Placement Tests
The FCC Testing Center provides professional assessment services designed to enhance student learning, promote academic success, and support the diverse educational goals of all Frederick County residents. Our department is committed to providing all of our students, faculty, and community members with exceptional customer service while maintaining a learning environment which supports academic integrity and rigor.
This fall, Frederick Community College (FCC) now offers 3 free options for students to complete placement testing online or in person. Complete your free testing now to proceed towards enrolling for fall classes.
Photo ID is requires for ALL placement testing options
Free Placement Testing Options: By Appointment Only!
Option A: For Mac, PC, Chromebook, or any other approved device users.
- Students review requirements for Virtual Proctoring for Placement (VPP).
- Students schedule an ACCUPLACER test appointment.
- Students then receive a voucher code and Zoom meeting invitation with test appointment details at least 15 minutes before the appointment.
- Students complete the test online with a FCC staff member through Zoom software. NOTE: If there are no appointments available online, email testingcenter@frederick.edu for more options.
Option B: Safe On-Campus Placement Testing.
- Students make an appointment
- Students review the Guidelines for In-Person Testing Center Services During COVID-19 at www.frederick.edu/testing
- Follow the Guidelines when you arrive on campus and please do not forget to bring your photo ID.
Option C: For Students with a Mac, PC, or Chromebook testing outside of normal business hours (nights and weekends).
- Students who do not have a Mac or PC device and webcam with microphone, please use option A or B for your placement testing.
- Students should check their email for an Examity® voucher, or request one using the Test Voucher Request Form.
- Students should ensure the voucher lists all of the placement tests they need to take. Changes to the voucher can be requested by submitting the Test Voucher Request Form.
- Students follow the instructions for creating an Examity(R) account and scheduling an appointment. Use the Quick Start guide for Examity (R) automated proctoring.
- Students use Examity® software to complete a virtual online test. FCC covers this cost!
- Students complete testing, results are sent to FCC automatically and make an appointment with an advisor.
Learn more about what to do on test day!
Students may be exempt from placement testing and should review before scheduling Option A or Option C online appointments. There are some exemptions for testing that you may meet. Testing exemptions can be found on our popular
Study Guide. If you have exemptions, please send them to the Registration Office at:
transferevaluation@frederick.edu.
For questions or assistance, please contact the FCC Testing Center at
testingcenter@frederick.edu.
Testing Center: Code of Conduct
All test candidates and visitors are expected to follow the FCC Code of Student Conduct, which includes guidelines on Academic Integrity as well as the regulations established by the National College Testing Association.
Preparing For The Test
View the FCC "Spend an Hour, Save a Semester!" online guide which includes information regarding the ACCUPLACER & ACCUPLACER ESL placement tests including explanations of the tests, detailed information on the topics covered in each section, links to multiple online resources that will help you prepare for your placement tests, and information on how to access personalized ACCUPLACER & ACCUPLACER ESL test preparation support.
Prep for the Test to do Your Best Online Placement Testing Guide
Test Exemptions
Incoming FCC students may be exempt from taking one or more placement test based on their academic history and their other test scores.
To secure placement testing exemptions, incoming students must submit the following to the FCC Welcome Center: (Send electronically to transferevaluation@frederick.edu.)
- High School Transcript and previous College Transcripts
- Transfer credits from another institution can fulfill necessary requirements.
- College Entrance Exam Scores from SAT and/or ACT
- Advanced Placement (AP) test scores and International Baccalaureate (IB) test scores
- CLEP, DSST and other credit by examination program scores in college level math, reading, and writing
Individuals who have completed their junior year, seniors, and/or graduates of Maryland Public High Schools and present a transcript that verifies a cumulative, unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 or better will be exempt from taking the reading, writing, and mathematics placement testing. This measure does not apply to grades earned in English as a Second or Other Language (ESL/ESOL) courses. This GPA exemption will be valid for five years after the date of the individual’s high school graduation.
To be exempt from the ACCUPLACER, students would need to have the following scores (Acceptable if within five years from the date the test is taken):
| |
SAT |
ACT |
| Reading: |
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing: 480 |
Composite/Average score of: 21 |
| Writing: |
[Not Required] |
| Mathematics: |
530 |
21 |
Other Exemptions (only one needs to be met in each subject):
| |
|
English:
(Reading & Writing) |
- Earning a 3 or better on the AP English Language & Comp, English Literature Exam;
- Earning a score of 4 or higher on the IB Language A: Literature SL, Language A: Language & Literature SL, Language A: Literature HL or Language A: Language & Literature HL Test;
- Earning a GED English score of 165 or higher;
- Earning a score of 4 or 5 on the English 10 or English 11 PARCC/MCAP test;
- Successful Completion of the FCPS English 12 transition Experience
|
| Mathematics: |
- Earning a 3 or better on the AP Calculus or Statistics Exam;
- Earning a score of 4 or higher on the IB Mathematical Studies, Mathematics SL, Mathematics HL, or the Further Math Tests
- Earning an A or B in Algebra II or higher in a FCPS high school during the Junior or Senior year;
- Earning a GED Math score of 165 or higher;
- Earning a score of 4 or 5 on the Algebra II PARCC/MCAP test;
- Successful completion of the FCPS Math transition experience
|
Temporary College and Career Readiness Measures for Testing Exemptions
In light of the disruptions to testing and school opportunities for students in Frederick County Public Schools to demonstrate Career and College Readiness, Frederick Community College leadership, working in cooperation with FCPS leadership, have agreed to the following temporary measures to demonstrate Career and College Readiness in place of Accuplacer testing.
