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FAQ:
COMPASS Placement Tests
This page answers the most common
questions that students have about the COMPASS Placement Test. If
this document still does not answer your question, please contact
the Testing Center at 808.734.9144.
COMMON QUESTIONS ON TEST AVAILABILITY
AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Do I need to make
an appointment to take the COMPASS Placement Test?
All
tests are administered by WALK-IN ONLY. No appointments or reservations
are needed. On Monday-Thursday, you may START your test between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. On Friday, you may START your
test between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. We are closed on
weekends and on most state and federal holidays.
What
do I need to bring with me to take the COMPASS Placement Test?
Bring
a photo ID and a document showing your UH student identification
number (UH ID Number). If you do not yet have your UH ID Number,
please bring a completed Request
for UH Number form to the Kekaulike Information Service
Center in 'Ilima 102. They will provide you with a UH ID number
which you can bring to the Testing Center when you come to take
your test.
COMMON
QUESTIONS ON TEST TIME LIMITS
Does
the COMPASS Placement Test have any time limits?
The COMPASS Placement Test has no
time limits. You should plan on spending about 1 1/2 to 2 hours
to complete all sections (Math, Reading, and Writing) of the test.
It may take up to 30-45 minutes or more to complete each section
individually. Please read through the directions carefully and answer
all questions. If you need help, ask the proctor.
Does the
ESL Writing Sample Test have any time limits?
Yes. If you took the COMPASS-ESL Reading Test, you will also
take the ESL Writing Sample Test. You will write an essay on a pre-determined
topic. Your completed essay will be evaluated by an ESL instructor,
who will determine your appropriate ESL or English level.
COMMON QUESTIONS ON THE MATH SECTION
I think I started
from the 'wrong' math level...help!
There is no 'wrong' level
on the math placement test. The COMPASS is an adaptive test - it
adapts and adjusts the recommended placement level up or down as
you answer the questions.
YOUR MATH PLACEMENT IS DETERMINED
BY YOUR ANSWERS ON THE MATH TEST...NOT THE LEVEL YOU CHOOSE.
If you answer math questions correctly,
the recommended placement level moves up; if you answer math questions
incorrectly, the recommended placement level moves down. The system
continually adjusts the level of difficulty until it has determined
your placement level.
A good place to start off on the
math section should be the level that you are most comfortable with
and have some background in. Use
the following link as a guide on where to start on the COMPASS Math
Placement Test.
COMMON QUESTIONS ON THE ENGLISH
(READING & WRITING SECTION)
What does
the reading section of the COMPASS Placement Test consist of?
The Reading Placement Test can help determine if students have the
skills to succeed in standard entry-level college courses or if
they need developmental reading courses or other instructional support.
What does the
writing section of the COMPASS Placement Test consist of?
The Writing Skills Placement
Test helps institutions determine whether students are ready for
entry-level college writing courses or other courses with significant
writing loads, or whether students require developmental writing
instruction prior to entry into those courses.
COMMON QUESTIONS ON TEST RESULTS
When
do I get my COMPASS Placement Test results?
Except
for the ESL Writing Sample Test, computerized COMPASS Placement
Test results will be available as soon as your test session is complete.
Return to the Testing Center counter to pick up your results.
When
can I pickup my ESL Writing Sample Test results?
The
results of an ESL Writing Sample Test are usually ready two (2)
business days after the completion of the test.
Before
coming to the Testing Center, please call us at 808.734.9144 to
check if your results are ready for pickup. We can only release
results to the person who took the test, and a photo ID is required.
Please take your results card to the Kekaulike Information Service
Center for processing.
When
are my results uploaded to the student information system?
Scores
are uploaded to the Banner student information system several times
per day and are processed every half-hour, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
COMMON
QUESTIONS ON TAKING THE COMPASS
Can I take the
COMPASS Placement Test in separate sections?
If you are not ready to
take the entire test in one sitting, or do not have time to take
the entire test, you can break the test up into separate sections.
Please inform the testing staff of your intentions when you check-in.
I live in
Hawaii, but am taking the COMPASS Placement Test at KCC is inconvenient.
Can I take it at another UH Community College?
Hawaii residents who apply to KCC may take the COMPASS Placement
Test at any UH community college. Each campus testing center has
their own testing schedule. Inform the testing center staff that
you will be taking the test for admission to Kapi'olani Community
College. See the Cutoff
Scores & Placements page to convert your scores into
KCC placement recommendations.
I live in Hawaii,
but am applying to a college outside of the University of Hawaii
system. They require me to take a COMPASS Placement Test. Can I
take it at KCC?
A systemwide test proctoring
fee of $25 per hour applies. Please contact the Testing Center at
808.734.9165 for information.
I live on the
U.S. mainland, and have already applied to KCC. Is there a way to
take the COMPASS Placement Test on the mainland rather than flying
all the way out to Hawaii?
Yes! Students living on
the U.S. mainland may now take the COMPASS Placement Test for admission
into Kapiolani Community College remotely at an approved ACT Test
Center in their area. Please contact us at 808.734.9165 to schedule
your test.
COMMON QUESTIONS ON COMPASS PLACEMENT
RETAKES
Can I retake my
COMPASS Placement Test?
Please see the COMPASS
Re-Test Policy page for more information.
COMMON QUESTIONS ON REQUESTING
SPECIAL TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Who do I contact
to request special testing accommodations?
To request special testing
accommodations, please contact the Disability Student Services Office
at 808.734.9552, or via e-mail at kapdss@hawaii.edu.
COMMON QUESTIONS ON COMPASS WORKSHOPS
Do you offer any
"Brush Up" workshops to help me prepare for the placement
test?
Yes. Please
contact the First-Year Experience at 808.734.9245 or e-mail kuilei@hawaii.edu
for further information.
COMMON QUESTIONS ON FINDING TEST
PREPARATION MATERIALS OR RESOURCES
Do you have any
books or other resources to help me prepare for the placement test?
Yes. Please
see the COMPASS
Resources page for
more information.
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