accuplacer writing help

ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

The ACCUPLACER Writing test is a computer-adaptive test comprised of 25 questions that assess your English and writing skills. To help you prepare for this section of the ACCUPLACER, this page contains everything you need to know, including what topics are covered, how many questions there are, and how you can study effectively.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free ACCUPLACER Writing practice test!

What’s on the Test?

Online accuplacer test prep course.

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online ACCUPLACER test prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The ACCUPLACER course includes:

• 74 Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
• 1,250+ ACCUPLACER Practice Questions
• Over 240 Video Tutorials
• More than 550 Electronic Flashcards
• Money-back Guarantee
• Free Mobile Access

The ACCUPLACER prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their ACCUPLACER exam. Click below to check it out!

How many questions are on the test?

There are 25 questions in total on the ACCUPLACER Writing subtest.

How do you pass the ACCUPLACER Writing test?

There is no “pass/fail” scoring system for this subtest. Your score will be placed on a score range of 200-300. Your placement on that range will indicate your English and writing knowledge and abilities.

To achieve a high score, you will need to spend an adequate amount of time studying for the test.

What is a good score on the ACCUPLACER Writing test?

Your test score will be placed on a score range of 200-300. Within that range are five score bands:

A good score to aim for is the 263-275 score band.

ACCUPLACER Practice Test Home

by Mometrix Test Preparation | This Page Last Updated: February 29, 2024

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General Education

Practice tests are an important part of the test prep process. They can help you gauge your progress, create focused study plans, and familiarize you with the ACCUPLACER test.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about the ACCUPLACER practice tests : where to find them, how much they cost, how they will work to your specific needs, and so much more.

There's a lot to cover, so let's get started!

What Is the ACCUPLACER Test?

The ACCUPLACER is a placement test, meaning it's designed to assess your skills in a variety of key areas so that you can be placed in the courses at the level appropriate to your abilities .

It's specifically used by colleges to determine whether students are ready to enroll in credit-earning courses or not. Many colleges have remediation programs that are designed to help students improve their core skills without counting for credit (or factoring into your GPA).

In other words, the ACCUPLACER test is designed to help colleges decide if students need to take remedial courses or not.

The ACCUPLACER test includes assessment in three areas: reading, writing, and mathematics. The mathematics section is broken down into three subtests: Arithmetic; Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS); and Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF).

There is also an essay component to the ACCUPLACER test called the WritePlacer Essay.

There's a lot to know about the ACCUPLACER test, so be sure to check out our complete ACCUPLACER overview .

So, do you need to take the ACCUPLACER test?

Whether or not you need the ACCUPLACER placement tests depends largely upon whether it's required by your university. If your college uses the ACCUPLACER to determine your placement in coursework, then you're going to have to take it no matter what. If you're unsure whether you need to take the ACCUPLACER exam, check with your college or university!

Do I Need to Study for the ACCUPLACER Test?

It's never a bad idea to study for a test. But determining how much you should study for the ACCUPLACER depends on two factors: your high school performance and your test-taking ability.

First, consider how well you performed in your high school courses. Did you make As and Bs in English and math courses? Or did you start to struggle as the material started to get more difficult? Did you take AP or IB classes, and did you do well in them?

Then, think about how you do on standardized tests. Are you the type of student who can wing it and get an A? Or do you have a little test anxiety that makes things tough?

If you struggle in one of the ACCUPLACER test's core subjects—reading, writing, and math—or if you're not a good test taker, then you should definitely set aside some time to study for the exam.

But how much time should you study? Well, that depends on how much you're struggling in the areas we've mentioned. That's why we recommend that everyone take at least one ACCUPLACER practice test. That way you can gauge your level of preparedness and brush up on your skills before you actually take the exam. It's also a good way to get a feel for the format of the test. Knowing what to expect from the ACCUPLACER exam can help calm some of your test-day jitters!

Having said that, keep in mind that the ACCUPLACER exam is a placement test, meaning you can't fail it. Its goal is to make sure that you're being placed in courses that will help you succeed in the long run.

