Accuplacer Placement Testing

Basic skills in English and Mathematics are critical to success in college-level study. Students who are
unsure of their preparedness in English and Mathematics or who have been away from studies for an
extended period of time may opt to take the Accuplacer placement tests to help them decide if they should
choose to take one or both of the College’s transitional studies non-credit courses in English and/or
mathematics.
Accuplacer assessments provide students and their advisors with useful information about the student’s
academic skills in mathematics, English and reading. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with a
student’s academic background, goals and interests, are used by academic advisors to determine a
student’s initial course selection during the first semester of study. It is important that students do their
best on these tests so Potomac College has an accurate measure of a student’s academic skills.
Students who score below 80 on the English placement test or below 34 on the mathematics placement test are
advised to take transitional coursework to increase their level of preparation for college-level courses.
Students who choose to take transitional studies courses take ENGL 009 Transitional English and/or
MATH 009 Transitional Mathematics during their first semester at Potomac. After successful completion
of these courses they take ENGL 101 English Composition I and MATH 106 College Mathematics,
which are required of all students.