All applicants planning to take credit courses must take the ACCUPLACER Placement Test unless they meet certain waiver or exemption requirements. ACCUPLACER scores are good for two years. Please consult the current college catalog, see the Test Exemptions/Waivers section below, or contact the Admissions office at 410-822-5400, ext. 2240 or 2287 for more information.
College-readiness assessment
Initial placement at Chesapeake
The following measures of college-readiness may be used to place applicants into appropriate credit-level classes. If students do not qualify for any of these measures, they will have to take the Accuplacer test, as noted at the end of this list.
Transferable, College-Level Coursework
- You have completed a transferable college-level English course at another accredited institution, qualifying you for direct placement into ENG 101 and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite in English.
- You have completed a transferable college-level mathematics courses at another accredited institution, qualifying you for direct placement in college-level math courses and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite in math.
Degree From An Accredited College Or University
- You have a degree from an accredited college or university, qualifying you for direct placement into ENG 101, college-level math courses and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite.
SAT And ACT Achievement
- You have taken the SAT or ACT and have achieved the following:
- SAT Critical Reading or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 480 or higher, qualifying you for direct placement into ENG 101 and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite in English.
- SAT Math score of 530 or higher, qualifying you for direct placement into college-level math courses and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite in math.
- ACT Composite score of 21 or higher, qualifying you for direct placement into ENG 101, college-level math courses and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite.
Advanced Placement (AP) Achievement
- You have taken the following Advanced Placement (AP) tests administered by the College Board:
- English Language with a score of 3 or higher, qualifying you for direct placement into ENG 101 and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite in English.
- Calculus AB or BC with a score of 3 or higher, qualifying you for direct placement into college-level math courses and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite in math.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The College participates in the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) as a means of assessing and awarding credit for knowledge obtained through prior experience or course work taken at non-accredited institutions. CLEP is also a means of evaluating post-high school learning experiences, education through employment, and skills gained through the Armed Services. Students are advised to review the CLEP policies of the institutions to which they expect to transfer. Information regarding CLEP tests and fees may be obtained from the Testing Center. Chesapeake offers CLEP examinations only for courses which parallel those found in the college’s catalog, including credit-level math and English courses. A current list of CLEP examinations for which Chesapeake College will grant credit is listed in the Chesapeake College catalog or can be obtained from the Testing Center. The chart below indicates which CLEP tests in English and math earn students college credit as well as direct placement into courses in those disciplines.
High School Achievement
- Graduated from high school in the last five years with at least a 3.0 overall high school grade-point average, qualifying you for direct placement into English 101 and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite in English. (High school seniors may be placed using their high school GPA current through the fall semester of their senior year.)
- Successfully completed a high school transition course in English within the last five years, qualifying you for ENG 101 and all college courses with a college-ready prerequisite in English if you received a “C” or better in the transition course.
- Graduate from high school in the last three years with at least a 3.0 overall high school grade-point average, including successful (“C” or better) completion of Algebra II or Advanced Topics in Alegbra II in the last three years, qualifying you for direct placement into college-level math and all college courses with a college-ready math prerequisite. (High school seniors may be placed using their high school GPA current through the fall semester of their senior year.)
PARCC Scores
- English 11 or English 10 score of Level 4 or 5, qualifying you for direct placement into English 101 and all college-level scores with a college-ready prerequisite in English.
- Algebra II score of Level 4 or 5, qualifying you for direct placement into college-level math and all college courses with a college-ready math prerequisite.
Students placing directly into credit-level math and English are strongly urged to supplement their learning through the tutoring resources available at the College. Students deemed “college-ready” in math and/or English are expected to meet the same outcomes in credit-level courses as students who have successfully completed the college’s developmental math and English sequences. It is each student’s responsibility to supplement his/her classroom learning.
Accuplacer Exam
- If a student cannot provide documentation of any of the preceding methods by which s/he may be placed into credit-level classes, then s/he must take the Accuplacer test in reading, writing and/or mathematics. Accuplacer scores are good for two years. Please consult the current college catalog or contact the Admissions Office at 410-822-5400, ext. 2240 or 2287 for more information.
Common Questions
How will I be tested?
ACCUPLACER placement tests include untimed computer adaptive, multiple choice assessments in math and English, and/or Writeplacer, which is a timed (80 minutes) essay. Other than the WritePlacer test, each test section presents one question per screen with a set of answer choices, and ACCUPLACER grades each question after it is answered. Therefore, once you have answered a question and moved on to the next question, you will not be able to go back and change your answer. For the WritePlacer test, students will be given a prompt and asked to write a 300- to 600-word essay, which is scored by ACCUPLACER immediately upon completion. Remember, because the test helps determine whether or not you are ready for college-level courses, a student cannot pass or fail the examination. Depending on your score, you may be required to take developmental courses to help you prepare for college-level courses. Your academic advisor will help you to select the course(s) that best meet your academic needs.
Is the test timed?
The WritePlacer essay is timed (80 minutes), but the other test sections are not timed. The duration of the testing sessions is reasonable; students taking the WritePlacer and math sections usually complete both sections in an hour and a half or less, but times do vary based on the math section being untimed and computer adaptive.
What do I need to bring with me to test?
Every test taker MUST provide a current, government-issued picture ID prior to test administration and should know his/her social security number.
Should I prepare for the tests?
Studies have shown that studying for the test may help you to achieve higher scores. Please see the following resources to help you better prepare to take the ACCUPLACER placement test:
ACCUPLACER Study Resources
ACCUPLACER Sample Problems (PDF's)
More ACCUPLACER Assistance
Other Testing Resources
ACCUPLACER and Placement Testing Information
Do I need to make an appointment to test?
An appointment is not necessary to take the ACCUPLACER placement test. However, students wishing to take the ACCUPLACER placement test should:
- Arrive at the Testing Center at least two hours prior to closing. The hours vary throughout the year, so please visit the Testing Center website for the latest Testing Center hours: http://info.chesapeake.edu/lrc/testing
- Bring current, government-issued identification, such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport.
- Stop at the Dorchester Building prior to testing, and see an advisor or admissions employee. You will be issued a slip of paper containing information about your placement test - you must present that slip of paper when you arrive at the Testing Center.
For additional information about placement testing, please contact the Testing Center at 822-5400, ext. 2344. You can also email the Testing Center at testing@chesapeake.edu or you may email the Cambridge Center at testingCambridgeMSC@chesapeake.edu.
Prior to taking the ACCUPLACER, individuals that plan to test at the Wye Mills campus on weekdays should first report to the Information Desk on the first floor of the Dorchester Administration Building to complete testing paperwork. Individuals desiring to test at the Cambridge Center should go to the office and check in with the receptionist. Those wishing to take the test on a Sunday at the Wye Mills campus should report to the Information Desk in the Dorchester Administration Building or to the Cambridge Center on a weekday prior to the Sunday test date. The Testing Centers will only allow testing for those individuals with completed and signed test forms.
Where and when is the ACCUPLACER given?
The ACCUPLACER test is given throughout the year at the Testing Center in the Learning Resource Center on the Wye Mills campus, or at the Cambridge Campus. Details and hours can be found on the Testing Center site.