Here's what we mean: universities don't want you to enroll in classes you're not ready to take. Not only is that stressful for you, it can also hurt your GPA...which can affect your scholarships and financial aid. The ACCUPLACER is a way for a school to make sure new students are enrolling in the right course level, which can ensure students' long-term success in college.

The Best ACCUPLACER Practice Tests

Now that you know more about the exam, let's talk more about ACCUPLACER practice tests. We've compiled a list of the best ACCUPLACER practice tests so that you can find the resources you need quickly and easily.

We've also broken the practice tests out into categories to help you find what you need. There are four categories below: best overall resource, reading practice tests, writing practice tests, and math practice tests.

That way you can focus on the material that's toughest for you!

The Best Overall Resource

If you're ready to start studying for the ACCUPLACER exam by using practice tests, then you've come to the right place. This is our pick for the best all-around ACCUPLACER practice test resource.

Best ACCUPLACER Practice Test Resource: The College Board

Your first stop for practice tests should be the College Board's Practice for ACCUPLACER page . Here you'll find a number of official materials that will help you prepare for the ACCUPLACER tests.

We recommend starting here for a few reasons. First, the ACCUPLACER exam is administered by the College Board, so their resources are the most up-to-date and accurate. Second, the College Board provides a wide variety of study tools to help you get ready for your test.

The most helpful tool included on this page is the ACCUPLACER study app. This ACCUPLACER study app provides practice tests in all categories, which you can take as many times as you like. The practice tests are formatted exactly like the ACCUPLACER placement tests themselves, and offer immediate feedback on your answers, with explanations of why the answers are correct or incorrect.

That way, you can study anywhere you like and get feedback in real time!

Second, the College Board's ACCUPLACER website has a number of sample question packets available for each test , with rationales for the correct answers at the end. You can download these as PDFs and print them out, then work on them at your own pace. Again, these are official questions from College Board themselves , so they are a very useful and representative tool for studying the real thing!

The third ACCUPLACER study tool you can find on the College Board's website is a selection of sample essay prompts, along with sample essays, their scores, and the rationales for why the essays received the scores they did . You can practice writing essays using the sample prompts, then compare your essays to the ones that have been scored in the packet. That way, you can see how your writing stacks up.

The ACCUPLACER Reading exam tests your ability to read, comprehend, and analyze a text.

ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Tests

In order to pass the ACCUPLACER Reading Test, you'll have to be able to read short passages (often just a few paragraphs) and be able to understand what words and phrases mean in the context of the passage. The texts will include literature, nonfiction, history, and various experiences from careers or the sciences, and they will range from easy to relatively difficult.

According to College Board's website , some of the areas you'll be assessed on are:

• Reading comprehension, including picking out major ideas and themes
• Analyzing word choice and points of view
• Analyzing and critiquing logic and arguments
• Synthesizing texts (i.e. comparing more than one text and understanding how they work together)

We've put together a list of the best ACCUPLACER reading practice tests available to help you brush up on these important skills.

ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension Practice Test

• Best For: Students who want to take one more practice test before the actual exam

This ACCUPLACER reading practice test is nothing fancy, but it provides a quick click-through approach to taking the ACCUPLACER Reading Test. While the questions themselves may not be exactly like those provided by College Board, they're similar enough to be useful—and the price is definitely right! We recommend using this after you've already taken the practice tests available from the College Board.

Mometrix ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Test

• Best For: Students who are short on time

Mometrix's ACCUPLACER reading practice test is short—it only gives you 15 questions. But it's free, and it does give you a sense of the types of questions you'll see on the reading section of the exam. If you don't have a lot of time to study for the ACCUPLACER, but you want to at least get a sense of what the exam will be like, this is a good resource for you.

Ace the Accuplacer Reading Placement Test

• Cost: Subscription-based (free for 30 days)
• Best For: Students who are struggling with reading comprehension

Once you create an account, you can start your free trial and access Study.com's ACCUPLACER reading practice tests. Once you create your account you'll see the practice test, which is a combined study resource and exam. For each question, Study.com provides rationales for the correct answers as well as videos and tutorials you can watch that can help you learn to better read and respond to the test questions. So if you're looking for some extra guided help on the ACCUPLACER's reading section, this is a great choice!

