Senior year is almost over.  The curriculum is winding out, and many end-of-the-year celebrations wrap-up the high school years.  However, students are already preparing for college with placement tests.

For some students, the struggle is intense. But for others, it’s a walk in the park. Whether you hate them, or don’t mind them, they play an important role in determining the track that many students will be on in college next year.

In simple terms, placement tests determines a student’s level of ability in two or three subjects in order to place the student in classes with others of the same ability.

According to bigfuture.com, these test are used by mostly all colleges these days. Almost all two-year colleges and four-year colleges require new students to take at least one placement test to get in. Community colleges are a big fan of these test as well. For example, colleges like Camden County College, Atlantic Cape Community College, Rutgers, Rowan, and Stockton College all rely on placement tests to gauge the abilities of incoming students.

These tests usually come with some sort of fee, but not all schools charge students.  The placement test for Camden County College, for example, is free.

Many students, who are happy just to have survived high school, immediately feel the pressure of more testing as they embark on the next step in life. However, like any standardized test, the grade you receive on your test doesn’t reflect necessarily reflect the way you will perform in your college courses. According to Washington Monthly, most students that don’t do that great on their placement tests still do well in their college studies.

Perhaps the lower placement test scores is the result of the stress to do well the first thing you do related to college.

Are placement tests really necessary? Perhaps not, but colleges do find them useful. They give colleges a sense of student ability so that they can place them in classes to best meet their needs. They also give students the chance to show off their skills in different subjects. Lastly, they could save students some money if they do good in some sections.

Below is a list of tips compiled from my own personal experience and several online resources. to be successful. However, those taking placement tests should always confirm the details with their respective schools

Tips:

1) Relax- The main purpose of this test is to help you succeed in college. Don’t sweat it!

2) Get plenty of rest- Sleep is really important when taking any test in general. Go into the test wide awake and ready for anything it throws at you.

3) Arrive a few minutes early(about 30 minutes or so) to your testing location- this will show the college that you want to attend that you are serious about college life. It also gives you time to brush up on any last minute skills, and to fill out any forms needed.

4)Most sections on the test include Math, Writing, and a Reading section- an hour is given for the writing section. It needs to be between 300 and 600 words.  The reading section may not even be timed. Take your time. Eliminate the wrong answers. It’s multiple choice. You need to read a short passage, then answer the questions. Go back into the text if need be. The last section is Math. For me, it was the hardest section. It consisted of Algebra, Geometry, etc. There multiple choice questions. For some questions, you are able to use a calculator. Use your previous math skills to answer the questions correctly.

Things To Bring:

1) Your placement test confirmation paperwork.

2) A government-issued photo ID (either a driver’s license or a U.S. Passport)