COMPASS Placement Test

[Frequently Asked Questions] [ASSET/COMPASS Request Form]

General Information

Click here to view the April 2012 Testing Calendar

Click here to view the May 2012 Testing Calendar

Click here to view the June 2012 Testing Calendar

Placement testing for admission to Gaston College is administered by the Testing Center . The Testing Center administers COMPASS (computerized testing) for most new students. Students who may be uncomfortable with a computerized test may contact the Testing Coordinator for information on ASSET, a written placement test. The COMPASS placement test provides the College with an assessment of a student’s skills in Writing, Reading , and Mathematics/Algebra. It is not necessary to study in advance for COMPASS since it is not a test that students pass or fail. The placement test is required of all students seeking a degree, diploma or certificate. The placement test is waived only for students who meet any of the following criteria:

Students who scored 500 or higher on the Verbal or Critical Reading portion of the SAT are not required to take the Reading portion of the placement test. Students who scored 500 or higher on the Writing portion of the SAT are not required to take the Writing portion of the placement test. Students who scored 500 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the SAT are not required to take the Mathematics portion of the placement test. Official test score results must be no more than 5 years old and they must be received and evaluated by the Office of Admissions.

Effective May 18^th, cut scores for SAT will be changing. Students who test and score 500 or higher on the Verbal or Critical Reading portion of the SAT are not required to take the Reading portion of the placement test. Students who score 500 or higher on the Writing portion of the SAT are not required to take the Writing portion of the placement test. Students who score 500 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the SAT are not required to take the Mathematics portion of the placement test.
Students who score a 18 or higher on the English portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Writing portion of the college's placement test. Students who score a 21 or higher on the Reading portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Reading portion of the college's placement test. Students who score a 22 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Math portion of the college's placement test.

Effective May 18^th, cut scores for ACT will be changing. Student who test and score 18 or higher on the English portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Writing portion of the college’s placement test. Students who score a 21 or higher on the Reading portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Reading portion of the college's placement test. Students who score a 22 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Math portion of the college's placement test.
The Writing Skills part of the COMPASS test will be waived for students who have completed the equivalent of ENG 090 or higher with a grade of “C” or higher at a prior college or university. (Must have been taken at a regionally accredited school.) Equivalent courses are determined by the Registrar's Office.
The Mathematics/Algebra Skills part of the COMPASS test will be waived for students who have completed the equivalent of MAT 080 or higher, with a grade of “C” or better at a prior college or university. (Must have been taken at a regionally accredited school.) Equivalent courses are determined by the Registrar's Office.

After submitting an Application for Admission online, students may schedule to take the COMPASS at the Dallas (Main), Lincoln or Kimbrell Campus by clicking on the Schedule NOW! Button below.

Students may also contact the Office of Admissions to schedule an appointment for COMPASS:

Dallas (Main) Campus: 704-922-6214
Lincoln Campus: 704-748-1056 or 704-748-1051
Kimbrell Campus: 704- 825-3737, ext 321

Students who apply for admission in person will receive information about placement testing dates/times upon receipt of their application. Students may bring an approved calculator (see FAQ’s below) for use during the mathematics test. All of the mathematics problems on COMPASS, however, can be solved without the use of a calculator. Children may not stay in the testing center while you are testing and may not be left unattended outside the center. Please make childcare arrangements for the day and time you plan to test. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED ON YOUR TEST DATE. Students are not allowed to test without photo identification.

Frequently Asked Questions

(Q) How do I sign up to take the COMPASS test?

(A) Students must submit an application for admission to the Office of Admissions. Upon completion of the application, students should contact the office of Admissions to schedule a placement test at 704.922.6214.

*Students who wish to take the COMPASS test on the Lincoln campus should contact the Lincoln campus at (704)748-1056 or (704)748-1051 in order to schedule a test date.

*Students who wish to take the COMPASS test on the Kimbrell Campus should contact the Kimbrell campus at (704)825-3737, ext. 321.

(Q) I’m not comfortable with the computer or computerized tests. Can I take a written test instead?

(A) All students are expected to try the COMPASS computerized test. The test only requires basic computer skills, and most students who are unfamiliar with a computer successfully complete the test. However, if a student still has a concern about using a computer after attempting COMPASS, other arrangements can possibly be made for a written ASSET test administration. The decision to do so is made on an individual basis. Contact the Gaston College Testing Coordinator for further information at (704) 922-2230.

(Q) If I’ve taken the test at another school, do I have to take it again?

(A) Students will not need to take the test again if they have taken COMPASS or ASSET within the past five years. They will just need to contact the school through which they took the test and arrange for official scores to be sent to the Gaston College Office of Admissions. If the test was taken over five years ago, students will need to take the test again.

(Q) How much time is needed to take the test?

(A) How long it takes depends on the person taking the test. The average time for taking COMPASS is 1 ½ to 3 hours. The test is un-timed.

(Q) When will I receive my test results?

(A) Students will receive a printed copy of their test results immediately following the completion of the test.

(Q) I’ve taken the ASSET test before. Can you use my scores from that test?

(A) Yes, as long as the test scores are less than five years old.

(Q) I wasn’t pleased with my test results. Can I re-test?

(A) If students’ scores are in a “re-test” range on one of the sections of COMPASS, they have the option to take that section again one time. The Testing Coordinator will inform students at the end of their initial COMPASS session whether or not they are eligible to re-test on any sections of COMPASS and provide options to them for re-testing. Permission to re-test on sections where scores are outside of the re-test range must be given by the dean of the students’ major or the Chair of Developmental Studies.

(Q) Where do I go? Do I need to bring anything with me?

(A) Students must bring a photo ID to the Testing Center , located in Room 212, on the 2nd floor of the Myers Center. A calculator may also be used on the mathematics portion of COMPASS. Specific guidelines for calculator use on COMPASS can be found at http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html.

(Q)What kinds of questions will be on the test?

(A) http://www.act.org/compass/sample provides a number of sample questions for COMPASS. Please note that, on the Mathematics test, all students will begin on a pre-algebra level. Depending on how they answer questions on that level, they may or may not progress to higher mathematics levels.

https://compass.act.org/tutorial/tutorial/tutorial_index.jsp provides a tutorial for each of the COMPASS tests. These are exactly the same direction screens that students see before they begin each test. (From the “COMPASS” menu, select only the tests that are placement tests-not the diagnostic tests).

ASSET/COMPASS REQUEST FORM

All requests for ASSET or COMPASS test result copies must be made in writing and submitted to the Counseling Center, or you may click here to print an ASSET/COMPASS Score Request Form. This form may be returned to the Counseling Center via fax at (704) 922-2345. There is NO charge for this service. The following information must be submitted:

Your name (including previous names, if applicable)
Your date of birth (month, date and year)
The approximate test date (month and year)
A phone number where you can be reached
The name and address of the school or person where you need the score report
to be sent
Indicate if you need an official or student copy of your test results
The signature of the student is required