accuplacer overview
TRANSCRIPT
ACCUPLACER Overview Kansas Board of Regents
August 28, 2015
What is ACCUPLACER? A program from College Board that provides:
+ Rigorous, reliable, and valid test content - Placement testing - Diagnostic testing
+ A robust test delivery platform - Internet-based - 24/7 access - Continuous enhancement
+ An array of services - Consulting - Professional Development - Technical Support
Who does ACCUPLACER serve?
Over 1300 secondary and post-secondary institutions Institutions served: + 2 year + 4 year + High schools
+ 8 million exams administered in academic year 2014-15
Widely used in: + Arizona, Alaska, California,
Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia
+ Used in every state in US + Used in 29 countries
Test takers: + High school
students + College students + ESL/ELL student + Ability to Benefit
students + Workforce
Development Programs
Primary Uses of ACCUPLACER Tests
The primary function of the ACCUPLACER Placement Tests are to assist with determining if students are prepared for a college-level course or if they would benefit from a developmental course.
The primary function of the ACCUPLACER Diagnostic Tests are to provide a detailed assessment of test-takers’ skills in so that academic strengths and weaknesses can be pinpointed.
ACCUPLACER Tests
General Tests • Reading Comprehension • Sentence Skills • Arithmetic • Elementary Algebra • College Level Math • WritePlacer • Computer Skills Placement • “Local” Tests
ESL Suite • Reading Skills • Sentence Meaning • Language Usage • Listening • WritePlacer ESL
Diagnostics
• Reading Comprehension • Sentence Skills • Arithmetic • Elementary Algebra
(20)
(20)
(17)
(12)
(20)
(20)
(20)
(20)
(20)
(40)
(40)
(40)
(40)
(30/70)
HEd Course Placement Policies/Scores + Given that institutions differ greatly with respect to
composition of the student body, faculty and course content, it is not possible to stipulate specific test cut scores that should be used for placement decisions.
+ Instead, each institution should establish their own cut scores to facilitate placement decisions based on factors and data unique to their institution.
+ Course Placement scores appropriate for each program should be considered
+ The College Board strongly recommends that multiple measures be used when placing students.
How is ACCUPLACER used in high schools? + Assess students readiness for higher level courses and programs
- Dual Enrollment courses
- College in the High School programs
- Honor courses or AP courses
- CTE programs – change the message
+ Target students who are not on track to be career/college ready by graduation
- Develop individualized intervention plans
ACCUPLACER The Basics
ACCUPLACER Basics… + Computer Adaptive Testing
Fixed length tests which meet the student at their ability level
+ Configurable Branching Profiles Which tests will be given, under what conditions, background questions
+ Configurable Placement Rules – Including Composite Scores Place students into courses with specific program messages
Decreased Difficulty
Increased Difficulty
Middle Difficulty
Score is calculated and the next best item is selected based on:
• Difficulty • Content • Test Specifications
Delivers a customized testing experience by using prior answers to estimate which items the student is likely to answer successfully.
Computer Adaptive Testing
Branching Profiles: Background Questions
What was the highest math course you’ve taken in the
last five years?
Algebra
College Level Math
Arithmetic
Algebra I or Algebra II
Pre-Calculus Trigonometry
Calculus
Arithmetic Pre-Algebra
Branching Profiles: Test Scores
Algebra Test
Score 91-120 College Level Math Test
Course Placement
Score 61-90 Course Placement
Score 20-60 Arithmetic Test
Course Placement
Branching Profiles: Test Scores & Background Questions
Test Score •Low Score on Reading test (native)
Background Question
•No to any of following: •Is English the first language you learned? •Is English the language most often spoken in your home? •Have you had at least 8 years of formal education in the US?
ESL Test
•ESL Area Test •Test Results Determine Next ESL Test (if any)
ESL Test
•ESL Area Test •Test Results Determine Next ESL Test (if any)
Configurable Placement Rules
ACCUPLACER Beyond the Basics
ACCUPLACER Beyond the Basics… + Multiple Measures/Weighted Placement Rules
Ability to incorporate demographic info external data with test scores for course placement
+ Computer Skills Placement(CSP) Assess students computer literacy skills
+ Local Test Assess additional skills, test authored by Faculty
+ Flexible Testing Administration Test anywhere – your way
+ Remote Proctoring On campus and virtual
Robust Support of Multiple Measures
Placement
Background Questions
Test Scores
External Data
• Did you take Algebra in High School?
• How often do you use math in your life outside of school?
• ACT or SAT Scores • High School GPA
An Example: Fine Tuning Placement Test Score + Background Question Responses
Scores barely above the cut Background responses indicate less desirable characteristics
Scores barely below the cut Background responses indicate highly desirable characteristics
An Example: Multiple Pathways Test Score + External Data + Background Question Responses
Test Scores alone
5-8 points below with High School GPA of 3.0+
5-8 points below with 4 years of Math and a B or higher
College Math 101
Computer Skills Placement (CSP) can help with…
+ Advising Tool – quickly and accurately assess students’ competency of basic computer skills
+ Identify students with gaps in computer knowledge
+ Placement into courses/programs that have computer driven curriculum
+ Ensure necessary skills for online course completion (Blackboard, D2L)
+ Ensure students are ready to effectively interact online with the institution via the computer
Faculty Created Exams (Local Tests) Measuring additional skill sets for placement
Biology/Science Study Skills Higher Math Skills Specific Computer Skills
Test Question Options
Passages Audio Video
Test Answer Options
Multiple Choice, True/False, Audio
Vouchers • Pre-register students in advance • Designed for group testing on or off campus
Flexible Test Administration
On Demand Testing • No scheduling or pre-planning required • Walk in testing on campus
Fast Track Test Administration • No scheduling or pre-planning required • Designed for group testing on or off campus
Remote Testing Network • Pre-register students in advance • Testing at participating colleges
Remote Virtual Proctoring • Pre-register students in advance • 24/7 virtual proctoring anywhere
Virtual Remote Proctoring
Allows Students to test at a time that is convenient for them - working adults, on-line students, home bound students.
