Anyone Taken the COMPASS Test?

[momof1princess]

i applied to a local community college to further my education, but then i found out my prior ACT scores don't count-i HAVE to take something called a COMPASS test for the course of study i wanted to pursue. i am HORRIBLE at math and when is saw what was included on this test in the math section, it totally killed my excitement. i don't think i'd ever be able to pass this portion of the test. anyone ever taken it? how bad was it? any tips?

 

[LadyZolt]

First, you can take practice ones online and brush up a bit. But really, if you take it, it will place you into a math class. Since you're going to a community college, they likely have all kinds of math classes, including high school level ones. I had to take a similar math test when I went back to college in my 40's and it placed me in a high school level math class. I took it, then a low level college one that counted toward my total needed credits but not toward my "math requirement," but that one qualified me for the two "required" ones. So I know I didn't do well on the placement test since it placed me in a high school level class, but I was able to take that class and refresh my math skills and I got A's in all of the math classes I then took, and I graduated from a full university summa cum laude in the end. So, I'd say brush up a bit but don't sweat it too much. It will place you where you need to be to succeed and you can then take what is necessary to meet your education goals. I honestly was pretty math-phobic since 1980 when I graduated high school and I worked myself into fits over math, but it was all for nothing as I honestly was able to do all the work and understood everything, so trust the test to place you where you need to be. Hope this helps!

-Dorothy

 

[BabyPiglet]

It's not something you pass or fail, it just tells you what level you're on so you know what classes you need to start with. If you're horrible at math, it might say that you should take a developmental class (not college level). It's really no big deal, and it's there to help you.

 

[momof1princess]

thank you both i thought it was like the ACT, and gave a score that said whether or not you were smart enough to get accepted, lol. so it's more of a placement test, that's good, i would definitely need some brushing up on my math!