ASSET/COMPASS Placement Testing

■ What is ASSET/COMPASS?

ASSET/COMPASS is a series of short placement tests covering the areas of English, reading, and mathematics developed by American College Testing (ACT).

■ Who Takes ASSET/COMPASS?

All students applying for an associate degree program at Randolph Community College are required to take the ASSET/COMPASS tests unless determined to be exempt. Possible exemptions are listed below.

1. Students who have attended another accredited postsecondary institution and have earned credit for

• entry-level English composition (exempt from Reading and Writing Skills),

• math (exempt from Numerical Skills), or

• college algebra (exempt from Numerical Skills, Elementary & Intermediate Algebra).

2. RCC will accept ASSET/COMPASS, SAT, ACT or Accuplacer test scores from another school taken within a three-year period. These scores should be received prior to tests taken on this campus.

3. Students who have taken the SAT within the last three years will be placed into appropriate college-level English and math courses if their scores are

• 480R (new score) or above on the verbal portion (exempt from Reading Skills),

• 480W (new score) or above on the writing portion (exempt from Writing Skills),

• 480 (new score) or above on math portion (exempt from Numerical Skills & Elementary Algebra), or

• 520 (new score) or above on math portion (exempt from all developmental math requirements).

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■ When Do You Need to Take ASSET/COMPASS?

Students required to take ASSET/COMPASS should do so before they register for their first semester at RCC. Students unable to test before the term begins may not register for English or math courses before testing and are permitted to register for one term only before testing.

■ Why Do You Need to Take ASSET/COMPASS?

RCC counselors and advisors use test scores as an assessment of an applicant’s skill level in reading, English, and math. Students’ scores on ASSET and COMPASS determine placement into or exemption from Developmental Studies courses. For more information about Development Studies courses,

see page 59. The test scores for exemption from Developmental Studies courses follow:

Developmental Studies Course

ASSET Test

COMPASS Test
ENG 085 Reading & Writing Foundations
*70
*109
ENG 090 Composition Strategies
41
70
MAT 060 Essential Mathematics
41
47
MAT 070 Introductory Algebra
41
46
MAT 080 Intermediate Algebra
41
66
RED 090 Improved College Reading
41
81
*Indicates combined scores of reading and writing.

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■ Retest Procedure

Retesting is allowed in many community colleges in North Carolina. At RCC, a student may retest one time. He/she may not retest after enrolling in the Developmental Studies course(s) recommended by the original test score. Students must wait at least two weeks from the original test date before retesting. Students must successfully complete their Developmental Studies course work before enrolling in English and/or math classes required for their program. Should a student be required to enroll in ENG 085, an additional retest may be given after successful completion of ENG 085.

■ Special Needs & Accommodations for Testing

Testing accommodations for students with special needs are available upon advance request and with appropriate documentation. Contact the coordinator of students with disabilities at (336) 633-0122 before scheduling placement testing.

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