ACCUPLACER is a computer-based placement testing program used by over 1,300 secondary and post-secondary institutions to assess students' academic readiness in reading, writing, and math. It provides rigorous tests as well as diagnostic assessments and remediation resources. Tests are computer adaptive and can be administered online anytime with flexible proctoring options. ACCUPLACER scores can be used alongside other measures for multi-factor course placement. The program also aims to support student success through individualized learning pathways and remediation tools based on diagnostic results.

1. ACCUPLACER Overview
Kansas Board of Regents
August 28, 2015

2. What is ACCUPLACER?
A program from College Board that provides:
+ Rigorous, reliable, and valid test content
- Placement testing
- Diagnostic testing
+ A robust test delivery platform
- Internet-based
- 24/7 access
- Continuous enhancement
+ An array of services
- Consulting
- Professional Development
- Technical Support

3. Who does ACCUPLACER serve?
Over 1300 secondary and post-secondary institutions
Institutions served:
+ 2 year
+ 4 year
+ High schools
+ 8 million exams
administered in
academic year 2014-15
Widely used in:
+ Arizona, Alaska, California,
Indiana, Maine, Minnesota,
New York, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina, South
Dakota, Texas, West Virginia
+ Used in every state in US
+ Used in 29 countries
Test takers:
+ High school
students
+ College students
+ ESL/ELL student
+ Ability to Benefit
students
+ Workforce
Development
Programs

4. Primary Uses of ACCUPLACER Tests
 The primary function of the ACCUPLACER Placement Tests
are to assist with determining if students are prepared for a
college-level course or if they would benefit from a
developmental course.
 The primary function of the ACCUPLACER Diagnostic Tests
are to provide a detailed assessment of test-takers’ skills in
so that academic strengths and weaknesses can be
pinpointed.

5. ACCUPLACER Tests
General Tests
• Reading Comprehension
• Sentence Skills
• Arithmetic
• Elementary Algebra
• College Level Math
• WritePlacer
• Computer Skills Placement
• “Local” Tests
ESL Suite
• Reading Skills
• Sentence Meaning
• Language Usage
• Listening
• WritePlacer ESL
Diagnostics
• Reading Comprehension
• Sentence Skills
• Arithmetic
• Elementary Algebra
(20)
(20)
(17)
(12)
(20)
(20)
(20)
(20)
(20)
(40)
(40)
(40)
(40)
(30/70)

6. HEd Course Placement Policies/Scores
+ Given that institutions differ greatly with respect to
composition of the student body, faculty and course content,
it is not possible to stipulate specific test cut scores that
should be used for placement decisions.
+ Instead, each institution should establish their own cut scores
to facilitate placement decisions based on factors and data
unique to their institution.
+ Course Placement scores appropriate for each program
should be considered
+ The College Board strongly recommends that multiple
measures be used when placing students.

7. How is ACCUPLACER used in high schools?
+ Assess students readiness for higher level courses and programs
- Dual Enrollment courses
- College in the High School programs
- Honor courses or AP courses
- CTE programs – change the message
+ Target students who are not on track to be career/college ready by
graduation
- Develop individualized intervention plans

8. ACCUPLACER
The Basics

9. ACCUPLACER Basics…
+ Computer Adaptive Testing
 Fixed length tests which meet the student at their ability level
+ Configurable Branching Profiles
 Which tests will be given, under what conditions, background questions
+ Configurable Placement Rules – Including Composite Scores
 Place students into courses with specific program messages

10. Decreased
Difficulty
Increased
Difficulty
Middle
Difficulty
Score is calculated and
the next best item is
selected based on:
• Difficulty
• Content
• Test Specifications
Delivers a customized testing experience by using prior answers to estimate
which items the student is likely to answer successfully.
Computer Adaptive Testing

11. Branching Profiles: Background Questions
What was the
highest math
course you’ve
taken in the
last five years?
Algebra
College
Level
Math
Arithmetic
Algebra I or
Algebra II
Pre-Calculus
Trigonometry
Calculus
Arithmetic
Pre-Algebra

