CCD Course Placement Tests
About the Exams
You can complete placement testing at the Testing Center for:
- Math & English course placement into stand-alone math & English courses,
- English as a Second Language (ESL) course placement, and
- Foreign language course placement.
*All placement test scores are valid for five (5) years.
You are required to schedule a testing appointment at least 24 hours in advance. No exceptions will be made. If you do not have a testing appointment, you will not be able to take your exam.
If you require special testing accommodations approved by the Accessibility Center, you must schedule your appointments at the Accessibility Center (Confluence Building, room 121).
English Placement Test
The English placement test consists of one multiple-choice section.
Format of Test
The test is adaptive, computer-based, multiple-choice, and untimed.
- 25 Writing Questions
Time Limit
There is no time limit, but the average amount of time necessary to complete the test is about 25-45 minutes per section.
ID Requirement
A valid government-issued photo ID.
Cost
There is a $15 fee per attempt for current CCD students. The fee for non-CCD students is $40 per attempt.
Results
Results are available immediately after completion of the exam. Writing sample assessment results (if required) will be available in seven to ten business days.
Retest Information
The exam can be taken up to three times in two years. Students must schedule all exams 24 hours in advance online.
Math Placement Test
Format of Test
The test is adaptive, computer-based, multiple-choice, and untimed.
- 20 Arithmetic Questions
- 20 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics Questions
- 20 Advanced Algebra and Functions Questions (a score of 280 or higher in AAF will take you to the MAT 201 Calculus I test)
- 20 Math 201 Calculus 1 Test
Time Limit
There is no time limit, but the average amount of time necessary to complete all three sections of the test is about 60-90 minutes.
ID Requirement
A valid government-issued photo ID.
Cost
There is a $15 fee per attempt for current CCD students. The fee for non-CCD students is $40 per attempt.
Results
Results are available immediately after completion of the exam.
Retest of Information
The exam can be taken up to three times in two years. Students must schedule all exams 24 hours in advance online.
Incomplete Tests: If you are not able to complete your test during our testing hours, you can come within the next 2 weeks to pick up where you left off.
Biology Challenge Test
Are you looking to skip ahead in your biology courses? If you do not have the indicated prerequisites to enroll in BIO 201, BIO 202, or BIO 204, you need to take the biology challenge test. These are not credit-bearing tests.
The Testing Center offers three different biology challenge tests.
Format of Test
BIOLOGY 202 Placement Test
CCD Testing Center is offering a BIO 202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II placement test. This test was developed by CCD's biology department. It is designed for those who do not have BIO 201 (the prerequisite for BIO 202) but want to take a BIO 202 class. The passing score is 35/50 (70%). Note: This test does not give credit for BIO 201.
BIOLOGY 204 Placement Test
CCD Testing Center is offering a BIO 204 Microbiology placement test. This test was developed by CCD's biology department. It is designed for those who do not have BIO 111 or BIO 202 (the prerequisites for BIO 204) but want to take a BIO 204 class. The passing score is 35/50 (70%). Note: This test does not give credit for BIO 111 or BIO 201 courses.
Time Limit
There is a 90-minute time limit. The test has 50 multiple-choice questions.
ID Requirement
A valid government-issued photo ID.
Cost
There is a $30.00 fee for each attempt. This can be paid by cash, check, or credit card.
Results
The test will be scored immediately upon completion and scores are provided upon request.
Retest Information
Students scoring between 32 – 34 may retake the test on the following business day. Students scoring below 32 must wait one term to retake this exam.
English as A Second Language Placement Test
The English as a Second Language (ESL) placement test has three sections: reading skills, listening comprehension and grammar.
Format of Test
The test is adaptive, computer-based, multiple-choice, and untimed. Some students may be required to complete an untimed writing sample to better assess their English writing skills.
- 20 Reading Skills Questions
- 20 Listening Comprehension Questions
- 20 Language Use
Time Limit
There is no time limit, but the average amount of time necessary to complete the test is about 30-45 minutes per section.
ID Requirement
A valid government-issued photo ID.
Cost
There is a $15 fee per attempt for current CCD students. Students can take both the Math and ESL test for $25 ($5 savings). The fee for non-CCD students is $40 per attempt.
Results
Results are available immediately after completion of the exam. Writing sample assessment results (if required) will be available in seven to ten business days.
Retest Information
The exam can be taken up to three times in two years. Students must schedule all exams 24 hours in advance online.
*The test is not available for international students.
How to Make an ESL Testing Appointment
Click on Schedule Your Appointment and follow the registration steps below:
- Choose a group, click on Placement Exams.
- Choose a group, click on ESL Accuplacer Placement Testing.
- Choose an exam, click on ESL Full Assessment with or without Math.
- Choose a date for your exam, click on the calendar and then click on the date that you want to take the exam.
- Choose a Time, click on the time that you want to start the exam. **You should plan on at least 1 hour for each section of the test, but there is no time limit. The Testing Center closes at 5:00 p.m. If you are not finished with your exam by 5:00 p.m., you will need to come back on another day to finish it.
- Who is taking the exam? Type your first name, last name, and email address.
- Exam guideline acknowledgment, read the information and then click in the box: "I agree to follow the above guidelines"
- Needed Information, type your Date of Birth and CCD Student ID number and then click in the box next to the ESL test section/s you want to take.
- Click on Add to Cart
- A new screen will appear. Click on Complete Registration.
Check your email account; you should have a message confirming your appointment date and time.
Foreign Language Placement Test
If you already know some of the basics in Spanish, French, German, and Chinese, take this assessment to help determine your skill level. This test places you into a foreign language course level; it does not give credit for foreign language classes. You can go to CCD.edu/Testing to schedule an appointment.
Format of Test
This test is computer-based and contains multiple-choice questions.
Time Limit
There is no time limit, but the average amount of time necessary to complete the test is about 30 minutes.
ID Requirement
A valid government-issued photo ID.
Cost
There is a $10 fee per attempt for current CCD students.
Results
Results are available immediately after completion of the exam.
Retest Information
The exam can be taken up to three times in two years. Students must wait at least 24 hours between attempts.
If you are already proficient in a language, consider taking the CLEP test to get college credit. Learn more about foreign language classes at CCD.
How to Schedule
Students will create an account once they arrive at the Testing Center. The Test Center Administrator (TCA) will authorize the session on the day of the exam. To schedule an exam please go to CCD.edu/Testing