Re-test Policy

General Information About Re-Testing ACCUPLACER

One (1) re-test in each subject area is permitted.  There is a $5 fee for each subject area re-tested.  Students must wait until the next business day before re-testing.  Students are advised to use their one (1) re-test option wisely.  Without study and preparation, it is unlikely that placement will change.

Highest scores will be honored and placements are final once all re-test/appeal options are completed (as described below).

Re-testing after 3+ years is permitted (not required) if it has been 3 or more years since the placement test and/or a course was taken in a given subject area (RDG, ENG, or MTH).  The highest score/placement in that subject area on a student’s record will be honored.  A withdraw (W) or a letter grade earned is considered as having taken the course. However, a grade of a W, D, or F may require working with records to register.

Talk to an academic advisor about course selections based on placements.  Contact Academic and Transfer Advising at (815) 921-4100.

High School Students:  There are two testing cycles for High School/ Dual-credit students (excluding Running Start):  January through June and July through December.  If taking ACCUPLACER for the very first time, a student may re-test one time in that same six-month cycle.  If the re-test is not used in the first testing cycle, the re-test is forfeited.  In every cycle after the first, Accuplacer may be taken one time.  Specific programs, such as Running Start, may have their own requirements.  For more information, contact the High School Connections office at (815) 921-4080.  If college-level placement is not achieved during high school years, students are permitted to test and re-test again prior to enrollment as a traditional college student (your final semester prior to high school graduation).

Preparing For a Re-Test

ACCUPLACER Study Guide:  Includes information about ACCUPLACER, sample test questions, and suggested websites for review.  Available in the Testing Center or on our Website.

Free Official ACCUPLACER Study App: This Web-based study app features practice tests in Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, College-Level Math, Reading Comprehension, and Sentence Skills. It’s accessible from any Internet-capable computer.

MyMath Test:  Online program designed to review and prepare students for Math Placement or Geometry Competency Exam.  Available on our website.

Understanding Developmental Placements

If a final placement is in a developmental course, (course number below 100 such as RDG 096, ENG 097, MTH 091), a student will be required to take the developmental course.  A grade of C of better is required to advance to the next course in the developmental sequence.  Students earning an A or B may be eligible to advance their placement based on an ACCUPLACER re-test. 

Starting a developmental course means placement acceptance.  This rule applies unless a course is dropped on or before the “Last Day for Tuition Refunds”.  See important dates for more on these deadlines. 

Note:  Credits earned in developmental courses are not transferable, but do count toward full-time student status at RVC.

Reading – If final placement is in a developmental reading course, a student is required to take that reading course and any other reading courses in the sequence in order to take any other courses.  To determine eligible courses based on you reading placement, see the Reading Course Options.

English – If final placement is in a developmental English course, (ENG 097, ENG 099) a student is required to take that English course and any other English courses in the sequence in order to take a 100 level English course.  Eligibility to enroll in developmental English courses is also dependent upon reading placement and enrollment.  Consult the current Guide to ACCUPLACER Placement Scores.

Math – Students are advised to review comprehensive information about developmental math courses (i.e. MTH 088, MTH 091, etc.) and policies at:  http://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/Math.  For questions about developmental math courses, contact an academic advisor at (815) 921-4100 or the Developmental Math Coordinator, Carol Anderson at c.anderson@rockvalleycollege.edu.

Reading Comprehension

All students are allowed one (1) re-test in Reading Comprehension.  Cost is $5 to re-test. 

Students are advised to speak to Testing Center staff (815) 921-2385 about re-test options if a score of 39 or below is earned on first attempt of the Reading Comprehension Test.

Sentence Skills (English)

All students are allowed one (1) re-test in Sentence Skills (English).  Cost is $5 to re-test. 

After taking Sentence Skills two (2) times and scoring 40-75 on one or both attempts, a student may take the WritePlacer exam free of charge one time.  WritePlacer testing is available during walk-in hours or by appointment.  WritePlacer is the essay portion of the ACCUPLACER testing program.  It is a timed test giving the student a randomly selected topic to write a 300-600 word essay on the computer.  The essay is graded electronically and results are provided immediately.  A score of 6 or higher is required for placement into ENG 101 and a score of 5 is required for placement into ENG 099.  Preparation materials are available.

Students are advised to speak to Testing Center staff (815) 921-2385 about re-test options if a score of 39 or below is earned on a first attempt of the Sentence Skills test.

Mathematics

Making a Math Appeal: If a math course was taken and a grade of C or better is earned in a high school or college course that is higher than the course placed into by the ACCUPLACER Placement Test, a Math Appeal may be made. Eligible students must complete the Math Appeal Form, attach all supporting materials and submit it no later than one (1) week before the start of the semester in order for the appeal to be effective for that semester. Some students may be required to take an additional test in order to determine final math placement. Math Appeal Forms can be found in the Testing Center, Academic and Transfer Advising, the Mathematics division office, and online.

Math Petition:  Students may be eligible to take ACCUPLACER one (1) additional time for re-evaluation for math placement.  Students have only one (1) opportunity during the developmental sequence to use the Math Petition and are advised to use the one (1) opportunity wisely.  Students eligible to submit a Math Petition are those who: (1) Have earned an A or B in a developmental math course; (2) Have a unique situation requiring a conversation with the Academic Chair of Mathematics.  Math Petitions are completed in the Testing Center during walk-ins or scheduled times.

Geometry Requirement:  Geometry (MTH 097) is required for students placing into MTH 088, 091, or 096S who have not passed geometry in high school. MTH 097 can be taken after MTH 092 or MTH 096S. It can be taken before, after, or with intermediate algebra.  Listed below are four options to meet the geometry requirement:

• Complete a MTH 097 Waiver Form if two (2) semesters of high school geometry have been completed with a C or better.  Forms are available in the Testing Center, Records Office, and Academic and Transfer Advising or online. 
• Pass the Geometry Competency Exam.  Information is available in the Testing Center.
• Pass MTH 097 with a C or better.
• Passing MTH 096A satisfies the geometry requirement.

MyMathTest: online program designed to review and prepare students for Math Placement or Geometry Competency Exam. Available on our website.

For complete information about developmental math courses (i.e. MTH 088, MTH 091, etc.) and policies, go to our Math website.  For questions about developmental math, contact the Developmental Math Coordinator, Carol Anderson at c.anderson@rockvalleycollege.edu or an academic advisor at (815) 921-4100.