12. Branching Profiles: Test Scores
Algebra Test
Score 91-120
College Level
Math Test
Course
Placement
Score 61-90
Course
Placement
Score 20-60
Arithmetic
Test
Course
Placement

13. Branching Profiles: Test Scores & Background Questions
Test Score
•Low Score on Reading test (native)
Background
Question
•No to any of following:
•Is English the first language you learned?
•Is English the language most often spoken in your home?
•Have you had at least 8 years of formal education in the US?
ESL Test
•ESL Area Test
•Test Results Determine Next ESL Test (if any)
ESL Test
•ESL Area Test
•Test Results Determine Next ESL Test (if any)

14. Configurable Placement Rules

15. ACCUPLACER
Beyond the Basics

16. ACCUPLACER Beyond the Basics…
+ Multiple Measures/Weighted Placement Rules
 Ability to incorporate demographic info external data with test scores for course
placement
+ Computer Skills Placement(CSP)
 Assess students computer literacy skills
+ Local Test
 Assess additional skills, test authored by Faculty
+ Flexible Testing Administration
 Test anywhere – your way
+ Remote Proctoring
 On campus and virtual

17. Robust Support of Multiple Measures
Placement
Background
Questions
Test Scores
External
Data
• Did you take Algebra in
High School?
• How often do you use
math in your life outside
of school?
• ACT or SAT Scores
• High School GPA

18. An Example: Fine Tuning Placement
Test Score + Background Question Responses
Scores barely above the cut
Background responses indicate
less desirable characteristics
Scores barely below the cut
Background responses indicate
highly desirable characteristics

19. An Example: Multiple Pathways
Test Score + External Data + Background Question Responses
Test Scores alone
5-8 points below with High
School GPA of 3.0+
5-8 points below with 4 years
of Math and a B or higher
College Math
101

20. Computer Skills Placement (CSP) can
help with…
+ Advising Tool – quickly and accurately assess students’
competency of basic computer skills
+ Identify students with gaps in computer knowledge
+ Placement into courses/programs that have computer driven
curriculum
+ Ensure necessary skills for online course completion
(Blackboard, D2L)
+ Ensure students are ready to effectively interact online with
the institution via the computer

21. Faculty Created Exams (Local Tests)
Measuring additional skill sets for placement
 Biology/Science
 Study Skills
 Higher Math Skills
 Specific Computer Skills
Test Question Options
 Passages
 Audio
 Video
Test Answer Options
 Multiple Choice, True/False, Audio

22. Vouchers
• Pre-register students in advance
• Designed for group testing on or off campus
Flexible Test Administration
On Demand Testing
• No scheduling or pre-planning required
• Walk in testing on campus
Fast Track Test Administration
• No scheduling or pre-planning required
• Designed for group testing on or off campus
Remote Testing Network
• Pre-register students in advance
• Testing at participating colleges
Remote Virtual Proctoring
• Pre-register students in advance
• 24/7 virtual proctoring anywhere

23. Virtual Remote Proctoring
Allows Students to test at a time that is
convenient for them - working adults,
on-line students, home bound students.
Saves travel time to a campus
Four students per Virtual Proctor
Cost per test session - $25

24. ACCUPLACER
Test Content

25. Language Arts: Reading
Reading Comprehension
Placement content categories are:
• Identifying Main Ideas
• Secondary / Supporting Idea
• Inference
• Applications
• Sentence Relationships
Diagnostic content categories are:
• Main Idea
• Supporting Detail
• Sentence Relationships
• Inference
• Author's Purpose/Rhetorical Strategies
Each student is administered a total
of 20 items for placement, 40 items for diagnostic

26. Language Arts: Writing
Sentence Skills
Placement content categories are:
• Recognizing Complete Sentences
• Coordination/Subordination
• Sentence Relationship
Diagnostic Content Categories are:
• Agreement
• Modifiers
• Diction/Logic
• Sentence Structure
• Sentence Boundaries
Each student is administered a total
of 20 items for placement, 40 items for diagnostic

27. Language Arts: Writing Essay
WritePlacer
8-point holistic scoring guide, 6 dimensions
• Purpose and Focus
• Organization and Structure
• Development and Support
•Sentence Variety and Style
•Mechanical Conventions
•Critical Thinking
Fourteen prompts available

