I Think My Placement is Wrong

Placement tests give some idea of a student's background knowledge, but are not a perfect form of assessment. Here are some options if you think your placement test score is not an accurate measure of your knowledge and ability.

See the Course flow chart  for a complete picture of courses and sequences.

I want to try to place into a higher level

It is our mission to place all students at the highest level in which they can be successful with a reasonable effort. Our assessment cut scores are chosen on the low side, on the assumption that students are coming to the assessment without having done math for a year or so. However, sometimes it is still the case that a student who just needs a brief review may under-perform, and place into a level that is lower than his or her abilities. If you think that is the case for you, try following these steps.

• 1. Look at the prerequisite review for the course in which you think you belong. If the material looks familiar to you, use it as a study guide.

  2. Students who are TSI Complete (college-ready) that wish to take a course higher than College Algebra can test with ALEKS for placement. The testing fee covers five test attempts and practice with ALEKS software between attempts. See Advanced Math Assessment for more information.

  3. To review material at or below College Algebra  check out some of these options:

     • Math Launch is an excellent option for students that have been away from math for a while and need a solid review. 

     • Check out a textbook from the library that covers the prerequisite material.

     • Work independently in ALEKS 

     • Work with a tutor from the learning lab, if you are a current ACC student.

     • Set up an account at Khan Academy and work through a program.

I am not sure I am ready for the course into which I placed

There are a few reasons a student's default placement may not be optimal for their current math preparedness. One is that placement tests provide only a limited glimpse into a student's math abilities. Placement cut scores are a one-size-fits-all approach, and must allow a fair amount of benefit of the doubt so that they don't hold students back unnecessarily. Another reason is that state laws dictate eligibility in some cases based on prior course work or degrees, and eligibility can be mistaken for appropriate placement.

If you are concerned about whether you are prepared for a course you were told by an advisor that you placed into, consider these options.

• 1. Look at the prerequisite review for the course into which you placed. If the material looks very unfamiliar to you, that is a good sign that you might have a better chance of success in a lower level course.

  2. Look at the course flow charts to see what corequisite (paired course) options are available for your course. If you placed into a first credit course, you may want to consider signing up for a corequisite version of that course instead.

  3. If you placed into a higher level course, you can try any of the tips above under I want to try to place into a higher level to boost your background knowledge, or you can enroll in a course earlier in the sequence if you are sure you need more than a quick refresher.

  4. Talk to a full-time math faculty member if you are still uncertain. There are lots of factors, such as work load and past experiences in math courses, that we can help you take into account in making this decision.