The ACCUPLACER Writing exam tests your ability to edit a text. That means you'll have to brush up on your grammar skills!

ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Tests

In order to pass the ACCUPLACER writing test, you'll need to be able to edit or revise several passages for "for effective expression of ideas and for conformity to the conventions of Standard Written English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation."

This is a fancy way of saying you'll be evaluating and editing, rather than writing your own content. (The ACCUPLACER exam also has an essay portion, which is different from the Writing section.)

According to the College Board's website, the key areas they are testing for are:

• Being able to evaluate a text's argument, organization, and use of language
• Understanding English grammar, including vocabulary, structure, and punctuation

While that might seem challenging, the ACCUPLACER writing practice tests below can help you get a handle on those concepts in no time.

Mometrix ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Test

• Best For: Students who want a quick overview of the writing section

As with the ACCUPLACER Reading Test linked above, this is a short practice test. It gives you 15 sample questions that offer an overview of the different question types you'll find on the writing section of the ACCUPLACER exam. What we really like about this resource is that it explains the rationale behind the correct answer for each question. But because it's so short, we recommend it as an introduction to the test or a supplement to the official practice tests we listed earlier.

ACCUPLACER English Study Guide 2019 & 2020: ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills, and Writing Test Prep & 2 Practice Tests

• Cost: About $15
• Best For: Students who struggle with writing, editing, and revising

This 95-page book has study guides, an ACCUPLACER Writing practice test, and practice questions. It's basically a mini course on the writing and reading portions of the ACCUPLACER in one handy place. It's more expensive than some of the free practice tests on our list, but you'll definitely get your money's worth! If you need more comprehensive help—or if you prefer to study from a book rather than online—this would be an excellent resource for you.

There are actually three ACCUPLACER math tests: Arithmetic; Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS); and Advanced Algebra and Functions (AAF)

ACCUPLACER Math Practice Tests

All three ACCUPLACER math tests are multiple choice and measure your ability to compute equations, your fluency with math skills, and your ability to apply mathematical concepts to real-life situations.

Keep in mind that each math test focuses on a different set of skills. This table shows you what math skills are tested on each ACCUPLACER math subject exam:

If math isn't your strong suit, and you are concerned about how you might place, you'll probably want to study for the ACCUPLACER math tests. That's why we've found some of the best ACCUPLACER math practice tests available!

ACCUPLACER Study Guide 2020-2021: ACCUPLACER English and Math Exam Prep and Practice Test Questions

• Best For : Students who need a comprehensive review

This 176-page book provides study guides, material reviews, practice questions, and practice tests from all three ACCUPLACER math subtests. This is a very thorough overview of the ACCUPLACER, updated for the upcoming academic year—and the best part is that it has sections over the reading and writing sections as well! If you're looking for a comprehensive review of the ACCUPLACER math exam, this is your best bet.

Barton College ACCUPLACER Math Practice Test

• Best For: Students who want to access their knowledge

Barton College has a free practice available on their school's placement web page. This 80-question ACCUPLACER math practice test has multiple choice questions similar to those on the actual test, along with the answer key. There are no rationales for the correct answers, but as a resource to quiz yourself on material you've studied using other resources, this is an excellent go-to practice test!

MathHelp ACCUPLACER Math Practice Test

• Best For: Students who need a content overview

This online practice test is more of a practice test and study resource combined into one. It has a whopping 174 lessons, all of which have videos that walk you through the skills you need to know to find the answers. For each skill set, there are ACCUPLACER sample questions that you can solve. These mimic the format of the ACCUPLACER exam to give you some practical experience while helping you conquer tough math concepts.

