Student Guide To
Computerized Placement
Tests (CPTs)
The Purpose of the Tests
The Computerized Placement Tests (CPTs)
were developed by the College Board, with the help of committees of
college professors, to provide information about your level of skill
accomplishment in reading, English, and mathematics that is required for
success in college. By assessing your ability levels in these areas,
the CPTs help to determine the English, mathematics and reading courses
most appropriate for you at this time.
Test
Administration
The Computerized Placement Tests are
administered on a computer. You will read the instructions and
questions on the computer monitor and will select your answers using the
keyboard or the computer mouse.
Score
Reporting
After completing
Accuplacer/CPT and receiving your scores, you will meet with an academic
advisor to discuss your results and plan your schedule of courses.
Special Arrangements for Students with Disabilities
If you have a disability or temporarily
disabling condition that will prevent you from taking the test under
standard conditions, inform the Test Administrator before taking the
test.
What to Take with You to
the Test
On the day of the
test, you will need to bring an official photo-bearing I.D. Card.
Testing Regulations
Textbooks, notebooks, dictionaries,
calculators, or other papers of any kind (except scratch paper provided
by the Test Administrator for use with the mathematics tests) are not
allowed in the testing room. Further, anyone who gives or receives help
during the test, or uses notes or books of any kind, will not be allowed
to continue the test. Following the test period, no test materials or
notes may be removed from the room.
Confidentiality
Your test scores and the information you
provide when taking the tests will be used for counseling and placement
purposes. They may also be used by Miami Dade College and The
College Board or Educational Testing Service for research purposes.
Your test information will not be used for any other reason without your
permission. If the data is used for research purposes, special
precautions will be taken to ensure that your identity is kept
confidential. Any data received by ETS will be held for no more than
three years. If you have any questions about the confidentiality of the
data you have provided, or about your test scores, you should see your
campus Test Administrator.
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Computer Delivered
Testing
You will take the tests using a
computer. You will communicate with the computer by using either the
keyboard or the mouse to enter your answers to the tests and to supply
other information. The test instructions are easy to understand.
Entering information also is very easy. A Test Administrator will
always be present should you have any questions or problems. The Test
Administrator has the ability to resolve any difficulties that may
occur.
Answering the
Questions
Because you take the CPTs on a computer,
you don't have to answer as many questions as on traditional paper and
pencil tests. The number of questions on the tests ranges from 12-20.
The questions will appear one at a time on the computer screen. Most
questions are multiple-choice and all you will need to do is use the
space bar or mouse to select the desired answer. When you have
completed the question and verified your answer, a new screen will
appear with your next question.
Adaptive Testing
Each test is
designed using adaptive techniques. This means that the computer
automatically determines which questions are presented to you based on
your responses to prior questions. This technique "zeroes-in" on just
the right questions to ask you without being too easy or too difficult.
The greater your demonstrated skill level, the more challenging will be
the questions presented to you.
Each test is un-timed so that you can
give each question as much thought as you wish. However, once you have
verified your answer, you cannot return to that
question.
The Order of the Tests
The Computerized
Placement Tests include Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills,
Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, College-Level Mathematics, and the
Levels of English Proficiency (LOEP) subtests (Reading Skills, Sentence
Meaning, and Language Use). The order in which the tests are given is
determined in a number of different ways.
Miami Dade
College students take the tests in the following order:
Reading Comprehension, English (Sentence Skills), and Elementary
Algebra. Algebra test scores are used to determine if the student
should take an arithmetic test or the College-Level Mathematics test.
Reading test scores may be used to determine if the student should take
the Reading Skills, Sentence Meaning, and Language Use tests.
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The first screen you will see on the
computer is shown below:
You will enter your
name on this screen. Use the ENTER Key to move from Last Name to
First Name and then to Middle Initial. Pressing the ENTER
Key again will take you to the next computer screen.
The next screen
asks for your Student ID and your Date of Birth.
Enter your
Student Identification Number (your social security number). Press
ENTER to move to the Date of Birth and type your birth date using
a dash (-) or slash (/) to separate the month, day, and year. It is
especially important that this information be entered correctly. If you
make an error while typing you may utilize the BACKSPACE Key to erase
the error.
Choosing An Answer
You will use either
the keyboard or the mouse to enter your answers.
If you are using
the mouse to enter your answers, you will click on your choice and then
click on the NEXT button on the bottom of your screen. To confirm your
answer, click on the CONFIRM button, this will also move you to the next
screen.
If you are using
the keyboard to enter your answers, you will use the space bar to move
to your choice of answer. You will press the ENTER Key to select the
desired answer. You will then press ENTER again to confirm your choice
and move to the next question on the next screen.
A message will
display when the tests are about to start.
