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Adult Basic Education (ABE)

The testing criteria and guidelines for Adult Basic Education (ABE) are as follows:

All students enrolled in an Adult Basic Education (ABE) program must be pre- and post-tested with state designated assessments. Exceptions may be made for students who are unable to understand or respond to the test due to low literacy, lack of English proficiency, or due to disability. A pretest must be administered within the first twelve (12) hours of instruction. MDC administers the TABE Survey, Forms 9 and 10 with locator.

Students without sufficient English proficiency are referred to the ESOL Program.

The placement scores below are required for placement in the ABE programs. Placement and level completion is determined when the student’s scale score is at the highest end of an Educational Functioning Level (EFL).

TABE qualification scores for ABE
Skill AreaTABE Grade EquivalentTABE Scale Score Literacy Completion Point /
Educational Functioning Level
Course Placement 
Reading0.0 - 1.9<368LCP/EFL - EEDU 091 - Beginning ABE Literacy
2.0 - 3.9368 - 460LCP/EFL - FEDU 092 - Beginning Basic Education
4.0 - 5.9461 - 517LCP/EFL - GEDU 093 - Low Intermediate Basic Education
6.0 - 8.9518 - 566LCP/EFL - HEDU 094 -  - High Intermediate Basic Education
Language0.0 - 1.9<390LCP/EFL - JEDU 081 - Beginning ABE Literacy
2.0 - 3.9390 - 490LCP/EFL - KEDU 082 - Beginning Basic Education
4.0 - 5.9491 - 523LCP/EFL - MEDU 083 - Low Intermediate Basic Education
6.0 - 8.9524 - 559LCP/EFL - NEDU 084 - High Intermediate Basic Education
Math0.0 - 1.9<314LCP/EFL - AEDU 071 - Beginning ABE Literacy
2.0 - 3.9314 - 441LCP/EFL - BEDU 072 - Beginning Basic Education
4.0 - 5.9442 - 505LCP/EFL - CEDU 073 - Low Intermediate Basic Education
6.0 - 8.9506 - 565LCP/EFL - DEDU 074 - High Intermediate Basic Education


 

TABE retesting procedure for ABE programs:

The TABE retesting guidelines below are followed for Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs.

  • Students post-testing in EDU 074, EDU 084, and EDU 094 must take TABE levels "D" or "A".

  • Completion of a prescribed remediation program consisting of at least 40 hours of instruction is required prior to retesting with a minimum 30-day period between retests.

  • The same TABE Form and Level should not be administered within a six-month period. Remediation should include at least 40 hours of instruction between pre/and post-testing, using an alternate version of the TABE and at least 120 hours of instruction when using the same level and same form. If no formal instruction is provided or documented, six months should elapse when using the same level, same form.




Miami Dade College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Miami Dade College.
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disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or genetic information. Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs/ADA Coordinator, at 305.237.2577 for information.
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