Before you take your placement test, there are a few things you should do to prepare. Make sure you follow the instructions on this page, or else we may not be able to administer your test. In particular, it is very important that you bring a photo ID, show up to your appointment on time, and have access to your My4Cs account.
Examples of acceptable forms of identification include: a current driver's license, a state approved ID, a college ID, a current state or federal ID card, a current military ID, a current passport, a tribal ID card, a naturalization card or certificate of citizenship.
Access to your My4Cs account is crucial for ALEKS PPL (our math test provider). If you don’t know how to access your My4Cs account, follow these instructions:
Park in lot #9. Walk up the driveway across from lot #9, the Grossman Commons (Building #7) will be on your left. Use the entrance located passed the steps and across from the WKKL radio station, to the left of the bus stop. As you enter the building, take the elevator immediately on your right to floor #2. The Student Readiness Office is to your left as you exit the elevator. Handicapped parking is available in front of the Grossman Commons.
There are many resources available to help you study for your placement test.
The best way to study for the ALEKS PPL math placement test is to use the study modules built into the ALEKS platform. After you take your test, these modules will be prepared and customized based on how you performed on the test so that you can focus on the areas where you need improvement. You can access them through your My4Cs account by hovering over “academic quick links” and clicking on “ALEKS Placement Testing”. NOTE: The modules are only available after you take the placement test.
Kahn Academy is a great online resources that can help strengthen your math skills. This program is not affiliated with Cape Cod Community College or ALEKS PPL.
For additional math review please contact our Math Learning Center here.
Your placement test at 4Cs is a test you take (typically in Math, English, or both) so that you can be placed into a class. Many introductory courses at 4Cs can accept your placement test as a prerequisite. Don’t think of your placement test as an exam, there is no passing or failing a placement test. English placement tests use Accuplacer and Math placement tests use ALEKS PPL.
Accuplacer is a placement test published by The College Board. Here at 4Cs, we use it to place students into English classes and classes with English prerequisites. To learn more about Accuplacer, please visit http://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/
ALEKS PPL is a placement test and study tool published by McGraw Hill. Here at 4Cs, we use it to place students into Math classes and classes with Math prerequisites. To learn more about ALEKS PPL, please visit http://www.mheducation.com/highered/aleksppl.html
Our tests are adaptive, which means that the computer will automatically determine which questions are shown to you based on your response to prior questions. This technique selects just the right questions to ask without being too easy or too difficult. The Accuplacer test is untimed which means you can take as long as you need on each question. The ALEKS PPL test has an “I Don’t Know” button that you can press if you don’t know how to solve a problem. Remember that there is no passing or failing a placement test.
The best way to answer this question is to meet with an academic advisor. You can learn how to do that at http://storesoo.com/advising/. Typically, if you graduated from High School in the last 10 years with a GPA of 2.7 or above, you don’t need to test for English. If you had a GPA of 2.7 within the last 3 years, you won’t need to take a test for Math unless you’re trying to take a course with a higher prerequisite. Everyone’s situation is different, so you should reach out to an advisor to figure out whether you should test and if so, which test(s) you should take.
Nope! The placement test is a tool used to help you choose courses and does not incur any cost to you.
The Accuplacer English test is untimed and the ALEKS Math test has a maximum time of 3 hours (though most students take around 45 minutes to an hour). Every student can take the test at their own pace, so the exact duration of your appointment can be hard to predict. Typically, an appointment will last between 2 and 3 hours
Make sure that you have a Photo ID and can access your My4Cs account. Then, you can explore some of the study resources listed higher up on this page.
If you need accommodations for testing, contact the O'Neill Center for Student Access and Support: 774.330.4533
Please visit Student Readiness for information on scheduling a test. If you are having difficulty scheduling, please call us at 774.330.4543 and we will be happy to assist you.
Placement tests are given at the Testing Center on the Main Campus, located in the Grossman Commons Building (Building #7) on the 2nd floor in Room 204. Appointments are encouraged; however, walk-in testing sessions may be provided. We strongly suggest you call to be sure we can accommodate walk-ins before you come down.
As soon as you finish your test, we’ll give you a copy of your results. Then, we’ll send you to meet with an advisor who can go over your results with you to explain what they mean, which classes they place you into, and whether you should test again.
You can’t pass or fail your placement tests. The placement test is not an entrance exam, it’s a tool to assist in placing you into appropriate level courses. No matter what score you receive, you will still be able to attend 4Cs. If you and your advisor decide you don’t like your score, you are always welcome to try again.
Yes. You can retake the placement test as many times as you’d like. Check with your advisor when deciding whether to retake your test.
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Student Readiness Office at studentreadiness@storesoo.com or 774.330.4543