Placement tests are designed to help plan a student's best course of study and to promote student success at TCC.

Most new students who wish to enroll in classes at TCC must complete the College's Placement Tests.

These tests are not admissions tests.

To ensure accurate course placement,

it is vital that you prepare by reviewing

Math and English competencies.

• About the Placement Tests 
• Preparing for Placement Testing
• Who takes the tests?
• Who is exempt from taking the tests?
• Is there a fee?
• Non-native English-speaking (ESL) students
• Students with disabilities
• Retaking Placement Tests
• Looking for other tests?
• New Developmental English Curriculum (Spring 2013)

• Placement tests are used to evaluate your reading, writing and math skills.
• Most new students need to complete the Virginia Placement Test for English and Math.
• Click here to learn more!

• For students whose native language is not English (ESL), reading, grammar and oral skills are evaluated.
• Based upon your scores, you will be placed in either college-level courses, developmental courses, or ESL (non-credit) courses.

All students are encouraged to prepare for placement testing. The importance of reviewing material that has previously been studied cannot be over emphasized. Not reviewing before taking the placement tests could place students into courses that are below their actual skill level. This can delay the students' progress, causing disruption in course sequencing and costing extra time and money.

Students are highly encouraged to start the review process early to provide enough time to practice and to build confidence, especially in mathematics.

Resources are available to help students perform at their optimum--and TCC strongly recommends that students use them. Preparation materials vary by English and math, and also vary by a student's academic background. Most students will need to complete the Virginia Placement Test (VPT) for English and Math.

Review the following links to help you prepare for the Placement Test:

VPT

• Document Listing Online Resources to Prepare for VPT English
• VPT Math Site with links to Math resources
• A printable set of questions and answers for the VPT Mathematics Tests (PDF)
• Instructions for taking the VPT Practice Test online

COMPASS

• English as a Second Language (ESL) Grammar practice test

• Sample Test Questions for ESL and MATH COMPASS
• Practice Booklet for COMPASS reading, writing, math and ESL

 

Resources to Review English:

• Online Resources to Prepare for VPT English

Resources to Review Math:

• Khan Academy – http://www.khanacademy.org/
• NROC – Nation Repository of Online Courses – http://nrocmath.org
• MathVids – http://mathvids.com
  

Resources for Dealing with Test Anxiety:

• Test Anxiety Tips from the Women's Center
• How to Deal with Math Test Anxiety Powerpoint

 

On-Campus Workshops:

Norfolk Campus

Math Workshops Writing Workshops Academic Workshops

 

For more information about the VPT for English and Math

• New students entering an associate degree or certificate program
• New students planning to take an English, math, or history class
• Students with disabilities who desire academic accommodations
• Students whose native language is not English [English as a Second Language (ESL)][Note: Select non-native English speakers who earned a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet-based) are not required to take the COMPASS/ESL test, and will instead take the general placement test.]
• Non-curricular students who have completed nine or more credit hours and have a grade point average below 2.0
• Nursing applicants who wish to be considered for admission into the Nursing Program must take the Nursing Entrance Exam (HESI A-2). [more]

• Non-curricular students not enrolled in an English, math, or history class (unless nine or more credit hours have been completed and the grade point average is below 2.0)
• Students who submit a transcript to a counselor showing completion of college-level English and/or math with a grade of C or better from an accredited institution where English is the official language
• Students who submit satisfactory scores, as determined by the college, on the SAT or ACT test if taken no more than two years prior to enrollment. The student should provide a copy of the official scores from ACT or SAT to a TCC counselor who will interpret the scores to determine if an exemption from the college’s placement tests is appropriate.
  The scores that exempt a student from the English placement test at TCC are:
  • ACT combined score of 21 or higher on both the English and writing tests OR
  • SAT score in critical reading and writing of 500 or higher.

  The scores that exempt a student from the math placement test at TCC* are:

  • ACT score in mathematics of 22 or higher OR
  • SAT score in mathematics of 520 or higher.

  The counselor will allow you to enroll in college-level English or select math courses as indicated by your scores.

  * NOTE:  With the indicated math scores, students qualify for placement into MTH 152 or MTH 158.
  If your curriculum requires MTH 163 or higher, you must take the math placement test.

• Students with satisfactory Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP, DANTES, or Excelsior College scores for English and/or math, as determined by the college

Students may take placement tests at any campus Testing Center.

Military students may take placement tests at any campus Testing Center or on many of the local military bases.

A $4.00 testing fee is payable at the Cashier Window at any campus Business Office, and the receipt should be shown to Testing Center personnel. (Business Office hours do not include weekends or hours immediately prior to Wednesday and Thursday 6:00 PM testing.)

Students with disabilities are encouraged to make an appointment with an Educational Accessibility Counselor at least 45 days before classes begin, and should bring medical documentation of the disabling condition that is no more than three years old.  Educational Accessibility Counselors can assist students in obtaining the required documentation.

Students with documented disabilities may qualify for academic accommodations such as more time on tests, priority registration, and other services as needed.

Transactions between counselor and students with disabilities are confidential. Information regarding students with disabilities will not be shared with anyone without the student’s written permission. The student’s confidential files, related to his/her disability, never become a part of the student’s academic record.

[more]

Test scores are valid for two (2) years after the date of the test. Students who take the placement tests and do not enroll in an applicable developmental math or English course are allowed to take one (1) retest within 12 months. Students who attempt applicable developmental coursework will be ineligible for a retest.

• Most non-native English speaking students are required to take an English-as-a-Second Language placement test before enrolling in college courses.

• Placement Testing for ESL students is available in every campus Testing Center according to the Placement Testing Schedule.

• Select non-native English speakers are NOT required to take the ESL Placement Tests and instead take the placement tests for native speakers. These include students who have earned a TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet-based).
  

• Students who do not demonstrate appropriate proficiencies on the native speaker’s English test may be placed in ESL or developmental classes. [TCC ESL website]