TestGuide ACCUPLACER Math Practice Tests

• Best For: Students who just want a quick overview of one subject area

TestGuide provides free ACCUPLACER math practice tests in three subject areas: arithmetic, algebra, and college math. Each test has about 10 questions, so they're pretty short. But they give you a decent sense of the material covered on the ACCUPLACER, and they're a good resource if you're looking to get an overview of the material and/or test your math skills. And since each subject has its own test, you can save valuable study time by zeroing in on the material you need to practice the most.

4 Tips for Using ACCUPLACER Practice Tests

So now that we've looked at several ACCUPLACER practice tests in each category, here are four tips that will help you get the most out of them.

Tip 1: Prioritize

Perhaps you're a math whiz and a big reader, but writing doesn't come naturally to you. There's shame in that, and you're definitely not alone!

If that's the case, use a practice test to diagnose the topics that are causing you the most trouble. Are you great with vocabulary, but struggle with grammar? Or maybe you're a whiz at picking out main ideas, but you're not sure what point of view is. Whatever it is, focus on the areas in which you need the most help, so that you don't waste your time studying areas that you're already comfortable with.

Tip 2: Don't Rush

The ACCUPLACER tests are not timed! That means that you have as long as you need to complete the actual tests. There's no need to try to speed through these ACCUPLACER practice tests. Take your time and try to learn why the answers are what they are. If you learn the material so that it makes sense to you, you'll do great on test day.

Tip 3: Don't Cheat

It can be tempting to try and speed up the studying process by flipping to the answer key as soon as you've answered a question (or to check on the right answer before you even attempt the problem). While this might make your study session go faster, it's not going to help you retain the information you're studying. Do your best to answer the questions on your own and then consult the answer key. That's the best way to learn.

Tip 4: Rinse and Repeat

Taking one practice test once isn't going to miraculously or dramatically improve your test scores. However, taking multiple tests and reviewing why the answers are what they are, repeating until you gradually get better and better at it probably will.

The best approach here is perseverance. While the first test or two might not be especially fun, you'll gradually get better and better as you learn the material, and that marathon approach is how you can get the most out of these ACCUPLACER practice tests. It will also help you knock your actual ACCUPLACER exam out of the park.

The ACCUPLACER test also has an essay portion. If your college requires you to take that portion of the exam, then you'll need to brush up on your writing chops. Start by checking out this guide to writing argumentative essays , then check out these articles on the SAT essay and ACT essay . While the ACCUPLACER essay portion isn't exactly the same, our SAT and ACT resources will teach you the key skills you need to succeed.

If you're struggling with math, PrepScholar has tons of resources that can help you learn even the trickiest material. For instance, this expert guide helps you learn the algebra you need to know for most standardized tests , and this one gives you a comprehensive overview of functions . Be sure to check out our blog for even more great information!

The reading and writing portions of the ACCUPLACER exam ask you to read passages and analyze them . Those are similar skills to what you'll use to do well on the SAT and ACT. Our SAT guide to reading can teach you how to break down difficult passages , and this article will give you some great general tips to improve your reading comprehension .

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Test

Try our free Accuplacer Writing practice test. This is a brand-new practice test that we wrote to reflect the 2024 Next-Generation Accuplacer. The Accuplacer Writing test measures your ability to revise and edit passages of text. There are a total of 25 questions, with no time limit.

Congratulations - you have completed .

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

In context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 3 (reproduced below)? In response, white nationalist and supremacist groups gathered for a Unite the Right rally that was designed to take place on August 11 and 12 of 2017.

