Presentation prepared during VISTA appointment at organization for adult basic education. The presentation was created primarily with intermediate and higher level English language learners in mind. This is an overview of things to think about and provided an outline for what was discussed during the presentation.

1. [Am I ready for college?]
Clarity W.

2. Introduction
O There are many post-secondary education
options
O How do you know when you are ready for
college?
O How do you get into college?
O How can you prepare for college tests?

3. When am I ready?
O You need to be regularly
attending English 400 or
higher.
O Teachers in the community
recommend that you are
reading above a 9th grade
level. This means you
need to be taking the
TABE D or A test and
scoring 567+

4. When am I ready?
O Required :
O High school diploma or GED
O Testing: each school has
individual policies for which
tests are needed
O Required skills:
O Study independently
O Dedicate 2-3 hours of time
outside of class for each hour
spent in class
O Needed:
O Note-taking skills
O Typing skills
O E-mail & Internet basics

6. What do the results mean?
O English Proficiency Tests:
O Schools require a certain minimum score,
but each school has its own requirements
O Computer-Based Placement Tests:
O There is no “pass” or “fail” for these tests.
However, if you do not score high enough,
you will have to take developmental
classes that do not count for your degree
credit – you will still have to pay for these
classes.

7. What do I do if I’m not happy
with my test score?
O Continue to study for free (or much
cheaper than college) at a place like
Lincoln
O Do more studying outside of class (this is
an important skill for college!)
O Retake the test after more preparation

8. How can I prepare for the test?
O Use the library
O Test prep books for TOEFL
O Free, online practice
O Paper copies of sample ACCUPLACER
tests are available from Clarity
O Study other standardized test prep books
(like for the SAT or ACT)

9. Test Preparation Online
O Online Practice Test http://wcb.neit.edu/asc/prctctst.htm
O Minnesota Literacy Council’s ACCUPLACER preparation site (You can
sign-in as a “guest”) http://online.themlc.org/course/view.php?id=59
O College Board’s ACCUPLACER site
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/accuplacer/index.html
O Study guides collected by Aims College
http://www.aims.edu/student/assessment/studyguides/
O ACCUPLACER online review
http://www.testprepreview.com/accuplacer_practice.htm
O MCTC’s page about the ACCUPLACER, including “how to prepare”
http://www.minneapolis.edu/Admissions/Accuplacer-Placement-Tests
O Prepare for the math section of the ACCUPLACER
http://www.accuplacermath.project.mnscu.edu/
O Sample computer-based test http://php.yccd.edu/assessment/sample.html
O Another sample computer-based test http://demo-test.accuplacer-test.com/
O Videos for ACCUPLACER prep
http://www.mclennan.edu/students/testing/accuplacer/prep.html

10. Are you ready?
O Do you think you will be ready for college
within the next year?
O If you are preparing for college, would you
participate in a study group focused on
placement tests?

11. Questions?
If you have additional questions after this session,
please see Clarity in office 111. You can make an
appointment or walk in if the door is open.
Also available by e-mail