These allowances will be in place for SY 2020-2021 only, pending review:
English
- For students in English 12 who receive a B or higher in the course and meet the portfolio requirements except SRI testing will be able to register for ENGL 100 (Reading for College Composition)-LK-ENGL 101 (College Composition); students may test Accuplacer if they want to register for a free-standing ENGL 101
- Rising junior Dual Enrollment students may use a course grade of A or B in FCPS English 10 to demonstrate readiness in English for the purposes of taking a Dual Enrollment course that requires English
Math
1) In lieu of taking the CRE, students enrolled in the Intermediate Transitional Algebra course and the Transitional Math Modules course in FCPS who earn a final course grade of “A” or “B” will be permitted to enroll in any of the following FCC courses:
- MATH101A – Foundations of Mathematics with Algebra
- 3 college credits + 2 developmental credits
- MATH110 – Fundamentals of Mathematics 1
- This course is designed specifically for students majoring in
- 3 college credits
- Co-requisite course is MATH67 (Mathematics Preparation for Educators)
- MATH120A – Statistics with Algebra
- 3 college credits + 2 developmental credits
- MATH145S – College Algebra with Support
- 3 college credits + 3 developmental credits
Students who wish to enroll into a course in which the mathematics content is beyond that in the MATH145S course are required to take the Accuplacer Placement exam.
2) In lieu of taking the FCPS Pre-Calculus final exam, students enrolled in the Pre-Calculus course in FCPS who earn a final course grade of “A” will be permitted to enroll in:
Students enrolled in the Pre-Calculus course in FCPS who did not earn a final course grade of “A” and wishing to enroll in the 185 – Calculus 1 course are required to take the Accuplacer Placement exam.
3) FCC will monitor student enrollment and student performance in recommended FCC courses among students who will have been placed in courses under the above recommendations. Results from this analysis may lead to a future recommendation stating that the CRE and Pre-Calculus test results are not necessary data points in placing students into FCC mathematics courses
Sunset date for expiration, if not revisited: June 30, 2021
Questions about Placement Testing
What type of Test does FCC use for Placement?
The College utilizes adaptive, computerized, untimed ACCUPLACER and ACCUPLACER ESL tests. Each question (depending on if you get it right or wrong) determines the next test question. This provides an accurate measure of your skills. You will take the Reading, Writing, and the QAS/AAF Math tests (QAS=Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics) (AAF= Advanced Algebra and Functions). FCC utilizes a writing sample for some ACCUPLACER ESL test takers to assist staff in making the correct class placement.
What are the best ways to study for the test? How can I reduce testing anxiety?
Can I transfer placement scores from other colleges?
FCC accepts ACCUPLACER scores taken at approved testing locations. Scores must be no more than two years old. Scores must be faxed to the testing center directly from the college or university where the test was given. ACCUPLACER scores from high schools will not be accepted.
How is this test different from pencil and paper tests?
The purpose of the test is to determine the best courses for you to start your college career. Keep the following in mind as you take the test.
• You only see one question at a time. You cannot look forward to see what questions are coming and you cannot go back to previous questions. You cannot skip a problem and come back to it later.
• Once you answer a question, you are asked to confirm your answer. THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE YOU WILL HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR ANSWER. Once you submit your answer, it cannot be changed. Work each problem slowly and carefully. Remember you have as much time as you want.
• You will not have to answer as many questions as you would on a paper and pencil test.
• You and your friends will see entirely different problems, from different topics and of different difficulty levels, even though you may take the test at the same time. You may not even have the same number of problems to answer. This is because the test is determining your individual level of academic skills.
• You will see some easy problems and some harder problems from topics you may not have studied or be familiar with. Don’t worry. This is all part of determining your correct skill level. For example, you may see trigonometry questions on a section testing your intermediate algebra skills. ACCUPLACER is trying to determine if you are at a level beyond intermediate algebra.
• Your answer to each question determines the direction the test takes and the final determination of your academic skill level.
Writing Samples
Some ACCUPLACER ESL test takers may be asked to do a sample written essay. The essay should be a 300-word or more essay on a topic provided by the Testing Center. Each essay is evaluated by a member of the FCC ESL Department and should represent an example of your best quality writing. Note that you must type your essay; no hand written exams will be accepted.
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