Basic Skills Assessment
Middlesex Community College

Go to: Purpose / Who must take the test / Test Administration  / Special arrangements for students with disabilities / Test preparation / Adaptive testing / Guessing / Confidentiality / Student Guide / Sample Test Items

The Purpose of the Assessment
The Computerized Placement Tests (CPTs) were developed by the College Board to provide information about your level of skill accomplishment in reading, English and mathematics required for success in college. By assessing your levels in these areas, the CPTs help to determine the English, math and reading courses most appropriate for you at this time.

Who Must Take the Test
MxCC requires skills assessment in math, reading and English before students enroll in academic programs. Test exemptions are:

    • students who have an Associate degree or higher
    • students who have completed college level mathematics and English
    • students enrolled in English as a Second Language classes
    • part-time and non-degree students who have not accumulated 12 credit hours, unless they wish to take an English or math class or a course that requires a math or English pre-requisite.

If you believe you are exempt from the placement test, please contact the Admissions Office at
(860) 343-5719.

Test Administration
The CPTs are administered on a personal computer. You will read the instructions and questions on the computer monitor and will select your answers using the computer keyboard or mouse. No computer experience is needed.

Special Arrangements for Students with Disabilities
Accommodations for individuals with special needs may be arranged through the Office of the Learning Specialist at (860) 343-5879.

Test Preparation
Since the Basic Skills Assessment measures your skill level, you will want to do your best. We do not offer re-testing so it is to your advantage to do the best that you can. These tips may be helpful:

    • Please bring your Social Security Card for identification and your BANNER ID.
    • Follow all instructions
    • Concentrate on your work
    • Try to avoid distractions
    • Answer each question to the best of your ability
    • The test is not timed, so take your time.

Adaptive Testing
It has been found that each of three test areas usually takes students 15 to 20 minutes to complete. However, you may take as long as you need to complete each test. The tests are untimed. 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.

Guessing
Because this is an adaptive test, you must answer every question when it is first given. You cannot omit any question or come back later to change an answer. If you want to change your answer on a particular question, you must do so before continuing onto the following question. If you do not, the answer is accepted and you cannot return to the question. 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.

Confidentiality
Your test scores and the information you provide when taking the tests will be used by the college for counseling and placement purposes. It may also be used by the 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.

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For more information on the basic skills assessment, read the Student Guide and Sample Test Items. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files.

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Middlesex Community College
100 Training Hill Rd.   Middletown, CT 06457