Every test will be preceded by several
sample questions that will familiarize you with the types of questions
in that particular test. These sample questions are not scored. When
you have completed these, you will continue with the actual test
questions.
Guessing?????
You should
understand that this is an adaptive test. Questions are chosen for you
on the basis of your answers to previous questions. Because the test
works this way, you must answer every question when it is first given.
You cannot omit any question or come back later to change an answer.
You may change your
answer on a particular question, but you must do so before continuing on
to the next question. Once you go on to the next question, the answer
is accepted and you cannot return to the question. If you do not
know an answer to a question, try to eliminate one or more of the
choices. Then pick one of the remaining choices.
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|
1.
Relax! ACCUPLACER was designed to help you succeed in school.
Your score helps you and your advisor determine which courses are most
appropriate for your current level of knowledge and skills. Once
you identify your academic strengths and needs you can get the help you
need to improve underdeveloped skills before they can interfere with
your learning.
2.
You
will be able to concentrate better on the test if you get plenty of rest
and eat properly prior to the test. You should arrive a few minutes
early so you can find the testing area, bathrooms, etc., and gather your
thoughts before the test begins.
3.
Pay
careful attention to directions and be sure you understand the
directions before you begin each test.
4.
You
should understand that this is an adaptive test. Questions are chosen
for you on the basis of your answers to previous questions. Because the
test works this way, you must answer every question when it is first
given. You cannot omit any question or come back to change an answer.
You may change your answer on a particular question, but you must do so
before continuing on to the next question. If you do not, the answer is
accepted and you cannot return to the question.
5.
If you
do not know the answer to a question, try to eliminate one or more of
the choices. Then pick one of the remaining choices.
6.
Textbooks, notebooks, dictionaries, calculators, or other paper of any
kind (except scratch paper provided by the Test Administrator for use
with the mathematics test) are not allowed in the testing room.
Further, anyone who gives or receives help during the test, or uses
notes or books of any kind, will not be allowed to continue the test.
Following the test period, no test materials or notes may be removed
from the room.
7.
Remember to bring your social security number and a valid picture I.D.
8.
Now that you have an idea
of what the test cover, how about taking a look at some of the
sample questions.
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Reading Comprehension
English Sentence Skills
Arithmetic
Elementary Algebra
College-level Mathematics
LOEP Reading Skills
LOEP Language Use
LOEP Sentence Meaning
Sample Questions for Reading Comprehension
Sample Questions for English Sentence Skills
Sample Questions for Arithmetic
Sample Questions for Elementary Algebra
Sample Questions for College-Level Mathematics
Sample Questions for LOEP Reading Skills
Sample Questions for LOEP Language Use
Sample Questions for LOEP Sentence
Meaning
This test is
designed to measure how well you understand what you read. It contains
20 questions. Some ask you to decide how two sentences are related.
Other questions ask you questions about reading passages of various
lengths. You will be asked to interpret and draw conclusions from what
you have read.
Sample Questions
for Reading Comprehension
Narrative Question:
Read the statement
or passage and then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the
question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the statement or
passage.
There are two
types of pottery that I do. There is production pottery—mugs,
tableware, the kinds of things that sell easily. These pay for my time
to do the other work, which is more creative and satisfies my needs as
an artist.
The author of this
passage implies that:
(A)
artists have a tendency to
waste valuable time
(B)
creativity and
mass-production are incompatible
(C)
most people do not
appreciate good art
(D)
pottery is not produced by
creative artists
Sentence
Relationships Question:
Two underlined
sentences are followed by a question or statement about them. Read each
pair of sentences and then choose the best answer to the question or the
best completion of the statement.
The Midwest
is experiencing its worst drought in fifteen years.
Corn and
soybean prices are expected to be very high this year.
What does the
second sentence do?
(A)
It restates the idea found
in the first.
(B)
It states an effect.
(C)
It gives an example.
(D)
It analyzes the statement
made in the first.
Answers
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Two kinds of
questions are given in this test. You will be asked to correct a
sentence by choosing a word or phrase to substitute for an underlined
portion of a sentence. In the other type of question, you will be asked
to rewrite a sentence in a specific way without changing the meaning.
You will be presented a total of 20 questions.
Sentence Correction
Question:
Select the best
version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the
same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is
best, choose the first answer.
Ms. Rose
planning to teach a course in biology next summer.
(A)
Planning
(B)
are planning
(C)
with a plan
(D)
plans
Construction Shift
Question:
Rewrite the
sentence in your head, following the directions given below. Keep in
mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have
essentially the same meaning as the sentence given you.
Being a female
jockey, she was often interviewed.
Rewrite, beginning with
She was
often interviewed...
