COMPASS Placement Testing

Students who did not take the ACT, or had scores that required further assessment, take computer COMPASS exams. The testing takes place at Computer Based Assessment and Evaluation. Call CBAE at 330-972-6506 for more information. CBAE is located in Schrank Hall North 152.

COMPASS exams are "adaptive" in that the test is constructed for each individual as he or she takes the exam. This means that COMPASS exams are fairly short because only the number of items administered are those necessary to place the student. COMPASS exams cover reading, writing and mathematics. The exams are untimed, and a calculator is provided for the math exam. Typically all three exams can be taken in 60 to 90 minutes or less. Many students do not have to take all three exams making the testing period even shorter.

Students with special needs such as a learning disability may contact Dr. Marc Silling at 330-972-7084 for more information about COMPASS testing. Because the tests are untimed many students with a reading disorder have no problem with the tests.

Language Placement Testing

Language testing is available for French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Latin. Students who score well on these tests may be advanced to the second to fifth semester of language courses. After passing (C or better) the language course in which they were placed, students receive credit for all preceding courses. The registrar does charge a $5 fee to place the hours on your transcript but you don't have to pay tuition costs, thus saving thousands of dollars. If your score indicates a 301 level course (fifth semester) you should go to the Modern Languages Department to find out what course to take.

Language tests are administered most days at the Testing Services office located at 304 Simmons Hall. Call 330-972-7084 to make an appointment. The tests are administered free of charge.

CLEP Testing

Students may also receive credit by examination via the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Whether a student took AP courses or not is irrelevent if the student passes a CLEP test. On passing a CLEP test the student has the cooresponding course added to his or her transcript as though the course was taken pass fail, and the fee to add the hours is only $5 per hour. This saves the student thousands of dollars. Go to the link above for more information about CLEP testing at The University of Akron. CLEP tests are computer administered daily in our office and the test score is available immediatly.