Which is the most logical placement for sentence 6 (reproduced below) things weren’t peaceful, though, as tension between the groups built and the protestors from unite the right became violent., which is the best decision regarding the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below) in the midst of a tense atmosphere among protestors and counter-protestors, a man with a history of promoting white supremacist and neo-nazi beliefs intentionally drove his car into a crowd of counter-protestors: injuring 28 people and killing 1 person, 32-year old heather heyer., which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 10 (reproduced below) the violent act was caught on video and left many americans stunned; stunned by both the violence of the terrorist act, but also at the openly racist and hateful displays of white supremacist groups that many americans thought was a thing of the past., which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 12 (reproduced below) many cities, however, have chosen to remove these statues with as little fanfare and pomp as possible in an attempt to avoid a repetition of the hateful attack in charlottesville, va., which sentence blurs the focus of the first paragraph and therefore should be deleted, in context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below) k-pop originated in south korea in the early 90’s, but have recently became incredibly popular, especially with young american fans., in context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 11 (reproduced below) k-pop artists will also often infuse phrases in other languages, especially english phrases, into his lyrics to add to the music's appeal across the globe., in context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 12 (reproduced below) k-pop artists and producers are also very smooth at marketing their music., which of the following sentences, if inserted at the end of the third paragraph, best concludes the main ideas of the passage, which of the following sentences would best support one of the main ideas presented in the first paragraph, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 6 (reproduced below) in his book, he discusses how important knowledge was to him, and knowledge also took things away from him., which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below) while educating himself opened a lot of doors for frederick douglass, in his future as a free man, he wrote about how it made his life as a slave even harder., in context, which is the best transition to use at the beginning of sentence 10 (reproduced below) ignorance was bliss for douglass, who now understood exactly how terrible his situation was because he knew what was out of his reach on the other side., in context, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 11 (reproduced below) what made this memoir so crazy and awesome when it was published is that no longer were people hearing about slavery second-hand from northern abolitionists., which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 1 (reproduced below) in recent years, companies have started putting more emphasis on making sure their employees are happy than they ever have before., which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 4 (reproduced below) all companies should follow googles model and realize that when their employees are happy, they are more productive, more proactive, and more invested in the company., sentence 5 is reproduced below. one of the most ingenious ways that google encourages their employees to invest in their work. the writer is considering adding the following text at the end of the sentence. is by creating an environment that is fun and accommodating should the writer make the addition there, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below) in addition to making work more enjoyable for employees, google is making them feel more at home in the office, which in turn incites them to work longer hours., considering the writer’s rhetorical purpose, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 11 (reproduced below) are traditional companies with strict rules, uncreative conditions, and penny-pinching benefit packages just looking for employees to comply, sentence 3 is reproduced below. but bees are dying out. the writer is considering adding to the sentence. considering the writer's tone and purpose, which of the following, if any, should the writer add to sentence 3, which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 4 (reproduced below) in 2017, the rusty patched bumble bee became the first wild bee in the continental united states to be listed as an endangered species by the esa—endangered species act., which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below) most people know that bees pollinate flowers, but we don’t often think about how important this process with flowers is., the writer is considering adding a sentence to support one of their claims in the third paragraph of the passage. which of the following sentences would best support one of the writer’s claims in the third paragraph, which sentence blurs the focus of the third paragraph and therefore should be deleted.

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• How it Works

Take our ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Test (2024)

The ACCUPLACER writing test will assess your capacity to edit and rework text with multiple paragraphs. It will feature a series of 25 questions. These questions can be approached in relation to two broad knowledge and skill areas.

We have created the ACCUPLACER writing practice test to help you familiarize yourself with test question types.

FREE ACCUPLACER Writing Practice Test

Prepterminal has prepared a short practice test, so you can get a taste of what is going to be on the real exam.

Writing Practice Test

Each of these skill areas has subcategories.

1. Expression of ideas (14-16 questions)

• Development (revise, add, keep or select ideas and information)
• Effective use of language (revision of passage for the clarity of language)
• Organization (revision of the passage of text)

2. Standard English Conventions (9-11 questions)

• Conventions of punctuation (correct and identify inappropriate use of the convention of punctuation)
• Conventions of usage (identify and correct irregularities and lack of agreement)
• Structure of the sentence (identify and correct issues and incorrect shifts between and within a sentence)

ACCUPLACER Writing Passages and Topic Areas

The writing passages that feature on the ACCUPLACER writing test are around 300-350 words long. They are specifically written for the ACCUPLACER writing test. They vary in their level of difficulty, ranging from early high school level to first-year post-secondary level.

