Placement Test Directions

Placement Test Directions

Structure and Time Requirements for the Test: 

• The placement test is divided into two sections. 
• Section I includes: Part A, Addition; Part B, Subtraction; Part C, Multiplication; and Part D, Division.  
• Section II includes: Part E, Basic Fractions; Part F, Fractions, Decimals and Percents; and Part G, Ratios and Equations.  
• Section I is administered in two sessions, either individually or in a group.   
• Students work on Parts A and B of the test during the first session, taking about 20 minutes for each part.  
• Students with no more than one error in Parts A or B proceed to the second session with Parts C and D.  
• Students with no more than one error on either Part C or D are given students Section II of the Test, allowing 40 minutes to complete it.  

Administration and Scoring of Section I: 

• There are a total of six steps for both test sessions in Section I.  
• Steps 1 and 2 remain the same for both sessions.

Steps 1 and 2: 

• Use a quiet place in the room where other students cannot hear and hand out copies of the Comprehensive Placement Test.  
• Instruct the students to wait for the signal before beginning, and guide them to complete the information at the top of the test.  
• Follow the script provided on page 26 of the Series Guide. 

Step 3:  

• Grade Parts A and B. There are 11 scorable items in Part A and 13 scorable items in Part B.  
• For all column problems in Parts A and B, each column is scored separately. Use the answer key provided on page 25 of the Series Guide 
• Count and record the errors for Parts A and B in the ‘Errors’ box on the top of the students’ test packs.  

Step 4: 

• Students with more than one error on Parts A or B are placed either in the Addition or Subtraction module. Parts C and D are not administered. 
• Arrange another testing session to present Parts C and D to students who passed both Parts A and B of the test. 

Steps 5 and 6:

• Grade Parts C and D. In these parts, the entire answer is counted as one for each problem. Refer to the answer key provided on page 27 of the Series Guide.  
• Count and record the errors in the ‘Error’ box on the test pack.
• Students who make more than one error on either Part C or D are placed in the Multiplication or Division module – there is no need for Parts E to G. 

Administration and Scoring of Section II: 

• To administer Parts E, F, and G of the Comprehensive Placement Test, follow the same procedure for steps 1 to 3 outlined in Section I. 
• When grading Part G of Section II, consider the answer as correct even if the student did not include the specific word. 
• Refer to page 29 of the Series Guide to follow the Comprehensive Test script, Section II.