Learning Resource Center Testing

Exams

Testing is available at Mat-Su College with a UAA ID in these formats:

Click any of these headings below for details about the exam.

  • ACCUPLACER- For Reading and Writing

    The ACCUPLACER Placement Test is an online exam with two multiple choice sections: Reading and Writing.

    Make an Appointment

    Practice Tests Online

    Placement exams measure competency in math, reading, and writing skills and enable an academic advisor to determine a student's appropriate entry level of instruction.  Students registering for English courses for the first time must take the ACCUPLACER test for placement in appropriate courses unless they meet one of the exceptions listed below (See Do I need to take a placement exam?).  Placement may also be required prior to enrollment in certain other courses and programs.

    Placement Scores - Placement scores are designed to indicate which course will provide the most benefit for each student. Scores from the ACCUPLACER Reading and Writing tests are combined into a single score which then indicates the course that a student may enroll in. The following list shows which score a student must have in order to enroll in a specific Writing course. 

    • Basic Writing and Reading (WRTG A080) -- less than or equal to 469
    • Writing and Reading Strategies (WRTG A090) -- from 470 to 499
    • Introduction to College Writing (WRTG A110) -- from 500 to 529
    • Writing Across Contexts (WRTG A111) -- greater than or equal to 530

    Writing scores do not expire, so scores that are several years old might be included in score systems not listed here. The Learning Resource Center (907-745-9713) or Student Services (907-745-9746) can provide details about other score ranges. Students should talk to the advisors in Student Services if they have any of the following scores from SAT or ACT tests. 

    • SAT Critical Reading -- 530 or higher
    • SAT Evidence-Based Reading -- 450 or higher
    • ACT English -- 18 or higher

    To look up scores from previous test sessions, go to https://www.accuplacer.org/ and select (Student Portal) Information for Students. Select Your ACCUPLACER Score Report and enter your student ID number, name, and date of birth. Then select the location and name of the testing center that administered your test. Your score report link will be emailed to the address you entered during the test session. If you wish to send your scores to another institution, click the Share Score Report button in the emailed link and choose from the dropdown box. 

     

    Go to https://www2.registerblast.com/matsu/Exam/List to make an appointment to take the ACCUPLACER test. Prospective students taking placement tests for schools or colleges other than the University of Alaska, should contact their schools to arrange for a remote placement test at MSC.

    Please note that children may not be in the tutoring or testing rooms and may not be left unattended anywhere on campus.

    About Accuplacer

    Click any of these headings for specifics about ACCUPLACER.

    • What is ACCUPLACER?

      ACCUPLACER is an online test consisting of two multiple choice assessments: Reading and Writing. The tests may be taken at the same time for one fee. 

    • How long are my scores valid for placement?
      ACCUPLACER scores which place students into English courses do not expire.  However, if the scores are older than two years, students may want to retest in order to have a current assessment of their knowledge and skills.
    • Do I need to take a placement exam?

      ACCUPLACER exams measure competency in reading and writing skills and enable an academic advisor to determine a student's appropriate entry level of instruction.  Students registering for English courses for the first time must take the ACCUPLACER test for placement in appropriate courses unless they meet one of the exceptions listed below.  Placement may also be required prior to enrollment in certain other courses and programs.

      Exceptions:
      • An ACT English Score or an SAT Critical  or Evidence-Based Reading Score can be used in lieu of the reading and writing portions of the ACCUPLACER.  See Placement Scores  above for details.
      • Students with college-level transfer credits (100 level or above) in English may be eligible to use those credits for placement and avoid taking the ACCUPLACER. 
      • Credits may have been earned through prior college attendance or through advanced placement tests such as AP, IB, CLEP, or DSST.  However, if earned credits are more than one year old, students should consider testing to receive a more accurate placement. 

      Transcripts from prior institutions and test score reports must be submitted to Student Services and evaluated prior to course placement.