Every passage on the test is based on one of the following topic areas:

• History/ Careers/ Social Studies

They are also based on one of the following types of writing styles:

• Informative
• Argumentative

ACCUPLACER Prep Course

• 1 Introduction Buy this Course: Get full access to all lessons, practice tests and guides.
• 2 What's on the Math Test Buy this Course: Get full access to all lessons, practice tests and guides.
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Why do you Need to Practice for your ACCUPLACER Test before the Exam?

The rationale behind the ACCUPLACER Placement Test is to discover which college courses and classes you should take. Prospective universities will use your ACCUPLACER Placement test scores to determine which English and math courses you are to take when you begin your college degree. If you don’t get a top score on your ACCUPLACER test, you may need to enroll in remedial level English or math courses when you start university. This may mean that you will have to go over material that you already covered back in high school.

We, at Prepterminal, want you to avoid having to take remedial level courses. And, that’s why we have developed several practice tests to help you succeed on your ACCUPLACER exam. Check out our reading quiz and math quiz (which covers both algebra and arithmetic subjects). Find out what your current testing level is when you complete our free practice tests.

About Prepterminal’s ACCUPLACER Test Course

The ACCUPLACER exam is an essential part of the entry process to college. For those who want to progress directly to college-level subjects, you must do well on your tests. Given the weight of this exam, it is crucial to practice before test day. Make sure that you prepare using reliable and accurate course materials, such as those prepared by Prepterminal.

Prepterminal’s comprehensive course will give you all the material you need to get to know the format and structure of the ACCUPLACER exam. When you select Prepterminal, you are choosing to save precious time and money – resources that you may otherwise need to invest in remedial level study courses at university.

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Writing Placement

Testing center, questions contact us..

DMACC Testing Center [email protected] 1-800-362-2127

ACCUPLACER ® Writing Placement

Welcome to DMACC’s Choosing Composition Success site, created by the DMACC Writing Placement Task Force and English Department. It describes how students place into their writing classes and offers options for students scoring at certain levels.

Choosing success in college starts with taking writing courses that fit your current writing skills. Most colleges and universities in the United States have a first-year writing course required for a degree. At DMACC, that class is Composition I (ENG 105). However, not everyone is ready to take ENG 105, so the first step is to see into which class you place.

Part-time and full-time students who need to take a composition class need to submit ACT, COMPASS Reading and Writing Skills, ACCUPLACER Classic Reading and Sentence, or ACCUPLACER Reading and Writing scores to the Admissions Office as part of the admissions requirements. If you have taken these exams, bring the results to your advisor to help determine your writing placement. If you have not taken any of these tests, then you should schedule ACCUPLACER Reading and Writing exams with the Testing Center and talk about the results with an advisor to find the best writing path for you. Guest students and current DMACC students, including Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and Career Advantage students, who have already passed a prerequisite writing course prior to enrolling in Fall 2018 will be exempt. Academic transcripts will be required to verify transfer credit/grade awarded.

Writing Placement Scores

(See the full set of test and scores )

• A student who has an ACT composite score of 20 places into ENG 105.
• Another student who does not have ACT scores but took COMPASS a couple of years ago and scored a 45 on the Writing test places in ENG 061.
• A student who did not bring scores but takes ACCUPLACER Classic and scores a 68 in Sentence Skills is placed in ENG 061.
• A student with an ACCUPLACER Reading score in the 239-248 range but a 249 or higher Writing score should still consider taking ENG 145 and ENG 105. Reading skills are part of the ALP class.

Writing Course Options

Look at the ACT range of 16-18. What do you see? You see that students who score in the middle through upper ranges of the ACT or who score in certain ranges on the Reading and Writing placement exams for COMPASS, ACCUPLACER Classic and ACCUPLACER have different options.

Because reading and writing skills are so important to composition, we look at both scores to qualify students for an option of courses. Students who score 16-18 on the ACT, have a COMPASS Reading score range of 48-80 and Writing score of 54-69, or an ACCUPLACER Classic Reading score of 59-72 and Sentence score of 74-81 have two course options: 1) take ENG 061 then ENG 105 the next semester, or 2) partner ENG 145 with ENG 105.

