Student Affairs

Assessment Procedures

Assessment Procedures: 

• Students are eligible to take the COMPASS test after their application has been processed and their admission to JCTC has been accepted.
• Students must bring their Student Id number with them to the Assessment Center during regular testing times in order to take the COMPASS test.
• Please see Admission Procedures located at:  http://www.jefferson.kctcs.edu/administration/student_affairs/AdmissionsProcedures.php for further details.

Who must take the COMPASS? 

• The COMPASS test is mandatory for all first time freshmen who have not taken the ACT/SAT or who do not meet the ACT score requirements.
• Students must take the COMPASS test after orientation. 
• Transfer students who have not completed a freshman English or college level Mathematics class (equivalent to KCTCS 140 MT or higher) must also take the Compass test prior to advising and registration.

Who does not have to take the COMPASS?  

• Students with the following ACT/SAT scores in the following areas are EXEMPT from the COMPASS test:
                        ACT                                                SAT (After March 2005)
             18+ in English                                                 430 or higher in Writing
             18+ in Reading (20 Fall 2010)                        430 or higher in Reading
             20+ in Math for MT 150 (21 Fall 2010)         490 or higher in Mathematics
             [18 or above 145 MT or 150 +100 MT (raised to 19 Fall 2010)]        

Exempt students

• must have a copy of their ACT/SAT scores on file in Student Records office and bring a copy of ACT/SAT report to registration for their advisor.

Longevity of Test Scores: 

• For the purpose of course placement, ACT/SAT scores for reading and writing are considered valid for five years.

• Math scores are valid for two years. 

• Students presenting these scores taken more than the stated number of years prior to admission should take the COMPASS.

COMPASS

• Compass scores in reading and English are considered valid for five years and scores in mathematics are considered valid for two years.

• Students who have not taken college English and tested more than five years ago and/or students who have not taken mathematics and tested more than two years ago should retest at no charge.

Charges: 

• Students may take the COMPASS test once at no charge.

• For subsequent retests there will be a charge of $7.00 per section (reading, English, or mathematics).

Exceptions:

• If the COMPASS is required as a post-test in a course students will not be charged.

• First-time students who applied and tested more than 2 years ago and never enrolled will be treated as new students and will not be charged. 

• Other exceptions may be made by written request from the Academic Deans, Division Chairs or Director of Advising.

Limits of Retesting: 

• After the initial assessment, students will be allowed to retest in each subject (reading, English, and mathematics) twice before the start of the first day of class.

• The highest result in each subject will be used for placement.

• Therefore, a student could take each section three times, the first test at no charge and up to two other times at a charge of $7.00 per subject each time.

ALL ACT information may be found at:  www.act.org .

Sample COMPASS test may be found from the following websites:

• www.act.org/compass
• http://www.testprepreview.com/compass_practice.htm