    • Do I need to make an appointment?
      Accuplacer tests are proctored in the in the Learning Resource Center. Please make an appointments through the online scheduler (click the calendar below).  Examinees should note that the scheduler requires 24 hours between registering and taking the test. The Learning Resource Center is available during office hours to answer questions about scheduling (907-745-9713).

      Make an Appointment

    • What is the cost?
      A fee of $21 is charged for each testing session, payable when the appointment is made.
      Mat-Su Middle College High School student applicants will be issued vouchers to cover the cost of testing.
    • Where do I take the test?

      Accuplacer tests are proctored in the in the Learning Resource Center. Please make an appointments through the online scheduler (click the calendar below).  Examinees should note that the scheduler requires 24 hours between registering and taking the test. The Learning Resource Center is available during office hours to answer questions about scheduling (907-745-9713).

      Make an Appointment

    • What do I bring to the test?
      Each examinee must have the following:
      • photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or Univ of AK ID card

      Personal belongings are not allowed within reach of the test area, except for clean scratch paper with student ID number and contact information. 

    • Can I take the test if I will be attending a college other than MSC?

      Yes, MSC is a remote testing site for ACCUPLACER and can administer a placement test for other colleges and organizations in or outside of Alaska. Examinees should contact the testing center at the other school or organization and arrange for a remote test at the Mat-Su College LRC.  Other schools will likely request the following contact information for the Learning Resource Center:

      Becky Contreras, Manager
      8295 E College Dr
      Palmer, Alaska 99645
      907-745-9713
      matsutesting@alaska.edu
       
    • Can I retest?

      Yes, testers may retest one time after a minimum wait of 2 days (48 hours).  This should be done before the add/drop deadline of the enrollment semester. The ACCUPLACER test may be taken twice per semester.

      The test fee must be paid each time the ACCUPLACER test is taken. Placement will be determined using the higher scores. Before retaking the test, examinees may want to review some of the practice questions on the ACCUPLACER website or visit the tutorial websites listed below in the section entitled "How can I prepare for the test?"

      Students testing under Ability to Benefit are required by federal guidelines to wait a minimum of two weeks before retesting.

    •   How can I prepare for the test?
      Some examinees have found it helpful to brush up on their skills before testing. The following websites may be helpful. Resources:
      Additional resources are available in MSC Okeson Library.

    Tips for taking ACCUPLACER

    1. Relax! This is not a pass or fail test. ACCUPLACER was designed to help students succeed in college. Test scores help students and advisors identify academic strengths and weaknesses and determine which courses will most likely help students succeed.
    2. Get a good night's sleep, eat a nutritious breakfast, and arrive at the testing session a few minutes early. These strategies can help examinees concentrate and gather their thoughts before testing.
    3. Pay careful attention to directions on each section of the test.
    4. Answer each question. ACCUPLACER is an adaptive test, which means that questions are chosen on the basis of each examinee's answers to previous questions. You may change the answer on a particular question before moving ahead to another question, but you will not be able to return to a previous question. It is better to guess than to leave a question unanswered.
    5. Eliminate one or more of the choices on difficult questions. This reduces the chance of choosing a wrong answer.

    Day of the Test

    1. Plan to arrive at the test session a few minutes early.
    2. You will be asked to show your a photo ID.
    3. Personal belongings must be moved out of reach of the testing area.
    4. You will be asked to enter contact information (such as mailing address, phone number, and email) and to answer questions regarding your educational goals. This information is entered in the university database and is used by the advisors to help you choose the best courses.
    5. Since there is no time limit for taking any of the ACCUPLACER tests, make sure you allow enough time to complete each test. The average time for the tests is about an hour and a half; however, times for individual testers can vary greatly.
    6. It is recommended that you make an appointment in Student Services to meet with an advisor to review your scores and course registration options.
  • ALEKS - For Math

    ALEKS helps determine your level of skill in math and which courses are the most appropriate for your enrollment.

