ACCUPLACER Placement Testing

A placement test is required for all students who have not successfully completed college-level English and/or math classes. Placement testing helps identify your academic strengths and needs in math, English and reading. The test is not timed, but usually takes 1½ hours to complete. After testing you meet with an Academic Advisor, and the results are used to select appropriate courses based on your current level of ability. If special testing accommodations are required, contact the Testing Coordinator at (203) 332-5217.

• All new students enrolling in a degree or certificate program
• Transfer students who have not successfully completed an English composition and/or college-level math course with a grade of “C” or better
• Any student planning to take an English writing or math course
• Any student registering for a course with an English or math pre-requisite
• Any student taking English as a Second Language courses
• All High School Partnership applicants, home schooled students and high school students seeking early admission to college

There is no fee for the test; however, new students must fill out an Application for Admissions form and get a student Banner ID number before testing.

The following students may not have to take a placement test:

• Students who have completed college-level English and/or math courses with a
  grade of “C” or better (must provide transcripts).
• Students with an Associate's Degree or higher (must provide transcripts).
• Students who have taken the ACCUPLACER exam at another college in the past 10 years (must provide documentation if tested outside the CT community college system).
• Students who took the SAT, ACT, or GED exam within the last five years and have met the minimum qualifying test scores listed below.

To be waived from testing, a copy of the SAT/ ACT/ GED test scores must be submitted to the Admissions office. Admissions email:

• SAT: 530 in Math Section; 25 in Reading Test
• ACT: 18 in Math, 37 in combined English and Reading
• GED: 165 in Mathematical Reasoning and/or Reasoning Language Arts (RLA)

**If you are unsure whether or not you qualify for an exemption or waiver, talk to an Academic Advisor or Counselor (L112 Lafayette Hall). Contact Advising through their webpage.

There is a special ESL exam for students whose first language is not English. The ESL tests are Reading Skills, Sentence Meaning and Language Usage. The ESL tests will measure your language skills to see if you need additional help with the English language or if you are ready for regular college-level courses.

Students who place into English 092, 092i, 094, 094i, 093, 101w, or Math 095, 095i, or 137t may be eligible for FREE English and/or math refresher programs offered in the CAP. For more information visit this page: housatonic.edu/academic-support/center-for-academic-progress, call 203-332-8585, or visit Room B152 in Lafayette Hall.

It is recommended that you study before taking a placement test.
 To practice on your own, we recommend the resources here: https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students

The CAP can also provide support for preparing for the test. To contact CAP visit this page: housatonic.edu/academic-support/center-for-academic-progress, call 203-332-8585, or visit Room B152 in Lafayette Hall.

Placement testing is free; however, you must have a student ID. Testing is scheduled regularly throughout the year. Test dates are constantly being updated. Please check back for future dates.

Click Here For The Bridges Accuplacer Sample Test