Placement Testing:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Do I need to take the placement test?
- How do I find out about the placement test?
- When should I take the placement test?
- What if I live out-of-town?
- What is the test like?
- What if I have taken the SAT or ACT?
- What if I have a disability?
- What if I took the placement test at another school?
- Should I study for the test?
- How should I prepare for the placement test?
- What if I experience test anxiety?
- What if I fail the test?
Do I need to take the placement test?
Most students need to take the placement test but there are some exceptions. If you have successfully completed (grade "C" or better) developmental work at another NC community college under the semester system OR you are transferring college level work, you may be exempt from the placement test. Our Admissions Counselors can help you answer questions about transferable courses.
How do I find out about the Placement Test?
When you submit your Admissions application you will receive a testing schedule and information you need to know about placement testing. You will also receive a test review which has sample test questions and additional information about placement testing.
When you arrive to take the placement test, you will need to give the test administrator your picture I.D. A picture I.D. is required to take the placement test.
If you live out-of-town, you may contact the Admissions Office by e-mail or phone (252-493-7232) and the information can be mailed to you.
You can also take the placement test at a school that is closer to you. Please see the section What if I live out-of-town?
When should I take the placement test?
The placement test is given year round at Pitt Community College with the exception of a few weeks. You can take it as soon as you think you might be enrolling. It is okay to test several weeks or even months before you start classes because your scores are good for three years. If you are a high school student applying to PCC, you may want to test near the time you are studying for end-of-grade tests so that your skills are fresh.
The placement test is usually given on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays during specific lab hours. Additional days are available during peak times. However, you should call or e-mail the Testing Coordinator to confirm the schedule before you plan to attend to make sure the lab will be open.
What if I live out-of-town?
PCC accepts three placement tests, COMPASS, ASSET, and Accuplacer. These tests are given nationally so if it's not convenient for you to take it in Greenville, then you may want to contact community colleges in your area to see if they administer either of these tests. If so, then all you have to do is have the school send your scores to the Testing Coordinator at PCC. We will gladly accept them. Please note that PCC determines your placement according to your scores, regardless of the placement recommendations made by another school.
If you take COMPASS at another school, you will be taking Reading, Writing, and Math. But, if you take ASSET, you must take the following parts: Reading Skills, Writing Skills, Numerical Skills, and Elementary Algebra. If you take Accuplacer you must take the following parts: Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills, Arithmetic, and Algebra. If you have any questions, contact the PCC Testing Coordinator.
If you do not live near a college that offers one of these tests, the PCC testing office can send proctoring instructions for the online Accuplacer test to an approved test proctor. If an educator at a college near you will serve as a test proctor, please complete the proctor approval request form and send it to the Placement Testing office.
What is the test like?
At PCC, we administer the Accuplacer placement test. Accuplacer is a computerized test that is adapted to each student's skill level. It is untimed and you DO NOT have to be familiar with computers to use it. The test is given on a walk-in basis during certain lab hours. The test takes approximately 2 hours to complete and you will receive your scores as soon as you finish.
If you cannot take the test on the computer, please contact the Placement Testing Office to learn about the ASSET Test.
What if I have taken the SAT or ACT?
We offer waivers for the placement test based on your SAT or ACT scores. You must provide proof of the score(s) to either an Admissions Counselor or the Testing Coordinator. A waiver will exempt you from one or both parts of the placement test and you will be able to start in the college level course(s) required for your curriculum. Cut scores for waivers are as follows:
| SAT | ACT |
| Verbal section: a score of 500 or more will exempt you from our English placement test | English and reading section : an averaged score of 20 or more will exempt you from the English placement test. |
| Math section: a score of 500 or more will exempt you from our math placement test. | Math section: a score of 23 or more will exempt you from our math placement test. |
| Minimum scores are subject to change without notice. | |
What if I have a disability?
If you have a condition that may warrant special testing accommodations (for example: extended time, large print, a reader, or interpreter) that includes but is not limited to visual, hearing, physical impairments, and learning disabilities, you should contact the Disability Services Office. They will work with you to determine the best accommodations for you.
What if I took the placement test at another school?
Hundreds of placement tests are given across the United States. There is no way to know how all of these tests relate so we must limit the types that we can accept. PCC accepts the COMPASS, ASSET, and Accuplacer. If you took either one of those at another school, we will gladly accept them. Just have them sent to the PCC Testing Coordinator and then check back with the coordinator to make sure they were received. If you took a test other than these three you may have to test again.
Should I study for the test?
This is up to you. Some people prefer not to study because they do not want to inflate their scores by studying and then be placed into a course too difficult for them. Others prefer to refresh their memories on skill areas that they know but just need to brush-up on. For example, you may have a good grasp on fractions, but because you haven't used them in a long time, you may need a review to get you back up to speed. When you contact an Admissions Counselor, he or she can give you a review that includes general information about the placement test and some sample items.
At this time, there is no study guide created by The College Board, the makers of Accuplacer. However, you can check math and grammar books out of the library or buy self-teaching books from a bookstore.
How should I prepare for the placement test?
When you sit down to take the placement test, you should be feeling your best. If you are sick or you have a crisis at home, you should probably not test because you may not be at your peak. You should also get plenty of sleep the night before. The placement test takes concentration and it is hard to concentrate when you are fatigued. If you plan to review, make sure you have reviewed before you arrive for the test. Sitting outside the testing lab reviewing is usually not very helpful. It can also cause some anxiety if you are trying to cram some last minute information. Being calm, cool, and collected is the best way to be prepared!
What if I experience test anxiety?
For most people, test taking can be pretty stressful. However, some stress is good because it makes your body more alert, thus possibly enhancing your performance. But, too much stress can be debilitating and can cause a prepared person to freeze during the test, resulting in decreased concentration and difficulty understanding the test questions. There are ways to minimize stress during the test. Keep the following things in mind:
- This test is not a measure of your intelligence; it is merely a tool used to place you in the courses where you will be the most successful.
- Get plenty of rest the night before. Trying to concentrate when you are tired is very difficult and can add to anxiety.
- Eat a good breakfast or lunch. If you are hungry when you are testing, you can become distracted with thoughts of food. Eating junk food before the test is not a good idea.
- Arrive a little before you plan to test and collect your thoughts. Practice deep, slow breathing to slow your heart rate.
- Do not drink too much coffee or caffeinated drinks. The caffeine can add to your jitters.
- Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Do not get caught up in the thought that you're not going to do well. Think of testing successes you have had in the past.
- Relax and keep things in perspective. This test will not determine your entire future!
What if I fail the test?
The placement test is not a pass or fail test. The test is used to place you into classes that will challenge you as a student while allowing you to be successful. This test will not deny your admission to PCC.