28. WritePlacer/WritePlacer ESL
Structure
- Students construct essay in response to provided prompt. Scored
immediately by IEA system.
Benefits
- Immediate scores
- Reduced costs
- Decreased faculty/student time
- Ease of use
- Distance/remote delivery

29. Mathematics: Arithmetic
Arithmetic
Placement content categories are:
• Whole numbers and Fractions
• Decimals and Percents
• Applications
Diagnostic content categories are:
• Computation with Integers and
Fractions
• Computation with Decimal Numbers
• Problems Involving Percent
• Estimation, Ordering, and Number
Sense
• Word Problems and Applications
Each student is administered a total
of 17 items for placement and 40 items for diagnostics

30. Mathematics: Elementary Algebra
Elementary Algebra
Placement content categories are:
• Integers and Rationals
• Algebraic Expressions
• Equations, Inequalities, and Word
Problems
Diagnostic content categories are:
• Real Numbers
• Linear Equations, Inequalities, and
Systems
• Quadratic Expressions and Equations
• Algebraic Expressions and Equations
• Word Problems and Applications
Each student is administered a total of 12 items for
placement and 40 items for diagnostics

31. Mathematics: College Level Math
College-Level Math
Placement content categories are:
• Algebraic Operations
• Solutions of Equations and
Inequalities
• Coordinate Geometry
• Applications and Other Algebra
Topics
• Functions
• Trigonometry
Each student is administered a total of 20 items
(placement test only)

32. ESL Placement Tests
Language Use
• Grammar
Sentence Meaning
• Vocabulary in context
Reading Skills
• Passage-Based - reading
comprehension
Listening
• Conversations and lectures
ESL WritePlacer
• 6 point holistic scoring guide
• 4 dimensions
• Word use
• Sentence Use
• Grammar
• Organization and Development
Each student is administered a total of 20 items for each ESL section.
ESL Writeplacer has six prompts available.

33. COMPANION: Accessibility Formats
 Braille version
 Large print version
 Audio CDs
 Pencil/paper versions
 Additional:
 ACCUPLACER online is compatible
with selected screen reading
software programs
 ACCUPLACER online has wizard
feature for visually impaired

34. Student Engagement
and Intervention

35. Student Engagement and Preparation
•Downloadable PDF
•Questions with Answer Key
Sample Questions
for Students
•Free to all students
•Scored mini-tests with overall and strand scores
•Rationale on answering each question
Web Study App
•Interpret Diagnostic scores
•Assign topics for study based on Diagnostic scores
•Plan individual intervention or design curriculum
Remediation
Planner
•Results from Diagnostic provide individualized learning paths
•Online content available 24/7MyFoundationsLab

36. Web Study App:
Free to All Students

37. Remediation Planner
Design InstructionUnique Plan for
Student

38. ACCUPLACER Intervention Strategies
The ACCUPLACER diagnostic assessment is paired with proven
MyFoundationsLab remediation.This powerful combined experience
enhances college preparedness and student success.

39. Individualized Intervention

40. ACCUPLACER and
Ability to Benefit
40

41. ACCUPLACER is Approved…
Your Institution’s Account for Placement
+ Completely customize to meet your
institution’s needs
+ Develop your placement policy
+ Control test branching and course
placement
College Board’s ATB Account
+ Turnkey account
+ Use for ATB only
+ Requires passing a proctor
certification test
+ No setup or customization allowed
or required
Per the Department Of Education, ACCUPLACER* continues to be an approved Ability
to Benefit (ATB) test.
* Currently does not include ACCUPLACER ESL or state-specific assessments.

42. Validating Results

43. Admitted Class Evaluation Service - ACES
+ A free service from College Board
+ Validate the results of your
placement policies to refine or
make adjustments to cut scores
+ Compare ACCUPLACER scores
to actual course grades
+ Provides a probability of success
based on your placement policy
and actual student data
+ Confidential

44. Questions and Thank You!
Kathie Montognese
kmontognese@collegeboard.org