Saves travel time to a campus
Four students per Virtual Proctor
Cost per test session - $25
ACCUPLACER Test Content
Language Arts: Reading Reading Comprehension Placement content categories are:
• Identifying Main Ideas • Secondary / Supporting Idea • Inference • Applications • Sentence Relationships
Diagnostic content categories are: • Main Idea • Supporting Detail • Sentence Relationships • Inference • Author's Purpose/Rhetorical Strategies
Each student is administered a total of 20 items for placement, 40 items for diagnostic
Language Arts: Writing
Sentence Skills Placement content categories are:
• Recognizing Complete Sentences • Coordination/Subordination • Sentence Relationship
Diagnostic Content Categories are: • Agreement • Modifiers • Diction/Logic • Sentence Structure • Sentence Boundaries
Each student is administered a total of 20 items for placement, 40 items for diagnostic
Language Arts: Writing Essay
WritePlacer 8-point holistic scoring guide, 6 dimensions
• Purpose and Focus • Organization and Structure • Development and Support •Sentence Variety and Style •Mechanical Conventions •Critical Thinking
Fourteen prompts available
WritePlacer/WritePlacer ESL
Structure
- Students construct essay in response to provided prompt. Scored immediately by IEA system.
Benefits
- Immediate scores
- Reduced costs
- Decreased faculty/student time
- Ease of use
- Distance/remote delivery
Mathematics: Arithmetic
Arithmetic Placement content categories are:
• Whole numbers and Fractions • Decimals and Percents • Applications
Diagnostic content categories are: • Computation with Integers and Fractions • Computation with Decimal Numbers • Problems Involving Percent • Estimation, Ordering, and Number Sense • Word Problems and Applications
Each student is administered a total of 17 items for placement and 40 items for diagnostics
Mathematics: Elementary Algebra
Elementary Algebra Placement content categories are:
• Integers and Rationals • Algebraic Expressions • Equations, Inequalities, and Word Problems
Diagnostic content categories are: • Real Numbers • Linear Equations, Inequalities, and Systems • Quadratic Expressions and Equations • Algebraic Expressions and Equations • Word Problems and Applications
Each student is administered a total of 12 items for placement and 40 items for diagnostics
Mathematics: College Level Math
College-Level Math Placement content categories are:
• Algebraic Operations • Solutions of Equations and
Inequalities • Coordinate Geometry • Applications and Other Algebra
Topics • Functions • Trigonometry
Each student is administered a total of 20 items
(placement test only)
ESL Placement Tests
Language Use • Grammar
Sentence Meaning • Vocabulary in context
Reading Skills • Passage-Based - reading
comprehension
Listening • Conversations and lectures
ESL WritePlacer • 6 point holistic scoring guide • 4 dimensions • Word use • Sentence Use • Grammar • Organization and Development
Each student is administered a total of 20 items for each ESL section. ESL Writeplacer has six prompts available.
COMPANION: Accessibility Formats
Braille version
Large print version
Audio CDs
Pencil/paper versions
Additional:
ACCUPLACER online is compatible with selected screen reading software programs
ACCUPLACER online has wizard feature for visually impaired
Student Engagement and Intervention
Student Engagement and Preparation
•Downloadable PDF •Questions with Answer Key
Sample Questions for Students
• Free to all students • Scored mini-tests with overall and strand scores •Rationale on answering each question
Web Study App
• Interpret Diagnostic scores •Assign topics for study based on Diagnostic scores •Plan individual intervention or design curriculum
Remediation Planner
•Results from Diagnostic provide individualized learning paths •Online content available 24/7 MyFoundationsLab
Web Study App: Free to All Students
Remediation Planner Design InstructionUnique Plan for Student
ACCUPLACER Intervention Strategies
The ACCUPLACER diagnostic assessment is paired with proven MyFoundationsLab remediation. This powerful combined experience
enhances college preparedness and student success.
Individualized Intervention
ACCUPLACER and Ability to Benefit
40
ACCUPLACER is Approved…
Your Institution’s Account for Placement
+ Completely customize to meet your institution’s needs
+ Develop your placement policy
+ Control test branching and course placement
College Board’s ATB Account
+ Turnkey account
+ Use for ATB only
+ Requires passing a proctor certification test
+ No setup or customization allowed or required
Per the Department Of Education, ACCUPLACER* continues to be an approved Ability to Benefit (ATB) test.
* Currently does not include ACCUPLACER ESL or state-specific assessments.
Validating Results
Admitted Class Evaluation Service - ACES
+ A free service from College Board
+ Validate the results of your placement policies to refine or make adjustments to cut scores
+ Compare ACCUPLACER scores to actual course grades
+ Provides a probability of success based on your placement policy and actual student data
+ Confidential