    Make an Appointment

    Practice Tests Online

     

    Test candidates may take the ALEKS test at home by following these steps: 
      1. Go to UAOnline, and select the Current Students tab
      2. Select ALEKS Math Placement Test, and read the Overview.
      3. Select Take the Placement Test and read the instructions. You must meet all the requirements listed before beginning the test.
      4. After agreeing to the Academic Integrity statement, click Next and choose the UAA Sign-in.  

    Tests may also be taken at the MatSu College testing center. 

    Make an Appointment

    Fees: No fees are required for UAA prospective students

    Retests: The initial test sets up a unique learning path for each individual. Anyone wishing to retest will be directed to personalized learning modules which target areas needing improvement. After the set of training modules are completed, the placement test becomes available again. The ALEKS test may be retaken four times after the initial test.

    If trying to retest after a year (tests and scores expire after a year), test takers should email uaa_testingcenter@alaska.edu and ask to have their expired accounts unlocked. They should include the following information in the email: 

    • Full name
    • Student ID number
    • email address

    Disability Accommodations:
    ALEKS tests are timed to shut off after three hours. If you need extended time or other accommodations, contact the Disability Services office at  uaa_dss@alaska.edu.

    Practice Tests and Study Helps: ALEKS provides practice modules after each test attempt. The following sites may also be helpful in preparing:

    Scores: Each score is associated with a specific course and shows which course a student can register for. Scores expire after one year.

    Placement Scores for Math Courses

    Course ALEKS Scores  
         
    Pre-algebra MATH A054 # 0-16      
    Essential Mathematics MATH A060 # 0-16      
    Elementary Algebra MATH A055 # 17-29      
    Intermediate Algebra MATH A105 ~ 30-54      
    College Algebra for Managerial and
    Social Sciences     		MATH A121 ^  55-77      
    College Algebra for Calculus MATH A151 ^  55-77      
    Pre-calculus MATH A155 ^  55-77      
    Elementary Statistics STAT A252 ^  55-100      
    Trigonometry MATH A152 ^  65-77      
    Applied Statistics for the Sciences STAT A253 ^  65-100      
    Applied Calculus for Managerial and
    Social Sciences     		MATH A221 ^  78-100      
    Calculus I MATH A251 ^  78-100      
    Note: Math placement scores are valid for one year. SAT and ACT scores are not accepted for placement purposes.
    # Credits earned cannot apply to degree; eligible for Financial Aid.
    ~ Fulfills Math requirement for some associate degrees or can be used as elective.
    ^ General Education Requirements (GER)
  • CLEP

    The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) provides students of any age with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in undergraduate college courses. In order to have scores sent to UAA or MSC, students should talk with academic advisors to make sure the university accepts the desired exam score and the exam is appropriate for students’ degree programs.

    Look up the list of CLEP exams accepted at UAA/MSC. Visit the CLEP website for more information.

    All examinees must create an account at the CLEP website in order to pay the CLEP test fee and register for exams. The registration will generate a ticket ID which will be required to access the computer exam on the test day. An additional proctoring fee of $33 is charged by MSC and is payable through the appointment scheduler or in Campus Cache (JKB 109). 

    Examinees also need to make an appointment through the Mat-Su College test scheduler and should note that the appointment scheduler requires 24 hours between registering and taking the test.

    The CLEP site code for the Mat-Su College testing center is 4509.

    On the test day, the proctor will ask to see a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license or passport). For more information, call (907) 745-9713 or email matsutesting@alaska.edu.

    Please note that children may not be in the tutoring or testing rooms and may not be left unattended anywhere on campus.

    Make an Appointment

     

  • GED
     

    MSC Learning Resource Center is authorized to deliver the GED online exams. To register for exams, test candidates create their accounts at the GED website. This website redirects to the Pearson VUE website for scheduling, paying for exams, and selecting a test site. Further information can be obtained at (877)-EXAM GED [(877) 392-6433] or MSC Learning Center (907) 745-9713.