The next words will be
(A)
on account of she was
(B)
by her being
(C)
because she was
(D)
being as she was
Answers
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The Arithmetic test measures your skills
in three primary categories:
1) Operations with whole numbers and fractions includes:
°
addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
° recognizing equivalent
fractions and mixed numbers.
2) Operations
with decimals and percents includes:
°
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
°
percent problems, decimal recognition, fractions
°
percent equivalencies, and estimation problems
3) Applications
and problem solving include:
°
rate, percent, and measurement problems
°
geometry problems
°
distribution of a quantity into its fractional parts.
A total of 16
questions are asked.
Sample Questions
for Arithmetic
Solve the following problems and choose
your answer from the alternatives given. You may use the paper you have
been given for scratch work.
All of the
following are ways to write 20 percent of N EXCEPT
(A)
0.20N
(B) 
(C)
(D) 20N
Which of the
following is closest to
(A)
3
(B)
4
(C)
5
(D)
8
Three people who
work full time are to work together on a project, but their total time
on the project is to be equivalent to that of only one person working
full time. If one of the people is budgeted for 1/2 of his time to the
project and a second person for 1/3 of her time, what part of the third
worker’s time should be budgeted to this project?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Answers
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There are also
three categories in the Elementary Algebra Test:
1) Operations
with integers and rational numbers, includes:
°
computation with integers and negative rationals,
°
the use of absolute values, and ordering.
2) Operations
with algebraic expressions:
°
evaluation of simple formulas
°
expressions and adding
°
subtracting monomials and polynomials,
°
the evaluation of positive rational roots and exponents,
°
simplifying algebraic fractions, and factoring.
3) Equation
solving, inequalities, and word problems including
°
solving verbal problems presented in algebraic context
°
geometric reasoning
°
the translation of written phrases into algebraic expressions
°
graphing.
A total of 12
questions are presented.
Sample Questions
for Elementary Algebra
If a number is
divided by 4, and then 3 is subtracted, the result is 0. What is the
number?
(A)
12
(B)
4
(C)
3
(D)
2
16X – 8 =
(A)
8x
(B)
8 (2x-x)
(C)
8 (2x-1)
(D)
8 (2x-8)
If X2 -
X- 6 = 0 then X is:
(A)
-2 or 3
(B)
-1 or 6
(C)
1 or –6
(D)
2 or –3
Answers
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The College-Level
mathematics test assesses proficiency from intermediate algebra through
pre-calculus. The categories covered include:
1) Algebraic
operations includes:
°
simplifying rational algebraic expressions
°
factoring and expanding polynomials
°
manipulating roots and exponents
2) Solutions of
equations and inequalities includes:
°
the solution of linear and quadratic equations by factoring
°
expanding polynomials,
°
manipulating roots and exponents
3) Coordinate
geometry asks questions about:
°
plane geometry
°
the coordinate plane, straight lines, conics, sets of points in a plane
°
graphs of algebraic functions
4) Application and
other algebra topics asks about:
°
complex numbers
°
series and sequences
°
determinants, permutations
°
combinations, fractions
°
word problems
5) Functions and
trigonometry presents questions about:
°
polynomial, algebraic, exponential, logarithmic
°
trigonometric functions.
A total of 20
questions are asked.
Sample Questions
for College-Level Mathematics
If f (x) = X4-x+2,
then f (-x) =
(A)
x4-x
(B)
x4+x
(C)
x4-x+2
(D)
x4+x+2
The equation
x2+2ix-4=0 has as its roots
(A) 
-1,
--1
(B) -
I, +
I
(C) -
I, - +
I
(D) -I,
-+I
(E) -
I, --
1
Answers
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You will read
passages of 50 to 90 words and then answer questions about your
reading. The reading passages will be about the arts, or science, or
history. Half of the test questions ask about information that is
stated in the passage. The other half will ask you to identify the main
ideas, or fact vs. opinion, or the author’s point of view.
Sample Question for LOEP Reading Skills
Read each passage below, then answer the
question or questions that follow it. Some passages have one question
and some have two.
My cousin lived
in the city from 1984 to 1989.
(A)
after 1989
(B)
before 1984
(C)
between 1984 and 1989
(D)
neither in 1984 nor in
1989
Answers
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You will be asked
to fill-in a blank with a word or phrase, or combine two sentences. The
skills covered are writing skills including the proper use of nouns and
verbs.
Mr. Swoboda
grows roses, tomatoes, and carrots. That is why his friends say that he
is a good _____?
(A)
gardener
(B)
builder
(C)
painter
(D)
florist
Each problem below contains one or two
sentences followed by a question. Choose the correct answer to the
question.
The teacher called on Joe in class.
What did the
teacher do?
(A)
shouted to Joe
(B)
asked Joe a question
(C)
telephoned Joe
(D)
visited Joe
Answers
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