What is the Difference Between the Paths?

College Preparatory Writing II (ENG 061) is a tried-and-true developmental class at DMACC, helping students meet their writing goals for more than a decade. Students receive individualized attention while practicing specific reading and writing skills in the classroom. Students who earn a passing grade can move on to ENG 105. Pass and success rates for this course are higher than the national average across DMACC’s campuses.

Strategies for Composition (ENG 145) is taken with Composition I (ENG 105) and is a two credit, corequisite/accelerated learning program (ALP) model course. If your placement scores fall within the appropriate ranges, you may advance to ENG 105, but you must also enroll in ENG 145. The ENG 145 class meets immediately after ENG 105 and includes some of the same students you encounter in ENG 105. It is designed to provide a smaller class size (limited to 10-12 students) with individualized support and practice with assignments that reinforce the writing concepts addressed in ENG 105. By taking ENG 145 with ENG 105, you can move forward with writing coursework and gain two general elective credits. If you qualify for this option, you must complete both ENG 145 and ENG 105 successfully with a passing grade to continue to the next writing class, Composition II (ENG 106).

What Path Should You Take?

Deciding which path to take depends a lot on if you have the credits, desire, and money needed to take two writing classes at the same time, which is the 145/105 option, or whether you want to focus on one class at a time, which is the ENG 061 option. If you choose the 145/105 option and do not pass, then you can retake both classes or take 061 alone, waiting to take ENG 105 after you pass 061.

What Should You Do Next?

• ELL Practice Test
• Reading Practice Test
• Writing Practice Test
• WritePlacer
• Get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy meal, and take the exams .
• Based on your exam results, talk with an advisor to see which class you qualify to take, and register for that class. If you are unhappy with the exam score, you can retake the test after waiting two weeks. In that time, study and seek assistance in the Academic Achievement Center.
• When you begin classes, attend every class session to help you move forward with writing.

Choosing success means talking with advisors when registering for classes and your instructors when needing help. Using DMACC’s support services like Academic Achievement Centers and the Library Professionals will also help you succeed in college.

For questions regarding placement, contact an advisor.

• Ankeny 515-964-6200
• Boone 515-432-7209
• Carroll 712-792-1755
• Newton 641-791-3622
• Urban 515-244-4226
• West 515-633-2408

ACCUPLACER Frequently Asked Questions

How do i know if i need accuplacer.

ACCUPLACER is a series of tests that evaluate students’ skills in Reading and Writing to help place students in DMACC courses and programs that match their skills. It is also used to determine course placement for English Language Learners (ELL).

ACCUPLACER uses the latest computer-adaptive technology, which means the questions you see are based on your skill level. Your response to each question determines the difficulty level of the next question.

Remember: No one passes or fails ACCUPLACER tests, but it’s important to complete the test using your best effort, so you can get an accurate measure of your academic skills and be placed in the appropriate course.

Preparing for the ACCUPLACER

We have resources to help you prepare for ACCUPLACER and ELL Assessments

Option 1: Students needing to take Next Generation ACCUPLACER based on their application checklist, or students wanting to know where they place in college-level reading and writing to determine course selection, may find the following practice aps helpful to prepare for the assessment(s).

Option 2: DMACC Library

• Click Choose Database
• Scroll down and click PrepSTEP
• Click Placement Test Preparation
• Click Prepare for ACCUPLACER Tests

Make sure you take the practice under Next-Generation ACCUPLACER Practice Tests .

Option 3: Use the ACCUPLACER Study App

• Access the ACCUPLACER app .
• Create an account by entering an email address and choosing a password. The password should use multiple words and a mixture of upper and lowercase characters, numbers, and punctuation.
• Click Sign Up .
• Log in with the username and password
• Select the test you need to practice:
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Select a test type, then click on either Learn As You Go or Practice Test
• Read the opening instructions, then click Next
• Read the next instructions, then click on Start Test Session
• Read each question, select the answers, then click Submit at the end

After completing the practice test, a report shows how you scored in each area. Click on a specific area

to review questions and rationale. If you do not score well, click take test again . Click Learn as you go to

review the questions and answers as you take the sample test.

