| The Learning Center
is responsible for the placement of those students who are admitted with
deficiencies in English, math, reading, and science. Each student's
placement in English, math, and reading is determined based on his score
on the Accuplacer Computerized Placement Test
(CPT). Science placement is based on a paper science subtest
of the Stanford Test of Academic Skills.
The placement tests are administered
each day, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students
are sent to the Learning Center from the Admissions Office. Learning
Center staff administer the tests and make placement recommendations based
on the resulting scores.
The score used for placement is
the percentile rank, not the raw score. In order to avoid taking
developmental courses, a student must score at or above the 50th percentile
on each test.
The English, reading and math CPTs
are not timed, and students should plan to arrive early enough to avoid
rushing through the tests. The Stanford Science subtest contains
40 multiple choice questions to be answered in 20 minutes.
The Learning Center does not provide
study guides for the placement tests; however, the following website provides
materials to help familiarize you with the format of the questions for
the English,
math, and reading.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/accuplacer
(This website provides detailed descriptions and a number of sample
questions.)
The Stanford
Science Subtest is designed to assess understanding in the domains
of the life, physical, and earth sciences. Questions reflect understanding
of general concepts more than the specific details of science. Test items
allow students to use reasoning skills to reach answers rather than recall
memorized, detailed information. Reasoning skills required include estimating,
making simple calculations, seeking patterns, making observations, recognizing
cause and effect, reading standard instruments, and drawing conclusions.
Test items may ask you to apply an understanding of the concept directly
to a situation, but, more often, you are asked to interpret data, draw
conclusions, and predict events. In summary, you are applying foundation
concepts and skills as you think through questions. (Description taken
from the Stanford Test of Academic Skills Administration Handbook.) |
