Placement Testing
Nearly all of Lansing Community College's courses have prerequisite levels. These levels represent the determined basic skills required for the content of the course. They come in three categories: Reading, Writing, and Math. The Assessment Center has skill assessments in each of these categories. Many new students will take these tests to attain their levels.
If you have completed the ACT or SAT you may be able to waive placement testing and receive levels based on your score. Please click here for information on submitting test results for placement levels.
If you have a degree, need placement levels based on courses taken (including AP or CLEP), or if you want to take a class whose prerequisite course you took at another college, then please visit the Wavier Team Webpage.
Links:
- FAQs: Everything you need to know about Placement Testing
Sample Questions: The Accuplacer Guide- Preparation Resources and Websites - LCC Library
On this page:
- Overview of the Reading & Writing Assessments
- Overview of English as Second Language Assessments
- Overview of the Math Assessments
- Math Resources on the Web (links to helpful websites)
- Health Biology Proficiency Test (HBPT)
- Proficiency and Core Exams
- How to view previous test scores
- Submitting ACT or SAT scores for placement levels
Reading & Writing Assessments:
Both the Reading and Writing Assessments are 20 questions long, and each may include an additional 20 question test depending on the result of the first. All tests are multiple choice.
The Reading Comprehension Test has two types of questions:
- Includes reading a passage followed by a question based on the text.
- Sentence relationships: Present two sentences followed by a question about how they are related (such as supporting, contradiction, or repetition).
The Sentence Skills Test (Writing) has two types of questions:
- Sentence Correction: These questions ask for the appropriate word or phrase to substitute for a portion of the original sentence
- Construction Shift: These ask that a sentence be rewritten according to criteria shown while maintaining the same meaning as the original.
English as Second Language:
There are 4 ESL assessment tests. After completing all 4, a student will get
an average of their scores. They should then see and advisor in order to
determine which classes to register for.
NOTE: It is possible for a student to take the Reading Comprehension and
Sentence Skills if the scores on the ESL tests are high.
ESL Reading Skills - Evaluates comprehension of short passages. Including: paraphrasing, locating information, vocabulary on a phrase level, pronoun reference, main idea, fact vs. opinion, cause/effect logic, identifying irrelevant information, author's point of view, applying author's logic to another situation.
ESL Sentence Meaning - Assesses the understanding of word
meanings in one or two-sentence contexts
ESL Language Usage - Measures grammar and usage
Subjects for both of the above tests include: Subject-verb agreement, verb
tenses, irregular verbs, noun forms and pronouns, modifiers and comparatives,
prepositions of direction and place, comparatives, connectives and commands,
sentence fragments or run-on sentences.
ESL Listening - Assesses the ability to listen and understand one or more people speaking English - not on ability to read English. First, student will listen to the conversation and the question that follows, while looking at pictures of the speakers. Below are four answers from which to choose, written on the screen or with a drawing next to each choice.
Math Assessments:
There are 3 possible math assessments. All students, unless otherwise requested, will start with the Elementary Algebra Test. Depending on the score of the first test, a student may either get their placement level, take the Arithmetic Test, or take the College Level Math Test.
The Arithmetic Test has three types of questions:
- Operations with whole numbers and fractions
- Including: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, recognizing equivalent fractions and mixed numbers, and estimating.
- Operations with decimals and percents
- Including: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with decimals. Percent problems, recognition of decimals, fraction and percent equivalencies, estimation
- Applications and problem solving
- Topics: rate, percent, and measurement problems, simple geometry, distribution of a quantity into its fractional parts.
The Elementary Algebra Test has three types of questions:
- Integers and rational numbers, computation with integers and negative rationals, the use of absolute values, ordering
- Operations with algebraic expressions using evaluation of simple formulas and expressions; adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing monomials and polynomials; evaluation of positive rational roots and exponents, simplifying algebraic fractions, factoring.
- Solution of equations, inequalities, and word problems; solving linear equations and inequalities; solution of quadratic equations by factoring; verbal problems in an algebraic context, geometric reasoning and graphing; the translation of written phrases into algebraic expressions.
The College Level Math Test assess intermediate algebra through precalculus. Including:
- Algebraic operations: simplifying rational algebraic expressions, factoring, expanding polynomials, manipulating roots and exponents
- Solutions of equations: solution of linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, equation systems, other algebraic equations
- Coordinate geometry: plane geometry, the coordinate plane, straight lines, conics, sets of points in the plane, graphs of algebraic functions
- Applications and other algebra topics: complex numbers, series and sequences, determinants, permutations and combinations, fractions, word problems
- Functions and trigonometry: polynomials, algebraic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions.
Math Resources on the Web
The Accuplacer can potentially cover a wide range of math concepts. The websites listed below are NOT designed specifically for the Accuplacer tests. Please review the subjects listed in the overview above and locate areas where you wish to seek help, then move on to the sites below.
Math.com
Extensive practice on all levels of math through calculus
PurpleMath.com
Help with algebra
Khan Academy
Videos on all levels of math
Dave's Math Tables
A wealth of Math tables at your disposal for many different math areas
Ask Dr. Math
Ask Dr. Math a questions, or view answers from FAQ's at this web site
S.O.S. Mathematics
A very extensive compilation of math links included those listed above
Health Biology Proficiency Test
The HBPT is a 50 questions multiple choice test that, upon passing, meets one of the prerequisites for BIOL 201. This test can only be attempted once and does not require a scheduled appointment. For additional information about this test contact the Science Department at 517-483-1092.
How to view previous test scores
- Log into StarPort from the LCC main page
- Click on the "Student" tab
- In the middle of the screen you will see "Placement Test Scores"
Your placement test scores should be viewable within 24 hours. Even though you may not be able to view your scores the same day as your test, you can still use them to register for classes that day (if registration is open).
Math and CORE Proficiency test scores and levels are viewable within 3 business days. A score of 71% or higher is passing.
The Health Biology Proficiency Test (HBPT) is recorded as either a pass or fail; a score of 1 is passing and a score of 0 is failing.
Click here for a PDF of these instructions
Submitting ACT or SAT scores for placement levels
Review the table below to determine if you have the required scores needed for placement. (note that the ACT scores below are for the subject areas, not composite)
| Test | Score Needed | Placement Level |
|
ACT Reading |
20+ |
Reading 5 |
|
ACT English |
20+ |
Writing 6 |
|
ACT Math* |
22+ |
Math 6 |
|
SAT Verbal/Critical Reading |
430+ |
Reading 5, Writing 6 |
*Test scores for ACT Math must be no more than two years old
Please completely fill out the form at the link below. You must attach documentation showing your scores (copy of score report, web report, or transcript). The completed form and documentation can be dropped-off, mailed, emailed, or faxed.
Placement Request Form - ACT or SAT