When you’re ready, take the test!

Relax, ACCUPLACER is a well-designed test to help you assess your readiness for college-level

reading and writing courses. The following tips will help you do your best.

• Get a good night’s rest the night before the test. Eat a healthy breakfast and drink some water that day to nourish your body and mind.
• Arrive a couple of minutes early so you can gather your thoughts and locate the Testing Center. Don’t forget to bring a valid photo ID.
• Ask questions if you don’t understand the process of ACCUPLACER.
• During the test, read the questions carefully.
• Work to answer all the questions.

Below is a partial list of programs that require ACCUPLACER

This list may change. Please view your Checklist to see if ACCUPLACER is required for your program.

• CNC Operator/Programmer
• Dental Assistant/Hygienist
• Machinist Technology
• Medical: Assistant/Lab Tech
• Nursing (RN)/Practical Nursing
• Paramedic Specialist
• Surgical Tech
• Tool & Die
• Visual Communications

How to view your Checklist

• Log In to myDMACC
• Click on the Student tab
• Scroll down to View Admissions Applications under Banner Self-Service

ACT scores may fulfill the ACCUPLACER requirement. Scores can be sent to [email protected]

ACCUPLACER is not a timed test but you should allow 1 hour for ACCUPLACER and 2 hours for ACCUPLACER® ELL

ACCUPLACER ELL (English Language Learners)

• I speak a language other than English, but I have studied English for six (6) years or more where English is the primary language of instruction.
• I speak, read, and write English daily.
• If one or both statements are not true, visit a DMACC Testing Center to take ACCUPLACER ELL
• Yes, you can retake the test in 2 weeks
• Before you test, review the ELL sample questions to improve your skills.

ELL Questions

If you have questions about Non-Credit ELL , contact :

Pedro Salazar-Garcia ELL Student Services Specialist [email protected] or 515-697-7762

If you have questions about Credit ELL , contact:

Saem Parry ELL Faculty Instructor [email protected] or 515-248-723

How do I schedule the ACCUPLACER test?

Testing is available at multiple DMACC locations. If you require an accommodation for testing, call the Disabilities Services Coordinator at 515-964-6850.

• Ames Hunziker 515-663-6700 [email protected]
• Ankeny 515-964-6595 [email protected]
• Boone 515-433-5096 [email protected]
• Carroll 712-792-1755 [email protected]
• Des Moines / Urban 515-697-7807 [email protected]
• Newton 641-791-1731 [email protected]
• Perry VanKirk 515-428-8100 [email protected]
• Southridge 515-287-8720 [email protected]
• West Des Moines 515-633-2426 [email protected]

What is ACCUPLACER?

ACCUPLACER is a computer-based test with a series of basic skill assessments in reading and writing. The test indicates areas where you might need strengthening and suggests courses that might be a starting point for your college career. Most questions require a multiple choice answer.

How much time will the test take?

Generally, it takes an hour to complete the ACCUPLACER Reading and Writing assessments and two hours to complete the ACCUPLACER Classic ELL assessments.

What subjects are tested?

There are two areas of focus for Next-Generation ACCUPLACER:

• Reading : The reading assessment determine what skills students have to succeed in entry-level college courses.
• Writing & Sentence Skills : The writing assessment requires students to find and correct errors in essays. This includes grammar, punctuation, sentence structure as well as strategy, organization assessment and style in effective writing.

Also available is ELL ACCUPLACER Classic. Written in standard English, ELL ACCUPLACER Classic will assess appropriate levels of ELL classes or regular course work.

I Have No Computer Experience. Can I still take the ACCUPLACER Test?

ACCUPLACER is user friendly and was designed for those with little or no computer experience. DMACC staff are on hand to walk you through the directions and assist you with getting started.

The amount of time you spend on each area is recorded, but there is no time limit, so you can relax and do your best!