    The GED test is available through computer testing only and contains the following modules: Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. Modules vary in length from 1-2 hours. Candidates taking more than one module will receive a 10-minute scheduled break between modules. Test takers must register, schedule a test date, and pay on the PearsonVUE website.

    Training for the GED may be obtained at Ninestar in Wasilla:

    (907) 373-7833
    617 S. Knik Goose Bay Road Suite G, Wasilla, AK 99654
    matsuged@ninestar.com
    Possible study sites for GED:

    Please note that children may not be in the tutoring or testing rooms and may not be left unattended anywhere on campus. 

  • Mat-Su College Proctored Tests

    If you need to take a make-up test or retest, you may make an appointment to take it in person in the testing center. When making appointments, test candidates should note that the Mat-Su College test scheduler requires 24 hours between registering and taking the test.

    The testing center has a private room (Room D) available by appointment for students with disability accommodations or those who need private space to take a test from an online proctor such as RPNow.

    On test day, each test candidate is required to show a photo ID to the proctor prior to testing. Lockers are available for storing personal belongings during testing sessions.

    The college library offers alternatives for testing: students may borrow laptops from the library and/or reserve private rooms for test sessions. Call 907-745-9740 for more information.

    Please note that children may not be in the tutoring or testing rooms and may not be left unattended anywhere on campus.  (The appointment program requires at least 24 hours between registering and taking the test.)

    Make an Appointment

     

  • Other Proctored Tests

    Seating is available in the MSC testing center for test candidates from other universities, schools, and organizations. In order for the testing center to receive tests, test candidates must arrange for their distance education departments, professors, or organizations to send tests to the LRC. Some distance education programs require students to submit a proctor form online. These forms should be submitted to the distance education program early in the semester to allow timely processing of tests. The following information may be required by the test originator:

    Becky Contreras
    Mat-Su College Learning Resource Center
    8295 E College Dr, Palmer, Alaska 99645
    Phone: (907) 745-9713
    Email: matsutesting@alaska.edu
     

    On test day, each test candidate is required to show a photo ID to the proctor prior to testing. Lockers are available for storing personal belongings during testing sessions.

    Proctor fees are charged for tests originating outside the University of Alaska. 

    When making appointments, test candidates should note that the Mat-Su College test scheduler requires 24 hours between registering and taking the test.

    Please note that children may not be in the tutoring or testing rooms and may not be left unattended anywhere on campus.

    Make an Appointment

     
  • Praxis
     The Praxis Core exam measures basic skills in reading, writing and math and Specific Content Area tests required for teacher certification. Refer to the Praxis website has information about registration and selecting a test site.
  • PearsonVUE
     

    Mat-Su College is an Authorized Pearson VUE testing center and offers testing for a variety of Pearson VUE clients including Alaska Insurance, Alaska Real Estate, Cisco Systems, CompTia, GED, and many others. Test takers must register, schedule a test date, and pay on the PearsonVUE website.

    Please note that children may not be in the tutoring or testing rooms and may not be left unattended anywhere on campus.

 

If you have been referred for a writing sample, details for submission can be found here. 

  • Writing Samples

    The writing sample asks you to write a few paragraphs summarizing and responding to a complex reading that is typical of the readings students are assigned in our entry-level writing courses. Read this passage carefully using active reading strategies you've already learned such as identifying main points. Also pay close attention to the writing prompt. Answer everything that it asks of you and consider using the prompt as a tool for organizing your work.

    As you write, summarize the reading thoroughly, noting its main ideas and key details. Then, in your response, show your own original thinking in the way you interact with the reading. Before you finish, proofread your work with care.

    A panel of professors will read your writing sample and discuss which of our courses will be a good match for you. They will assess your writing holistically with an emphasis on reading comprehension, idea development, organization, sense of audience, language conventions, and how you interact with the source material.

    Don't stress over your writing sample, but do be sure that it represents your best work. Keep in mind that this isn't an exam, but a way of showing your professors your strengths as a reader, writer, and critical thinker so they can help you find the best place to begin your writing studies at UAA.