMPASS?

You must take placement tests before you register for your first term at MCC. You will not be allowed to register for an English or math course until you have taken the tests. Call the Information Desk at 910-576-6222, Extension 600, to make an appointment for a test session. You must bring a photo ID to the session.

Applicants for Allied Health programs (Dental Assisting, Emergency Medical Science, Medical Assisting, and Practical Nursing) should discuss retesting with the Admissions Officer. Students in non-allied health programs may retest based upon recommendation of the Director of Counseling Services.

Who is exempt from taking the placement test?

A. Transfer students who have earned a "C" or better on a college credit course from an accredited post-secondary institution:
English composition course -	exempt from Writing Skills & Reading Skills
Reading course -	exempt from Reading Skills
Math course -	exempt from Numerical/Pre-Algebra
Algebra -	exempt from Numerical/Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, & Intermediate Algebra
B. Students who have taken the SAT no more than 5 years prior to enrollment at MCC
500 or above on Critical Reading -	exempt from Writing Skills & Reading Skills
500 or above on Math -	exempt from Numerical/Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra & Intermediate Algebra
C. Students who have taken the ACT no more than 5 years prior to enrollment at MCC
21 or above on English -	exempt from Writing Skills and Reading Skills
21 or above on Math -	exempt from Numerical/Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra & Intermediate Algebra
D. Dental Assisting, Emergency Medical Science, Medical Assisting, and Practical Nursing applicants are not exempt from testing.

ASSET/COMPASS ADVISING GUIDE

TEST	ASSET	COMPASS	*COURSE PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Writing Skills	23 - 32	0 - 25	English 070 – Basic Language Skills – (non-credit course)
	33 - 37	26 - 51	English 080 - Writing Foundation - (non-credit course)
	38 - 40	52 - 69	English 090 - Composition Strategies - (non-credit course)
	41+	70 - 100	English 101 – Applied Communications I; English 111 - Expository Writing
Reading Skills	23 - 33	0 - 45	Reading 080 - Intro to College Reading - (non-credit course)
	34 - 40	46 - 80	Reading 090 - Improved College Reading - (non-credit course )
	41+	81 - 100	Proficiency for associate degree programs
	36+		Proficiency for diploma and certificate programs only
Writing Skills	33 - 37	41 - 51	English 085 – Reading and Writing Foundations – (non-credit course) (Placement based on combination of both Writing and Reading Skills scores)
Reading Skills	31 - 33	35 - 45
Writing Skills	38 - 40	60 - 69	English 095 - Reading and Composition Strategies – (non-credit course) (Placement based on combination of both Writing and Reading Skills scores)
Reading Skills	36 - 40	65 - 80
Numerical Skills / Pre-Algebra	23 - 35	0 - 25	Math 050 - Basic Math Skills - (non-credit course)
	36 - 40	26 - 46	Math 060 - Essential Math Skills - (non-credit course)
	41+	47 - 55	MAT 101 - Applied Math
Elementary Algebra	23 - 40		MAT 070 - Introductory Algebra
	41+		MAT 120 - Geometry & Trigonometry; MAT 140 - Survey of Math
Intermediate Algebra	23 - 35		MAT 070 - Introductory Algebra
	36 - 40		Math 080 - Intermediate Algebra - (non-credit course)
	41+		Math 151 - Statistics; MAT 171 – Pre-calculus Algebra
Algebra		0 – 45	MAT 070 - Introductory Algebra
		46 - 65	Math 080 - Intermediate Algebra - (non-credit course)
		66 - 100	Math 151 - Statistics; MAT 171 – Pre-calculus Algebra

* Students who score below minimum cut-off scores must enroll in remedial courses in order to ensure academic success in future college level English and mathematics courses.

Minimum recommended PLACEMENT scores for Dental Assisting and P ractical Nursing applicants
ASSET	Writing Skills: 41	Reading Skills: 41	Numerical Skills: 41
COMPASS	Writing Skills: 70	Reading Skills: 81	Numerical Skills: 47

Attention: Dental Assisting, Emergency Medical Science, Medical Assisting, and Practical Nursing applicants:

• Must take either COMPASS or ASSET.
• Scores from ASSET, COMPASS, and/or ACCUPLACER may be transferred from other schools.
• Practical Nursing applicants may test twice each academic year. Deadline for all information to Admissions is October 15.
• Dental Assisting applicants may test twice each academic year.